Marine Atlantic infralittoral sandy mud
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code NEAA5.33 |
---|---|
Threat status | |
Europe | Near Threatened |
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
Infralittoral, cohesive sandy mud, typically with over 20% silt/clay, in depths of less than 15-20 m. This habitat is generally found in sheltered bays or marine inlets and along sheltered areas of open coast. Tidal streams can vary from negligible to moderately strong (1-3kn). Six associated biotopes have been identified dominated by different species.
Indicators of quality:
Both biotic and abiotic indicators have been used to describe marine habitat quality. These include; the presence of characteristic species (especially those which are sensitive to the pressures the habitat may face), water quality parameters, levels of exposure to particular pressure as well as 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.
Key driving influences and output processes of shallow sublittoral mud habitats that are likely to be sensitive to pressures and may be useful for monitoring to identify anthropogenic causes of change include habitat structure changes, removal of particular species such as those which are key in bioturbation and biodeposition, or nutrient and biogeochemical cycling, changes in siltation rates and organic enrichment.
Threat status
Synthesis of Red List assessment
Most sedimentary benthic systems on the continental shelf of Europe have been modified by fishing activities in the last 100 years and this pressure continues today. There is a lack of comprehensive data however expert opinion is that this habitat should be assesssed as Near Threatened for both the EU 28 and EU 28+ because of both past and likely future declines in quality.
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
- Biological resource use other than agriculture & forestry
- Fishing and harvesting aquatic resources
- Professional active fishing
- Pollution
- Pollution to surface waters (limnic, terrestrial, marine & brackish)
- Nutrient enrichment (N, P, organic matter)
- Natural System modifications
- Human induced changes in hydraulic conditions
- Modification of hydrographic functioning, general
Habitat restoration potential
Recovery times following oxygen depletion and pollution has been investigated in several studies of the Gullmarsfjord, Sweden showing and reported to be between 2-8 years. Differences in the recoverability of different species groups following fishing may result in changes in community composition and ecosystem functioning over the long term.
Trends in extent |
|
Average current trend in quantity |
|
Unknown ![]() |
Unknown ![]() |
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
- Establish protected areas/sites
- 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) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bay of Biscay and the Iberian Coast | Present | Unknown | Decreasing | Unknown |
Celtic Seas | ||||
Kattegat | ||||
Greater North Sea | ||||
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 | 3,172,859 | 177 | >354 | 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+ | >177 | >354 | 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 |
---|---|---|
Ampelisca brevicornis | Invertebrates | |
Ascidiella aspersa | Invertebrates | |
Capitella capitata | Invertebrates | |
Carcinus maenas | Invertebrates | |
Chaetozone gibber | Invertebrates | |
Liocarcinus depurator | Invertebrates | |
Macoma balthica | Invertebrates | |
Mysella bidentata | Invertebrates | |
Nucula nitidosa | Invertebrates | |
Pagurus bernhardus | Invertebrates | |
Scoloplos armiger | Invertebrates | |
Virgularia mirabilis | 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 |
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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 | Large shallow inlets and bays | 1160 | Overlap | http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm |