Infaunal communities of Baltic upper circalittoral muddy sediment not dominated by bivalves
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code BAL58 |
---|---|
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 habitat is distributed on Baltic aphotic bottoms with at least 90% coverage of muddy sediment according to the HELCOM HUB classification. Sessile/semi-sessile epibenthic macrofauna are generally not present and infaunal polychaetes/crustaceans/echinoderms/or insect larvae dominate in terms of biomass. This habitat typically occurs below approximately 20 m depth and is present in all energy exposure classes and in all the Baltic sub-basins. Four associated biotopes have been identified: these are characterized by infaunal polychaetes where species such as Polydora ciliata, Lagis koreni, Capitella capitata, Scoloplos (Scoloplos) armiger constitute at least 50% of the infaunal biomass; by infaunal crustaceans where the benthic amphipods Monoporeia affinis and/or Pontoporeia femorata dominate; or where insect larve where (Chironomidae) or echinoderms dominate the biomass. M. affinis is an important food source for several fish species, such as cod (Gadus morhua), herring (Clupea harengus), smelt (Osmerus eperlanus) and fourhorn sculpin (Myoxocephalus quadricornis). In favourable conditions, M. affinis and Pontoporeia femorata can occur in great abundances, even several thousand individuals per square meter.
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. Diversity, abundance and biomass of fauna may be indicators of quality.
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 assessed four associated biotopes (AB.H3M1, AB.H3M3, AB.H3M5 and AB.H3P1) as Least Concern (A1). Biotope AB.H3N1 was assessed as Near Threatened (A1). With no additional data available the current expert opinion is that this habitat should be assessed 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
- Pollution
- Pollution to surface waters (limnic, terrestrial, marine & brackish)
- Nutrient enrichment (N, P, organic matter)
- Input of contaminants (synthetic substances, non-synthetic substances, radionuclides) - diffuse sources, point sources, acute events
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
- Measures related to wetland, freshwater and coastal habitats
- Restoring/Improving water quality
- Measures related to marine habitats
- Other marine-related measures
- Restoring marine habitats
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 | Decreasing |
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 | >50 | Unknown | This habitat is common and present in all the Baltic sub-basins. |
EU28+ | >50 | Unknown | This habitat is common and 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
Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
---|---|---|
Clupea harengus | Atlantic herring | Fishes |
Gadus morhua | Codling | Fishes |
Myoxocephalus quadricornis | Fishes | |
Osmerus eperlanus | European smelt | Fishes |
Amphiura chiajei | Invertebrates | |
Amphiura filiformis | Invertebrates | |
Brissopsis lyrifera | Invertebrates | |
Capitella capitata | Invertebrates | |
Marenzelleria viridis | Invertebrates | |
Monoporeia affinis | Invertebrates | |
Polydora ciliata | Invertebrates | |
Pontoporeia femorata | Invertebrates | |
Saduria entomon | Invertebrates |