Laminaria hyperborea and red seaweeds on exposed vertical rock
Quick facts
EUNIS habitat type | code A3.117 |
---|---|
Bern Convention | Included in a Resolution 4 habitat type at a higher level (A3) |
Description (English)
On exposed coasts with moderately strong to weak tidal currents generally at depths of 0-10m, vertical rock communities dominated by frequent Laminaria hyperborea and its commonly associated red seaweeds Delesseria sanguinea, Cryptopleura ramosa and Plocamium cartilagineum can be found. Within this biotope the jewel anemone Corynactis viridis is frequently found in dense aggregations attached to the vertical rock surface. This biotope contains 5 sub-biotopes, distinguished by their biogeography. On the west coast of Scotland, the Northern Isles and the Isle of Man on extremely exposed coasts a variant of this biotope characterised by frequent Metridium senile and occasional Sagartia elegans can be found. Further south on the west coast of Ireland, southern Scotland, Wales, and south west England a second variant characterised by frequent Alcyonium digitatum and occasional Cliona celata can be distinguished. A third variant has been recorded from Northern Ireland characterised by the red seaweeds Lithophyllum and Ptilota gunneri, the sea squirt Dendrodoa grossularia and the bryozoan Membranipora membranacea. South from the Isle of Man, on the Welsh Coast, and on the south west and southern English coasts a fourth variant of this biotope is found, which is characterised by the barnacle Balanus crenatus, which may be more frequent in this sub-biotope, and the rarity of Alcyonium digitatum, a species which is more frequent in other variants. This variant has mainly been recorded in shallow water (0-5m). The final biogeographic variant of this biotope is, as with the previous variant, found on the coasts of Wales and south west England. It can be distinguished from the previous variant by the frequent Diplosoma listerianum and occasional Lissoclinum perforatum, although these species are not always present.
Situation: Open rocky coasts of the south-west, west and north-west.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableSpecies mentioned in habitat description
Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
---|---|---|
Delesseria sanguinea | Algae | |
Laminaria hyperborea | Algae | |
Plocamium cartilagineum | Algae | |
Alcyonium digitatum | Invertebrates | |
Cliona celata | Invertebrates | |
Corynactis viridis | Invertebrates | |
Dendrodoa grossularia | Invertebrates | |
Diplosoma listerianum | Invertebrates | |
Metridium senile | Invertebrates | |
Sagartia elegans | Invertebrates |
Other classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
Marine Habitat Classification Britain/Ireland 0405 | IR.HIR.KFaR.LhypRVt | <I>Laminaria hyperborea</I> and red seaweeds on exposed vertical rock | source |
CORINE Land Cover | 5.2.3. | Sea and ocean | n/a |
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A3.117 | Laminaria hyperborea and red seaweeds on exposed vertical rock | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A3.4132 | Sponge crusts, colonial (polyclinid) ascidians and a bryozoan/hydroid turf on wave-surged vertical or overhanging infralittoral rock | wider |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A3.121 | Corynactis viridis, Metridium senile and Alcyonium digitatum on exposed or moderately vertical infralittoral rock | overlap |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A3.241 | Alcyonium digitatum and a bryozoan, hydroid and ascidian turf on vertical moderately exposed infralittoral rock | overlap |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A3.4132 | Sponge crusts, colonial (polyclinid) ascidians and a bryozoan/hydroid turf on wave-surged vertical or overhanging infralittoral rock | overlap |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A3.121 | Corynactis viridis, Metridium senile and Alcyonium digitatum on exposed or moderately vertical infralittoral rock | overlap |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A3.241 | Alcyonium digitatum and a bryozoan, hydroid and ascidian turf on vertical moderately exposed infralittoral rock | overlap |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A3.4132 | Sponge crusts, colonial (polyclinid) ascidians and a bryozoan/hydroid turf on wave-surged vertical or overhanging infralittoral rock | overlap |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A3.121 | Corynactis viridis, Metridium senile and Alcyonium digitatum on exposed or moderately vertical infralittoral rock | overlap |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A3.241 | Alcyonium digitatum and a bryozoan, hydroid and ascidian turf on vertical moderately exposed infralittoral rock | overlap |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | IR.FaSwV.AlcByH | Alcyonium digitatum and a bryozoan, hydroid and ascidian turf on vertical moderately exposed vertical infralittoral rock | overlap |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | EIR.SG.SCAs.ByH | Sponge crusts, colonial (polyclinid) ascidians and a bryozoan/hydroid turf on wave-surged vertical or overhanging infralittoral rock | overlap |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | IR.FaSwV.CorMetAlc | Corynactis viridis, Metridium senile and Alcyonium digitatum on exposed or moderately vertical infralittoral rock | overlap |