Kelp in variable salinity low energy Atlantic infralittoral rock
Quick facts
| Red List habitat type | code NEAA3.32 |
|---|---|
| Threat status | |
| Europe | Data Deficient |
| EU | Data Deficient |
| Relation to |
|
| Source | European Red List habitat factsheet |
| European Red List of habitats reports | |
| European Red List of habitats (Excel table) |
Summary
This is a structurally complex habitat that develops in areas of very wave-sheltered infralittoral bedrock, boulders and cobbles subject to only weak tidal streams in the sublittoral fringe and infralittoral zone, with variable/reduced salinity typical for estuaries. The variabile salinity and increased turbidity have a signficiant effect on the biota, limiting species richness of seaweeds and the occurance to shallower parts of the infralittoral zone. The kelp canopy is characterised by Saccharina latissima only with accompanying foliose red seaweeds and coralline crusts. Laminaria hyperborea is generally missing due to the low salinity and weak tidal currents. The associated biotopes may support dense stands of silted filamentous green seaweeds and red seaweeds, depauperate coralline-encrusted rock with few foliose seaweeds but many grazing urchins and, in very shallow, heavily-silted situations, dense stands of Codium spp., together with silt-tolerant red seaweeds, the green seaweed Ulva spp. and often only a sparse covering of the kelp Saccharina latissima.
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. The depth limit of kelp and/or red seaweeds is used in some countries as a Water Framework Directive parameter for assessing ecological status.
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
- Urbanisation, residential and commercial development
- Disposal of household / Recreational facility waste
- Disposal of industrial waste
- Water discharges (with/without contaminants)
- Pollution
- Marine water pollution
- Non-synthetic compound contamination
- Synthetic compound contamination
- Natural System modifications
- Human induced changes in hydraulic conditions
- Landfill, land reclamation and drying out, general
- Modification of hydrographic functioning, general
- Modification of water flow (tidal & marine currents)
- Wave exposure changes
- Dykes, embankments, artificial beaches, general
- Sea defense or coast protection works, tidal barrages
- Dykes and flooding defense in inland water systems
- Climate change
- Flooding and rising precipitations
- Water flow changes (limnic, tidal and oceanic)
- Wave exposure changes
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
List of conservation and management needs
- Measures related to wetland, freshwater and coastal habitats
- Restoring/Improving water quality
- Measures related to spatial planning
- Other marine-related measures
- Establish protected areas/sites
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 | Unknown | Unknown |
| Celtic Seas | ||||
| Greater North Sea | ||||
| 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 | unknown | unknown | Unknown | This habitat is widespread in estuaries and inlets however there is insufficient quantitative data to make an accurate estimate of EOO and AOO. |
| EU28+ | unknown | Unknown | This habitat is widespread in estuaries and inlets however there is insufficient quantitative data to make an accurate estimate of EOO and AOO. |
EOO = the area (km2) of the envelope around all occurrences of a habitat (calculated by a minimum convex polygon).
