Aquatic moss communities on Baltic infralittoral coarse sediment
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code BAL12 |
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Threat status | |
Europe | Least Concern |
EU | Least Concern |
Relation to |
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Source | European Red List habitat factsheet |
European Red List of habitats reports | |
European Red List of habitats (Excel table) |
Summary
This habitat occurs on Baltic bottoms in the photic zone where the seabed substrate is at least 90% coarse sediment according to the HELCOM HUB classification. Aquatic moss covers at least 10% of the seabed and more than any other perennial attached erect groups. In some places the mosses form extensive underwater meadows which provide shelter and food for benthic animals. This habitat occurs where salinity is typically <5 psu and in all exposure ranges although more common in areas exposed to wave action. It occupies the photic zone typically between 1 to 7 meters.
Indicators of quality:
Both biotic and abiotic indicators have been used to describe marine habitat quality. These include: the presence of characteristic species as well as those which are sensitive to the pressures the habitat may face; water quality parameters; levels of exposure to particular pressure, and more integrated indices which describe habitat structure and function, such as trophic index, or successional stages of development in habitats that have a natural cycle of change over time.
There are no commonly agreed indicators of quality for this habitat, although particular parameters may have been set in certain situations e.g. protected features within Natura 2000 sites, where reference values have been determined and applied on a location-specific basis. The depth zone occupied and amount of epiphytic ephemeral filamentous algae are potential indicators of quality of this habitat.
Threat status
Synthesis of Red List assessment
The overall assessment for this EUNIS level 4 habitat has been based on the HELCOM (2013) assessments for the associated HELCOM HUB biotopes. Draft assessments were derived using a weighted approach whereby the HELCOM assessment outcomes were assigned a score. This was averaged across the relevant biotopes. The outcomes were reviewed by Baltic experts to reach a final conclusion. HELCOM (2013) assessed this habitat (AA.I1D ) to be Least Concern (A1). With no additional information on changes in extent or quality of this habitat, and based on an esimate of less than a 25% decline in quantity over the last 50 years, current expert opinion is that this habitat should be assessed as Least Concern for the EU 28 and EU 28+.
EU | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Least Concern | - |
Europe | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Least Concern | - |
Confidence in the assessment
Pressures and threats
- Pollution
- Pollution to surface waters (limnic, terrestrial, marine & brackish)
- Nutrient enrichment (N, P, organic matter)
- Natural System modifications
- Human induced changes in hydraulic conditions
- Siltation rate changes, dumping, depositing of dredged deposits
- Dumping, depositing of dredged deposits
- Other human induced changes in hydraulic conditions
Habitat restoration potential
Trends in extent |
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Average current trend in quantity |
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Unknown ![]() |
Unknown ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Trends in quality |
|
Average current trend in quality |
|
Unknown ![]() |
Unknown ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Conservation and management needs
List of conservation and management needs
- Measures related to wetland, freshwater and coastal habitats
- Restoring/Improving water quality
Distribution
Geographic occurrence and trends
Seas | Present or presence uncertain | Current area of habitat (Km2) | Recent trend in quantity (last 50 years) | Recent trend in quality (last 50 years) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gulf of Bothnia | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Gulf of Finland |
Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area
Extent of Occurrence (EOO) (Km2) | Area of Occupancy (AOO) | Current estimated Total Area | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
EU28 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | There is insufficient quantitative data to make an accurate estimate of EOO and AOO. |
EU28+ | Unknown | Unknown | There is insufficient quantitative data to make an accurate estimate of EOO and AOO. |
EOO = the area (km2) of the envelope around all occurrences of a habitat (calculated by a minimum convex polygon).
Characteristic species
Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
---|---|---|
Fissidens fontanus | Mosses & Liverworts | |
Platyhypnidium riparioides | Mosses & Liverworts |
Legal status
Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments
Legal text | Annex | Name in legal text | Code in legal text |
Habitat type relationship |
More information |
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Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007 | Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation | Large shallow inlets and bays | 1160 | Overlap | http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm |