EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > MC6 - Circalittoral mud > MC62 - Atlantic circalittoral mud

Atlantic circalittoral mud

Description (English)

The seapens Virgularia mirabilis and Pennatula phosphorea are characteristic of this biotope complex together with the burrowing anemone Cerianthus lloydii and the ophiuroid Amphiura spp. The relatively stable conditions often lead to the establishment of communities of burrowing megafaunal species, such as Nephrops norvegicus.
Circalittoral, cohesive sandy mud, typically with over 20% silt/clay, generally occurs in water depths of over 10m, with weak or very weak tidal streams. This habitat is generally found in deeper areas of bays and marine inlets or offshore from less wave exposed coasts. Sea pens such as Virgularia mirabilis and brittlestars such as Amphiura spp. are particularly characteristic of this habitat whilst infaunal species include the tube building polychaetes Lagis koreni and Owenia fusiformis, and deposit feeding bivalves such as Mysella bidentata and Abra spp.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code MC62
Relation to	Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites)

Legal status

Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments

Legal text	Annex	Name in legal text	Code in legal text	Habitat type relationship	More information
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2010)	Large shallow inlets and bays	1160	Overlap	https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc....ckColorLogged=FDC864 Resolution No. 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention lists endangered natural habitats requiring specific conservation measures [and the designation of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCIs) forming the Emerald network]
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2010)	Sublittoral sediment	A5	Wider	https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc....ckColorLogged=FDC864 Resolution No. 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention lists endangered natural habitats requiring specific conservation measures [and the designation of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCIs) forming the Emerald network]

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Not available

Other classifications

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A5.36	Circalittoral fine mud	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A5.3	Sublittoral mud	wider
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A5.35	Circalittoral sandy mud	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A5	Sublittoral sediment	wider

For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A5.36	Circalittoral fine mud	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A5.3	Sublittoral mud	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A5.35	Circalittoral sandy mud	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A5	Sublittoral sediment	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A4.74	Animal communities of deep circalittoral muddy bottoms	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A4	Sublittoral sediment	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A4.36	Animal communities of circalittoral muds	wider
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A4.3	Sublittoral mud	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A4.36	Animal communities of circalittoral muds	wider
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A4.3	Sublittoral muds	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A4.74	Animal communities of deep circalittoral muddy bottoms	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A4	Sublittoral sediments	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A4.36	Animal communities of circalittoral muds	wider
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A4	Sublittoral sediments	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A4.3	Sublittoral muds	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	A4	Sublittoral sediments	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	X16	Sublittoral sediments	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	11.22	Sublittoral soft seabeds	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	11.23	Sublittoral pebbly seabeds	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	11.23	Sublittoral pebbly seabeds	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	11.22	Sublittoral soft seabeds	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	11.23		narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	11.22		narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	11.22		narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	11.23		narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	11.23		narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	11.22		narrower
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland)	SS	Sublittoral sediments	same

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