Pontic mediolittoral rock pools
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code BLSA1.42 |
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Threat status | |
Europe | Data Deficient |
EU | Near Threatened |
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
Rockpools occur where the topography of the shore allows seawater to be retained within depressions in the bedrock producing 'pools' on the retreat of overwashing waves. Alternatively seawater might be circulated by the surge through channels in the rock. As rockpool communities are permanently submerged they are not directly affected by height on the shore and normal rocky shore zonation patterns do not apply. For this reason rockpools have been dealt with as a separate habitat type, apart from the scheme of wave exposure and shore height. Four main rockpool habitat subtypes have been described:
A1.422 Pontic Upper mediolittoral shallow rockpools with green algae (Ulva spp. and Cladophora spp.)
A1.415 Pontic Upper mediolittoral deep rockpools with juveniles of Mytilus galloprovincialis and Pachygrapsus marmoratus
A1.41A Pontic Mediolittoral rockpools with anemones (Actinia equina and Diadumene lineata)
A1.41B Pontic Mediolittoral rockpools with articulated corallines and Ceramiales.
Indicators of quality:
Suitable biotic indicators of quality include: Gobiesocidae, Diadumene lineata and crabs Pachygrapsus marmoratus, Eriphia verrucosa . Suitable abiotic indictors of quality include: water clarity and nutrient levels. There is insufficient information to set indicator thresholds required for monitoring purposes.
Threat status
Synthesis of Red List assessment
In the EU 28+ 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 because of a lack of information on its trends in quantity and quality and the fact that its overall distribution is unknown.
EU | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Near Threatened | A1 |
Europe | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Data Deficient | - |
Confidence in the assessment
Pressures and threats
- Urbanisation, residential and commercial development
- Other urbanisation, industrial and similar activities
- Pollution
- Nutrient enrichment (N, P, organic matter)
- Oil spills in the sea
- Input of litter (solid waste matter)
- Geological events, natural catastrophes
- Storm, cyclone
Habitat restoration potential
Trends in extent |
|
Average current trend in quantity |
|
Decreasing ![]() |
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
- Measures related to wetland, freshwater and coastal habitats
- Restoring/Improving water quality
- Measures related to spatial planning
- Other marine-related measures
- Establish protected areas/sites
- Legal protection of habitats and species
- Measures related to urban areas, industry, energy and transport
- Urban and industrial waste management
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Black Sea | Present | Unknown | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area
Extent of Occurrence (EOO) (Km2) | Area of Occupancy (AOO) | Current estimated Total Area | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
EU28 | 10,743 | 25 | Unknown | Area estimates are available at some localities. However, these are only a small proportion of occurrences. Most locality data is available as points only and cannot be used to calculate area. |
EU28+ | 161 | Unknown | Area estimates are available at some localities. However, these are only a small proportion of occurrences. Most locality data is available as points only and cannot be used to calculate area. |
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 |
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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 | Reefs | 1170 | Overlap | http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm |