Faunal communities in Mediterranean infralittoral fine sand
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code MEDA5.23 |
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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 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.
Threat status
Synthesis of Red List assessment
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
- 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
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
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
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. |
EOO = the area (km2) of the envelope around all occurrences of a habitat (calculated by a minimum convex polygon).