Barnacles and fucoids on moderately wave-exposed Atlantic littoral rock
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code NEAA1.21 |
---|---|
Threat status | |
Europe | Data Deficient |
EU | Data Deficient |
Relation to |
|
Source | European Red List habitat factsheet |
European Red List of habitats reports | |
European Red List of habitats (Excel table) |
Summary
Rocky shores in the mid- and lower eulittoral zone moderately exposed to wave action, characterised by a mosaic of fucoids and barnacles on bedrock and boulders. The extent of the fucoid cover is typically less than the blanket cover associated with sheltered shores except on the lower shore where there may be dense Fucus serratus. There is typically a lichen zone above and a kelp-dominated community below in the sublittoral zone. Where the moderately exposed lower shore rock is sand-influenced it can be characterised by dense mats of Rhodothamniella floridula. The presence of boulders and cobbles on the shore can increase the micro-habitat diversity, which often results in a greater species richness (crabs, tube-forming polychaetes such as Pomatoceros triquiter, sponges and bryozoans).
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. Indicators which have been developed for the assessment of ecological quality of coastal water bodies for the Water Framework Directive (WFD) that are relevant to this habitat include a consideration of macroalgae species richness, proportions of different taxa of algae present, and the abundance and coverage of the rocky surfaces by typical species.
Threat status
Synthesis of Red List assessment
The general distribution of this habitat is well known, it is not considered to be restricted and its extent has been mapped in detail in some locations (e.g. some Marine Protected Areas and monitoring stations). There are studies showing short and long term trends in extent and quality, for example following natural events such as severe weather conditions or pollution incidents such as oil spills, but no overview of trends in quantity and quality across the North East Atlantic.
This habitat has a large EOO and AOO, and therefore qualifies as Least Concern under criterion B. However the habitat is assessed as Data Deficient both at the EU 28 and EU 28+ levels given the lack of information on trends in quantity and quality.
EU | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Data Deficient | - |
Europe | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Data Deficient | - |
Confidence in the assessment
Pressures and threats
- Pollution
- Pollution to surface waters (limnic, terrestrial, marine & brackish)
- Marine water pollution
- Oil spills in the sea
- Climate change
- Changes in abiotic conditions
- Temperature changes (e.g. rise of temperature & extremes)
- Wave exposure changes
- Sea-level changes
- Changes in biotic conditions
- Habitat shifting and alteration
- Migration of species (natural newcomers)
Habitat restoration potential
Trends in extent |
|
Average current trend in quantity |
|
Unknown ![]() |
Unknown ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Trends in quality |
|
Average current trend in quality |
|
Unknown ![]() |
Unknown ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Conservation and management needs
More general beneficial measures include pollution control and regulation, development control and contingency plans to be followed in the event of a major pollution incident, survey and monitoring programmes, raised public awareness of their ecological value and vulnerability, representation in marine protected areas and measures to reduce global warming and sea level rise.
List of conservation and management needs
- Measures related to marine habitats
- Other marine-related measures
- Measures related to spatial planning
- Other marine-related measures
- Establish protected areas/sites
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bay of Biscay and the Iberian Coast | Present | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Celtic Seas | ||||
Greater North Sea | ||||
Macaronesia | ||||
Kattegat |
Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area
Extent of Occurrence (EOO) (Km2) | Area of Occupancy (AOO) | Current estimated Total Area | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
EU28 | 403,797 | 553 | unknown | EOO and AOO have been calculated on the available data. Although this data set is known to be incomplete the figures exceed the thresholds for threatened status. |
EU28+ | 553 | unknown | EOO and AOO have been calculated on the available data. Although this data set is known to be incomplete the figures exceed the thresholds for threatened status. |
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 |
---|---|---|
Fucus serratus | Algae | |
Fucus vesiculosus | Algae | |
Mastocarpus stellatus | Algae | |
Pelvetia canaliculata | Algae | |
Rhodothamniella floridula | Algae | |
Littorina littorea | Invertebrates | |
Patella vulgata | Invertebrates | |
Semibalanus balanoides | Invertebrates |
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 | Reefs | 1170 | Overlap | http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm |