Red List habitat classification > RL - Marine habitats > RLMED - Mediterranean > MEDA5.23 Faunal communities in Mediterranean infralittoral fine sand

Faunal communities in Mediterranean infralittoral fine sand

Quick facts

Red List habitat type	code MEDA5.23
Threat status
Europe	Data Deficient
EU	Data Deficient
Relation to	Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive)
Source	European Red List habitat factsheet
	European Red List of habitats reports
	European Red List of habitats (Excel table)

Summary

This habitat is formed on clean sands of shallow waters (between 4 and 25 m depth) on open coasts, subjected to moderate wave action, which allows for the accumulation of organic matter and fine sediments (<63 µm). These bottoms are dominated by deposit feeders, but filter feeders and carnivores are also present. Invertebrate assemblages found in this habitat correspond to those described as 'Littoral Fine Sand assemblages' (dominated by Spisula subtruncata), but are very close to muddy assemblages (Littoral Sandy Mud and Terrigenous Coastal Mud). Although this habitat typically lacks a significant seaweed or seagrass component, the presence of Cymodocea nodosa or Posidonia oceanica is frequent.

Several sub-habitats have been described. These are a sub-habitat of Spisula subtruncata, characterized by the bivalves Spisula subtruncata and Lucinella divaricate; a sub-habitat of Nephthys hombergii which is a transitional assemblage to circalittoral habitats;and a sub-habitat with Lentidium mediterraneum which is commonly associated to sandy flat areas shallower than 4 m depth, in estuaries and embayments.

Indicators of quality:

Most of the species included in the description of the habitat are bioindicators of environmental quality. The majority of bivalves are very sensitive to eutrophication and population changes in abundance and composition might indicate a change on habitat quality.

Characteristic species

For full habitat description, please download the habitat factsheet.

Threat status

Synthesis of Red List assessment

This is a widespread habitat in the Mediterranean Sea, however there is very little information on its distribution, impacts and reductions in quantity and quality. The habitat has a large Extent of Occurrence (EOO) and Area of Occupancy (AOO), and therefore qualifies as Least Concern under Criterion B. However, the habitat is assessed as Data Deficient for both the EU 28 and the EU 28+ because of a lack of information on its 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

low

Red List of habitat categories and criteria descriptions

European Red List of Habitats categories

Based on Scientific Foundations for an IUCN Red List of Ecosystems

European Red List of Habitats criteria

Reduction in quantity (area of distribution)	A	A1 Present decline (over last 50 years) A2a Future decline (over the next 50 years) A2b Future/present decline (over a 50-year period inclunding present and future) A3 Historic decline
Restricted geographic distribution	B	B1 Restricted Extent of Occurrence (EOO) B2 Restricted Area of Occupancy (AOO) B3 Present at few locations
Reduction in abiotic quality	C	C/D1 Reduction in quality over the last 50 years C/D2 Reduction in quality in the future or in a period including present and future C/D3 Historic reduction in quality
Reduction in biotic quality	D
Quantitative analysis of probability of collapse	E

From Scientific Foundations for an IUCN Red List of Ecosystems

Pressures and threats

Biological resource use other than agriculture & forestry

Intensive fish farming, intensification
Suspension culture
Bottom culture
Benthic dredging

Pollution

Pollution to surface waters (limnic, terrestrial, marine & brackish)
Pollution to surface waters by industrial plants
Nutrient enrichment (N, P, organic matter)

Habitat restoration potential

In high-energy environments where this habitat occurs, the impact of human activities may be considered transitory and negligible and therefore recovery might be relatively fast.

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

There are no current specific conservation actions in place for this habitat. The broad distribution of this habitat makes it likely to occur in protected areas, however detailed information is missing. A wide survey to assess the distribution of this habitat is needed in order to better evaluate its conservation and management. The designation of reference sites for long monitoring trends and the continuation of those already existing will assist to examine the trends in this habitat.
Moreover, improving spatial and strategic planning of human activities, in particular to promote the wiser use of habitats where there are competing demands (e.g. fishing, sand and gravel extraction) is necessary in order to ensure the good conservation status of this habitat in the Mediterranean Sea.

List of conservation and management needs

Measures related to marine habitats

Other marine-related measures

Measures related to spatial planning

Other marine-related measures

Measures related to hunting, taking and fishing and species management

Regulation/Management of fishery in marine and brackish systems

Distribution

For each habitat a distribution map was produced from a wide variety of sources indicating known and potential occurrences of the habitat in 10x10 km grids within Europe. Occurrences in grid cells were given in two classes: actual distribution from relatively reliable sources (surveys, expert knowledge), and potential distribution based on models or less reliable indicators. Please download the fact sheet to see the map.

