Unvegetated Baltic infralittoral mixed sediment (hard and soft) with sparse or no macrofaunal community
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code BAL25 |
---|---|
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 benthic Baltic Sea habitat occurs in the photic zone with a mix of more than 10%, but less than 90% coverage of either hard and soft substrata according to the HELCOM HUB classification. Typical examples include singular rocks or boulders/stones extending above the soft substrata as well as soft substrata aggregation between abundant rocks and stones/boulders. The amount of soft substrata is affected by energy, both in the lateral and horizontal dimension, leading to a typically continuous small-scale variation in substrate composition. Sessile/semi-sessile macroscopic epibenthic fauna and flora is present where there is a sparse macrofaunal community (less than 10% coverage). In these situations microphytobenthic organisms and grazing snails (e.g. Hydrobiidae, Theodoxus, Bithynia, Radix) dominate constituting 50% in biomass or volume. Elsewhere there may be no macrovegetation present and neither macroepifauna or macro infauna.
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
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 |
|
Stable ![]() |
Stable ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Conservation and management needs
List of conservation and management needs
- No measures
- No measure known / impossible to carry out specific measures
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 | Stable | 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).
Characteristic species
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |