Infralittoral mixed sediments

English name: Infralittoral mixed sediments

Description (English)

Shallow mixed (heterogeneous) sediments in fully marine or near fully marine conditions, supporting various animal-dominated communities, with relatively low proportions of seaweeds. This habitat may include well mixed muddy gravelly sands or very poorly sorted mosaics of shell, cobbles and pebbles embedded in mud, sand or gravel. Due to the quite variable nature of the sediment type, a widely variable array of communities may be found, including those characterised by bivalves (A5.433, A5.431, and A5.435), polychaetes (A5.432) and file shells (A5.434). This has resulted in many species being described as characteristic of this habitat type all contributing only a small percentage to the overall similarity (see below). This habitat type may also include a newly proposed Chaetopterus biotope (Rees pers com.) recently found in the eastern English Channel. This biotope is characterised by an undescribed Chaetopterus sp. and small Lanice conchilega. Further sampling is need in order to assess and fully characterise this potential biotope. As a result, the Chaetopterus biotope has not been included in this revision. Infaunal data for this habitat type are limited to that described in the biotope A5.433 and so are not representative of the infaunal component of the whole habitat type.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type code A5.43
Bern Convention Included in a Resolution 4 habitat type at a higher level (A5)

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Invertebrates Lanice conchilega
Species scientific name English common name Species group
Lanice conchilega Invertebrates

Other classifications

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
Marine Habitat Classification Britain/Ireland 0405 SS.SMx.IMx Infralittoral mixed sediment source
CORINE Land Cover 5.2.3. Sea and ocean n/a
For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 A5.43 Infralittoral mixed sediments same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 A4.42 Infralittoral mixed sediment same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 A4.42 Animal communities in shallow-water mixed sediments same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 A4.44 Animal communities in mixed shallow-water sediments same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 A4.44 Animal communities in shallow mixed infralittoral sediments same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 A4.43 Animal communities in shallow mixed infralittoral sediments same
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) IMX.FaMX Shallow mixed sediment faunal communities same
MNCR BioMar 96.7 (Britain & Ireland) IMX.FaMX   same
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