EUNIS habitat classification 2012 amended 2019 > A - Marine habitats > A3 - Infralittoral rock and other hard substrata > A3.1 - Atlantic and Mediterranean high energy infralittoral rock

Atlantic and Mediterranean high energy infralittoral rock

English name: Atlantic and Mediterranean high energy infralittoral rock

Description (English)

Rocky habitats in the infralittoral zone subject to exposed to extremely exposed wave action or strong tidal streams. Typically the rock supports a community of kelp Laminaria hyperborea with foliose seaweeds and animals, the latter tending to become more prominent in areas of strongest water movement. The depth to which the kelp extends varies according to water clarity, exceptionally (e.g. St Kilda) reaching 45 m. The sublittoral fringe is characterised by dabberlocks Alaria esculenta.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code A3.1
Bern Convention	Included in a Resolution 4 habitat type at a higher level (A3)
Relation to	Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive)

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
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	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	Reefs	1170	Overlap

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Algae Alaria esculenta

Algae Laminaria hyperborea

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Alaria esculenta		Algae
Laminaria hyperborea		Algae

Other classifications

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
CORINE Land Cover	5.2.3.	Sea and ocean	n/a
Marine Habitat Classification Britain/Ireland 0405	IR.HIR	High energy infralittoral rock	same
Biodiversity Broad Habitat Classification (UK)	22	Inshore sublittoral rock	wider
Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Habitats (UK)	37	Tidal rapids	overlap

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

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A3.1	Atlantic and Mediterranean high energy infralittoral rock	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A3.23	Sand-tolerant or disturbed kelp and seaweed on moderately exposed infralittoral rock	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A3.1	High energy infralittoral rock	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A3.1	Infralittoral rock very exposed to wave action and/or currents and tidal streams	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A3.1	Infralittoral rock very exposed to wave action and/or currents and tidal streams	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	A3.1	Infralittoral rock very exposed to wave action or tidal currents	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	A3.1	Infralittoral rock very exposed to wave action	same
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland)	EIR	Exposed infralittoral rock	same
MNCR BioMar 96.7 (Britain & Ireland)	EIR		same

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