Low energy littoral rock
Description (English)
Sheltered to extremely sheltered rocky shores with very weak to weak tidal streams are typically characterised by a dense cover of fucoid seaweeds which form distinct zones (the wrack Pelvetia canaliculata on the upper shore through to the wrack Fucus serratus on the lower shore). Where salinity is reduced (such as at the head of a sea loch or where streams run across the shore) Fucus ceranoides may occur. Fucoids also occur on less stable, mixed substrata (cobbles and pebbles on sediment) although in lower abundance and with fewer associated epifaunal species; beds of mussels Mytilus edulis are also common. In summer months, dense blankets of ephemeral green and red seaweeds can dominate these mixed shores. Two biological subtypes have been described: Dense blankets of fucoid seaweeds dominating sheltered, fully marine littoral rocky shores (A1.31) and fucoids dominating variable salinity rocky shores (A1.32).
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
EUNIS habitat type | code A1.3 |
---|---|
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
Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
---|---|---|
Fucus ceranoides | Algae | |
Fucus serratus | Algae | |
Mytilus edulis | Invertebrates |
Other classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
CORINE Land Cover | 4.2.3. | Intertidal flats | n/a |
Marine Habitat Classification Britain/Ireland 0405 | LR.LLR | Low energy littoral rock | same |
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A1.3 | Low energy littoral rock | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A1.3 | Low energy littoral rock | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A1.3 | Littoral rock sheltered from wave action | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A1.3 | Littoral rock sheltered from wave action | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | A1.3 | Littoral rock sheltered from wave action | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | A1.4 | Sheltered eulittoral rock | same |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | SLR | Sheltered littoral rock (fucoid shores) | same |
MNCR BioMar 96.7 (Britain & Ireland) | SLR | same |