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)
Adriatic Sea	Present	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Aegian-Levantine Sea
Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea
Western Mediterranean Sea

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	892	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+	>50		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.

AOO = the area occupied by a habitat measured in number of 10x10 km grid cells.
EOO = the area (km2) of the envelope around all occurrences of a habitat (calculated by a minimum convex polygon).

Characteristic species

The full list of characteristic species and genus are available above from the Summary. The species available in the EUNIS database are shown here.

Fishes Arnoglossus laterna

Fishes Gymnammodytes cicerelus

Fishes Xyrichtys novacula

Flowering Plants Cymodocea nodosa

Invertebrates Ampelisca brevicornis

Invertebrates Ampelisca diadema

Invertebrates Aponuphis bilineata

Invertebrates Cerastoderma glaucum

Invertebrates Chone duneri

Invertebrates Corbula gibba

Invertebrates Diogenes pugilator

Invertebrates Ditrupa arietina

Invertebrates Donax trunculus

Invertebrates Dosinia lupinus

Invertebrates Echinocardium mediterraneum

Invertebrates Lentidium mediterraneum

Invertebrates Lucinella divaricata

Invertebrates Lumbrineris latreilli

Invertebrates Magelona mirabilis

Invertebrates Mediomastus fragilis

Invertebrates Notomastus aberans

Invertebrates Owenia fusiformis

Invertebrates Paradoneis armata

Invertebrates Peresiella clymenoides

Invertebrates Portumnus latipes

Invertebrates Prionospio caspersi

Invertebrates Scolelepis squamata

Invertebrates Scoletoma impatiens

Invertebrates Siphonoecetes dellavallei

Invertebrates Spatangus purpureus

Invertebrates Spio decoratus

Invertebrates Spiochaetopterus costarum

Invertebrates Spisula subtruncata

Invertebrates Tellina fabula

Invertebrates Tellina tenuis

Invertebrates Thracia papyracea

Invertebrates Urothoe intermedia

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Arnoglossus laterna	Scald fish	Fishes
Gymnammodytes cicerelus	Mediterranean sand eel	Fishes
Xyrichtys novacula	Cleaver wrasse	Fishes
Cymodocea nodosa		Flowering Plants
Ampelisca brevicornis		Invertebrates
Ampelisca diadema		Invertebrates
Aponuphis bilineata		Invertebrates
Cerastoderma glaucum		Invertebrates
Chone duneri		Invertebrates
Corbula gibba		Invertebrates
Diogenes pugilator		Invertebrates
Ditrupa arietina		Invertebrates
Donax trunculus		Invertebrates
Dosinia lupinus		Invertebrates
Echinocardium mediterraneum		Invertebrates
Lentidium mediterraneum		Invertebrates
Lucinella divaricata		Invertebrates
Lumbrineris latreilli		Invertebrates
Magelona mirabilis		Invertebrates
Mediomastus fragilis		Invertebrates
Notomastus aberans		Invertebrates
Owenia fusiformis		Invertebrates
Paradoneis armata		Invertebrates
Peresiella clymenoides		Invertebrates
Portumnus latipes		Invertebrates
Prionospio caspersi		Invertebrates
Scolelepis squamata		Invertebrates
Scoletoma impatiens		Invertebrates
Siphonoecetes dellavallei		Invertebrates
Spatangus purpureus		Invertebrates
Spio decoratus		Invertebrates
Spiochaetopterus costarum		Invertebrates
Spisula subtruncata		Invertebrates
Tellina fabula		Invertebrates
Tellina tenuis		Invertebrates
Thracia papyracea		Invertebrates
Urothoe intermedia		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	Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time	1110	Overlap	http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm
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

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Faunal communities in Mediterranean infralittoral fine sand

Quick facts

Summary

Threat status

Synthesis of Red List assessment

Confidence in the assessment

European Red List of Habitats categories

European Red List of Habitats criteria

Pressures and threats

Habitat restoration potential

Trends in extent

Average current trend in quantity

Trends in quality

Average current trend in quality

Conservation and management needs

List of conservation and management needs

Distribution

Geographic occurrence and trends

Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area

Characteristic species

Legal status

Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Other classifications