Oligochaetes in full salinity littoral mobile sand

English name: Oligochaetes in full salinity littoral mobile sand

Description (English)

A species-poor community of oligochaetes occurring in fully marine conditions on open shores with mobile, medium to fine, usually clean, sand. Oligochaetes, including enchytraeid oligochaetes, constitute the infaunal assemblage. On rare occasions individuals of polychaete or crustacean species may be encountered (e.g. Nephtys spp., Eurydice pulchra, Bathyporeia spp.), though these are not characterising for the biotope and if present in any significant abundance, the area should be classed as unit A2.223.
Situation: Where A2.2221 is situated on the mid shore, A2.111 and/or A2.221 may be present on the upper shore, and lower down on the shore, A2.2231 and A2.2233 may be found. A2.3223 may also occur on the upper shore, with A2.2232 present on the mid shore, and A2.2311 or A2.2312 on the lower shore. A2.211 may be found on the upper shore where driftlines of decomposing seaweed and other debris accumulate.
Temporal variation: Wave exposure may be higher on some beaches during winter than during the summer months, leading to the disappearance of infaunal species in winter. Where this happens, the biotope may change to A2.221. If conditions become more sheltered, seasonally or permanently, the sediment may become colonised by a greater range of species and the area may change to A2.223.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type code A2.2221
Bern Convention Included in a Resolution 4 habitat type at a higher level (A2.2)

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Invertebrates Eurydice pulchra
Species scientific name English common name Species group
Eurydice pulchra Invertebrates

Other classifications

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
Marine Habitat Classification Britain/Ireland 0405 LS.LSa.MoSa.Ol.FS Oligochaetes in full salinity littoral mobile sand source
CORINE Land Cover 4.2.3. Intertidal flats n/a
For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 A2.2221 Oligochaetes in full salinity littoral mobile sand same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 A2.243 Burrowing amphipods and Eurydice pulchra in well-drained clean sand shores overlap
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 A2.242 Barren coarse sand shores overlap
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 A2.242 Barren coarse sand shores overlap
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 A2.243 Burrowing amphipods and Eurydice pulchra in well-drained clean sand shores overlap
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 A2.212 Barren coarse sand shores overlap
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 A2.213 Burrowing amphipods and Eurydice pulchra in well-drained clean sand shores overlap
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) LGS.S.AEur Burrowing amphipods and Eurydice pulchra in well-drained clean sand shores overlap
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) LGS.S.BarSnd Barren coarse sand shores overlap
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