Marine Atlantic infralittoral muddy sand
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code NEAA5.24 |
---|---|
Threat status | |
Europe | Near Threatened |
EU | Near Threatened |
Relation to |
|
Source | European Red List habitat factsheet |
European Red List of habitats reports | |
European Red List of habitats (Excel table) |
Summary
This habitat is typically on a substrate of non-cohesive muddy sand (with 5% to 20% silt/clay). It occurs in the infralittoral zone, extending from the extreme lower shore down to more stable circalittoral zone at about 15-20 m. The habitat develops on sheltered shores in fully marine conditions, or occasionally in areas subject to variable salinity. The habitat supports a variety of animal-dominated communities, particularly polychaetes, bivalves and the urchin Echinocardium cordatum depending on the sediment characteristics and the degree of shelter. In stable, fine, compacted sands and slightly muddy sands in the infralittoral and littoral fringe, communities occur that are dominated by venerid bivalves.
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.
Threat status
Synthesis of Red List assessment
EU | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Near Threatened | C/D1 |
Europe | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Near Threatened | C/D1 |
Confidence in the assessment
Pressures and threats
- Urbanisation, residential and commercial development
- Discharges
- Disposal of household / Recreational facility waste
- Disposal of industrial waste
- Water discharges (with/without contaminants)
- Biological resource use other than agriculture & forestry
- Marine and Freshwater Aquaculture
- Intensive fish farming, intensification
- Suspension culture
- Bottom culture
- Fishing and harvesting aquatic resources
- Professional active fishing
- Benthic or demersal trawling
- Benthic dredging
- Pollution
- Marine water pollution
- Oil spills in the sea
Habitat restoration potential
Trends in extent |
|
Average current trend in quantity |
|
Stable ![]() |
Stable ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Trends in quality |
|
Average current trend in quality |
|
Decreasing ![]() |
Decreasing ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Conservation and management needs
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
- Measures related to urban areas, industry, energy and transport
- Other measures
- 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) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bay of Biscay and the Iberian Coast | Present | Unknown | Decreasing | 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 | 3,456,649 | 599 | >661 | The area estimate for this habitat has been derived from a synthesis of EUNIS seabed habitat geospatial information for the European Seas but is recognised as being an underestimate |
EU28+ | >599 | >661 | 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 |
---|---|---|
Arenicola marina | Invertebrates | |
Asterias rubens | Invertebrates | |
Chaetozone setosa | Invertebrates | |
Chamelea gallina | Invertebrates | |
Echinocardium cordatum | Invertebrates | |
Lanice conchilega | Invertebrates | |
Magelona mirabilis | Invertebrates | |
Nephtys hombergii | Invertebrates | |
Spiophanes bombyx | Invertebrates | |
Spisula elliptica | Invertebrates | |
Spisula subtruncata | Invertebrates |