Polychaete/oligochaete-dominated upper estuarine mud shores

Description (English)

Upper estuarine sandy mud and mud shores, in areas with significant freshwater influence. Littoral mud typically forms mudflats, though dry compacted mud can form steep and even vertical structures, particularly at the top of the shore adjacent to saltmarshes. Little oxygen penetrates these cohesive sediments, and an anoxic layer is often present within millimetres of the sediment surface. The upper estuarine mud communities support few infaunal species and are principally characterised by a restricted range of polychaetes and oligochaetes.
Situation: There are three oligochaete dominated upper estuarine mud biotopes. Of these three, A2.321 occurs the furthest towards the mid estuary, and possibly lower on the shore than the other two. A2.323 is the most extreme upper estuarine biotope, occurring at the head of estuaries where there is no strong river flow and hence conditions are very sheltered, and there is a very strong freshwater influence. Further towards the mid estuary, this biotope may occur at the top of the shore, with A2.3223 and A2.321 further down the shore.
Temporal variation: Enteromorpha spp. and Ulva lactuca may form mats on the surface of the mud during the summer months, particularly in areas of nutrient enrichment.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification