EUNIS habitat classification 2012 amended 2019 > A - Marine habitats > A2 - Littoral sediment > A2.4 - Littoral mixed sediments

Littoral mixed sediments

English name: Littoral mixed sediments

Description (English)

Shores of mixed sediments ranging from muds with gravel and sand components to mixed sediments with pebbles, gravels, sands and mud in more even proportions. By definition, mixed sediments are poorly sorted. Stable large cobbles or boulders may be present which support epibiota such as fucoids and green seaweeds more commonly found on rocky and boulder shores. Mixed sediments which are predominantly muddy tend to support infaunal communities which are similar to those of mud and sandy mud shores.
Situation: It is probable that there are broad transition areas between areas of mudflat or sandy mudflat, and mixed sediment biotopes where the sediment consists principally of mud but has significant proportions of gravel and sand mixed in. Gravelly mud may occur in patches on mudflats. Similarly, there is unlikely to be an easily defined boundary between areas of mixed sediment with stable cobbles and boulders, and boulder fields which fall into the rocky shore category.

Source:
EUNIS habitat classification
Interpretation Manual of the habitats targeted by Resolution No. 4

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code A2.4
Bern Convention	Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites)
Relation to	Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive)

Legal status

Mentioned in the following international legal instruments and agreements

Legal text	Annex	More information
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats (Bern Convention)	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2014)	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]

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
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Estuaries	1130	Overlap	http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide	1140	Overlap
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Coastal lagoons	1150	Overlap
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Large shallow inlets and bays	1160	Overlap

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
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 200112	14.1	Mud flats and sand flats	wider
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 200112	11.27	Soft sediment littoral communities	wider
CORINE Land Cover	4.2.3.	Intertidal flats	n/a
Marine Habitat Classification Britain/Ireland 0405	LS.LMx	Littoral mixed sediment	same
Ramsar Wetland Types	G	Intertidal mud, sand or salt flats	wider
Phase 1 habitat classification (UK) 1993	H11	Intertidal: mud/sand	overlap
Phase 1 habitat classification (UK) 1993	H12	Intertidal: shingle/cobbles	overlap
Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Habitats (UK)	34	Sheltered muddy gravels	not defined

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

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A2.4	Littoral mixed sediments	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A2.4	Littoral mixed substrates	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A2.4	Littoral combination sediments	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A2.4	Littoral mixed sediments	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	A2.4	Littoral mixed sediments	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	A2.4	Littoral mixed sediments	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	14.1	Part of Mud flats and sand flats	wider
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	11.27	Part of Soft sediment littoral communities	wider
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	14	Part of Mud flats and sand flats	wider
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	11.27	Part of Soft sediment littoral communities	wider
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	11.27		wider
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	11.27		wider
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland)	LMX	Littoral mixed sediments	same
MNCR BioMar 96.7 (Britain & Ireland)	LMX		same

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