Faunal communities of Atlantic circalittoral sand
Description (English)
Sand communities either on the open coast or in tide-swept channels of marine inlets in depths of over 15-20 m.
Clean fine sands with less than 5% silt/clay in deeper water is characterised by a wide range of echinoderms (in some areas including the pea urchin Echinocyamus pusillus), polychaetes and bivalves. This habitat is generally more stable than shallower, infralittoral sands and consequently supports a more diverse community.
Circalittoral non-cohesive muddy sands with the silt content of the substratum typically ranging from 5% to 20% supports animal-dominated communities characterised by a wide variety of polychaetes, bivalves such as Abra alba and Nucula nitidosa, and echinoderms such as Amphiura spp and Ophiura spp., and Astropecten irregularis. These circalittoral habitats tend to be more stable than their infralittoral counterparts and as such support a richer infaunal community.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code MC521 |
|---|---|
| Relation to | Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive) |
Legal status
Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableSpecies mentioned in habitat description
Invertebrates
Astropecten irregularis
Invertebrates
Echinocyamus pusillus
Invertebrates
Nucula nitidosa
| Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
|---|---|---|
| Astropecten irregularis | Invertebrates | |
| Echinocyamus pusillus | Invertebrates | |
| Nucula nitidosa | Invertebrates |
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | A5.26 | Circalittoral muddy sand | overlap |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | A5.25 | Circalittoral fine sand | overlap |
| European Red List of Habitats | NEAA5.25 | Atlantic upper circalittoral fine sand | wider |
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A5.25 | Circalittoral fine sand | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A5.26 | Circalittoral muddy sand | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A4.27 | Circalittoral muddy sand | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A4.27 | Animal communities of circalittoral muddy sands | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A4.28 | Animal communities of circalittoral muddy sands | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | A4.71 | Animal communities of circalittoral muddy sands | same |
