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 > A3.12 - Sediment-affected or disturbed kelp and seaweed communities > A3.128 - Pontic Cystoseira barbata on exposed cobbles, boulders and bedrock mixed with and scoured by sand

Pontic Cystoseira barbata on exposed cobbles, boulders and bedrock mixed with and scoured by sand

English name: Pontic Cystoseira barbata on exposed cobbles, boulders and bedrock mixed with and scoured by sand

Description (English)

The dominant species in the Cystoseira biocenosis is the brown alga Cystoseira barbata, which develops on rocky substrates from the spray zone to a depth of 15 m. The mass species are: the molluscs Mytilaster lineatus and Rissoa splendida; the amphipods Amphythoe vaillanti and Caprella acantifera; and the polychaetes Grubea clavata. Other common species include: the polychaetes Nereis succinea, Nephthys hombergii and Terebellides stroemi; the molluscs Cerastoderma glaucum, Irus irus, Polititapes aurea, Donacilla cornea and Pitar rudis (Zaitsev and Alexandrov, 1998). Along the Romanian shores Mytilaster lineatus, Mytilus galloprovincialis and Balanus improvisus are the species occurring with highest frequency within this habitat (which extends until 6 meters depth). Of these species Mytilaster is the most important species in terms of density and biomass amounting to almost 80% of the sessile fauna observed. The most important macrobenthic taxa amount to 40 species of which 77% amphipods, 9% polichaetes and 8% isopods. Most frequent amphipods, occurring annually, are Erichtonius difformis, Amphitoe vaillanti, Corophium acherusicum, Stenothoe monoculoides, Jassa ocia, Hyale pontica. The most frequently occurring isopods are: Idothea baltica, Nassa (Dynamena) bidentata, Synisoma capito. The most frequently observed polychaetes are Fabricia clavella and Brania clavata (Tiganus, 1991-1992).

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type code A3.128

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Algae Cystoseira barbata
Invertebrates Balanus improvisus
Invertebrates Cerastoderma glaucum
Invertebrates Donacilla cornea
Invertebrates Irus irus
Invertebrates Mytilaster lineatus
Invertebrates Mytilus galloprovincialis
Species scientific name English common name Species group
Cystoseira barbata Algae
Balanus improvisus Invertebrates
Cerastoderma glaucum Invertebrates
Donacilla cornea Invertebrates
Irus irus Invertebrates
Mytilaster lineatus Invertebrates
Mytilus galloprovincialis Invertebrates

Other classifications

Not available For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Not available
European Environment Agency (EEA)
Kongens Nytorv 6
1050 Copenhagen K
Denmark
Phone: +45 3336 7100