Description of biotope or habitat type
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Saccharina latissima and red seaweeds on infralittoral sediments
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Extremely exposed, Exposed, Moderately exposed, Sheltered |
| Tidal streams | Moderately strong (1-3 kn), Weak (>1 kn) |
| Substratum | Small boulders, cobbles and pebbles with gravel |
| Zone | Infralittoral |
| Depth Band | 0-5 m, 5-10 m, 10-20 m, 20-30 m |
| Other Features |
Biotope origin
| Derived using data from | Various |
| Faunal group | Epifauna |
Download comparative physical and biological data. The comparative tables enable a rapid comparison of the species composition and principal physical characteristics between a given set of biotopes.
- Records used to define the biotope (core records)
- Other records assigned to this biotope, marked as 'certain'
- Other records assigned to this biotope, marked as 'uncertain'
- Predicted extent of the level 3 (for sublittoral rock & deep sea) or 4 (for sublittoral sediment) habitat
Point data based on records in the UK Marine Recorder Snapshot. Predicted habitat extent is from UKSeaMap.
Description
On infralittoral mixed muddy substrata communities characterised by the kelp Saccharina latissima and mixed filamentous and foliose red algae can be found. This biotope contains a number of sub-biotopes distinguished by the degree of either wave or tidal exposure. In moderately strong tidal streams in exposed areas Laminaria is sparse and dense stands of red seaweeds are found attached to the boulders and cobbles that make up a large proportion of the sediment (SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatR.CbPb). As the degree of wave and/or tidal exposure decreases there is a change in community structure, with the density of Laminaria and the diversity of red algal species increasing (SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatR.Gv). As the environment becomes more stable a few brown algal species are able to inhabit this environment and a rich infauna develops (SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatR.Sa). In the most sheltered examples of this biotope a diverse muddy sediment infauna can be found and the 'Trailliella' phase of Bonnemaisonia hamifera may develop (SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatR.Mu).
Situation
No situation data available.
Temporal variation
No temporal data available.
Characterising species
| Taxon | Relative importance of taxon for defining this community (%) | Typical abundance - SACFOR scale | % of core records where taxon was recorded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asterias rubens | 7 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Saccharina latissima | 7 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Pagurus bernhardus | 6 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Plocamium cartilagineum | 4 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Liocarcinus depurator | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Corallinaceae | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Bonnemaisonia asparagoides | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Vertebrata byssoides | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Cerianthus lloydii | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Desmarestia aculeata | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Desmarestia viridis | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Dictyota dichotoma | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Steromphala cineraria | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Halarachnion ligulatum | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Lanice conchilega | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Phycodrys rubens | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Carradoriella elongata | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Spirobranchus triqueter | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Seraphsidae | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Echinus esculentus | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Ulva | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Chaetopterus variopedatus | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Chorda filum | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Delesseria sanguinea | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Gibbula magus | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Lomentaria clavellosa | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Pterothamnion plumula | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Rhodophyllis divaricata | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
Not applicable or unknown.
Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code | Habitat name |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 (15.03) | SS.SMp.KSwSS.LsacR | Laminaria latissima and red seaweeds on infralittoral sediments |
| 2004 (04.05) | SS.SMp.KSwSS.LsacR | Laminaria latissima and red seaweeds on infralittoral sediments |
| 1997 (97.06) | Part of SS.IMX.KSxMx.LsacX | Laminaria saccharina, Chorda filum and filamentous red seaweeds on sheltered infralittoral sediment |
| 1997 (97.06) | Part of SS.MIR.SedK.EphR | Ephemeral red seaweeds and kelps on tide-swept mobile infralittoral cobbles |