Sabellaria reefs on moderate energy Atlantic circalittoral rock
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code NEAA4.22 |
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Threat status | |
Europe | Data Deficient |
EU | Data Deficient |
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
This habitat occurs on moderately wave-exposed, circalittoral bedrock, boulders and cobbles subject to moderately strong tidal streams and is characterised by dense crusts on the upper faces of the hard surfaces formed by the sandy tubes of the polychaete worm Sabellaria spinulosa. In some cases the S.spinulosa may completely cover the rock, binding gravel and pebbles together. A diverse fauna may be found attached to and sometimes obscuring the crust, often reflecting the character of surrounding biotopes. There is usually no significant raised reef area.
Indicators of quality:
The condition of S. spinulosa reefs can be judged in different ways. For instance: the areal extent of the reef, its spatial patchiness, temporal stability, or number of associated species. Categorisation of condition may also consider a combination of these parameters. At present there is no consensus of approach or accepted yardstick against which to compare condition of individual reefs. Further to this, evidence suggests that S. spinulosa reefs may repeatedly develop and decline in a regular succession, through resettlement and demise of successive generations. An apparent deterioration in condition may therefore be natural and not necessarily reflective of an anthropogenic impact. The apparently ephemeral nature of S. spinulosa reefs is such that the condition of S. spinulosa reef habitat should be considered at a wider scale than individual reefs.
Threat status
Synthesis of Red List assessment
There is insufficient information to provide an overall estimate of the extent of this habitat and any historical, recent and possible future trends in quantity and quality. For the purposes of Red List assessment this habitat is therefore considered to be Data Deficient for both the EU 28 and EU 28+.
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
- Mining, extraction of materials and energy production
- Mining and quarrying
- Sand and gravel extraction
- Exploration and extraction of oil or gas
- Renewable abiotic energy use
- Biological resource use other than agriculture & forestry
- Fishing and harvesting aquatic resources
- Professional active fishing
- Benthic or demersal trawling
- Natural System modifications
- Human induced changes in hydraulic conditions
- Modification of hydrographic functioning, general
Habitat restoration potential
Trends in extent |
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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
Management proposals need to reflect the dynamic nature of reefs which can colonise, evolve and degrade rapidly. Research into the stability, rate of establishment, and recovery of damaged reefs will also be important as will better knowledge of the environmental conditions under which they do so and natural variation in extent, density and population structure of S.spinulosa reefs.
List of conservation and management needs
- Measures related to spatial planning
- Other marine-related measures
- Establish protected areas/sites
- Measures related to hunting, taking and fishing and species management
- Regulation/Management of fishery in marine and brackish systems
- Measures related to special resouce use
- Regulating/Managing exploitation of natural resources on sea
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) |
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Bay of Biscay and the Iberian Coast | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Celtic Seas | ||||
Greater North Sea | ||||
Kattegat | ||||
Macaronesia |
Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area
Extent of Occurrence (EOO) (Km2) | Area of Occupancy (AOO) | Current estimated Total Area | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
EU28 | unknown | Unknown | Unknown | There is insufficient information for accurate calculation of EOO and AOO. |
EU28+ | Unknown | Unknown | There is insufficient information for accurate calculation of EOO and AOO. |
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 | Narrower | http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm |