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
Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableSpecies mentioned in habitat description
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 200112 | 11.27 | Soft sediment littoral communities | wider |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 200112 | 14.1 | Mud flats and sand flats | 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 |
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 | 11.27 | Part of Soft sediment littoral communities | wider |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 14.1 | Part of Mud flats and sand flats | wider |
| Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 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 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 |
