Sparse or no macrofaunal communities on Baltic infralittoral coarse sediment
Quick facts
| Red List habitat type | code BAL19 |
|---|---|
| Threat status | |
| Europe | Least Concern |
| EU | Least Concern |
| Relation to |
|
| Source | European Red List habitat factsheet |
| European Red List of habitats reports | |
| European Red List of habitats (Excel table) |
Summary
This Baltic Sea benthic habitat occurs in the photic zone with at least 90% coverage of coarse sediment according to the HELCOM HUB classification. Sessile/semi-sessile epifauna and flora is present but covers less than 10%. The habitat is encountered in high energy exposure areas whre the topmost level is mixed by wave action. Two associated biotopes have been identified ‘Baltic photic coarse sediment characterized by sparse epibenthic macrocommunity (AA.I2T) and Baltic photic coarse sediment characterized by no macrocommunity (AA.I4U)
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.
Threat status
Synthesis of Red List assessment
HELCOM (2013) assessed two relevant Baltic biotopes (AA.I2T and AA.I4U) as Least Concern (A1). The extent and area of this habitat is believed to have been stable over the last 50 years and no change is expected in the near future. Current expert opinion is an assessment for this habitat as Least Concern for both 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
- No threats or pressures
- No threats or pressures
Habitat restoration potential
Trends in extent |
|
Average current trend in quantity |
|
Stable  |
Stable |
| EU28 | EU28+ |
Trends in quality |
|
Average current trend in quality |
|
Unknown  |
Unknown |
| EU28 | EU28+ |
Conservation and management needs
List of conservation and management needs
- No measures
- No measures needed for the conservation of the habitat/species
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltic Proper | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Stable |
| Belt Sea | ||||
| Gulf of Bothnia | ||||
| Gulf of Finland | ||||
| Gulf of Riga | ||||
| The Sound |
Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area
| Extent of Occurrence (EOO) (Km2) | Area of Occupancy (AOO) | Current estimated Total Area | Comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU28 | >50,000 | Unknown | Unknown | This habitat is present in all the Baltic sub-basins. |
| EU28+ | Unknown | Unknown | This habitat is present in all the Baltic sub-basins |
EOO = the area (km2) of the envelope around all occurrences of a habitat (calculated by a minimum convex polygon).
