Description of biotope or habitat type
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Halcampa chrysanthellum and Edwardsia timida on sublittoral clean stone gravel
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Moderately exposed, Sheltered, Extremely sheltered |
| Tidal streams | Strong (3-6 kn), Moderately strong (1-3 kn), Weak (>1 kn) |
| Substratum | Clean stone gravel with pebbles |
| Zone | Infralittoral |
| Depth Band | 0-5 m, 5-10 m, 10-20 m |
| Other Features |
Biotope origin
| Derived using data from | Video/still |
| 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
Periodically disturbed sublittoral stone gravel with small pebbles characterised by the presence of the anemones Halcampa chrysanthellum and Edwardsia timida. Associated species are often typical of a hydroid/bryozoan turf with polychaetes such as Spirobranchus spp. encrusting larger pebbles and low numbers of syllid and phyllodocid polychaetes living interstitially. In some areas this biotope may also contain opportunistic red seaweeds and infauna such as Sabella pavonina. It should be noted that this habitat may show considerable variation in community composition and it is possible that it is a sub-biotope of other gravel biotopes.
Situation
This biotope tends to occur at the entrance to marine inlets where tidal currents are moderately strong.
Temporal variation
The faunal composition and species richness of this biotope may vary seasonally as a result of disturbance from increased wave or tidal action.
Characterising species
| Taxon | Relative importance of taxon for defining this community (%) | Typical abundance - SACFOR scale | % of core records where taxon was recorded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edwardsia timida | 18 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Halcampa chrysanthellum | 11 | Rare | 61-80% |
| Asterias rubens | 6 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Spirobranchus triqueter | 6 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Cylista elegans | 6 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Alcyonidium diaphanum | 5 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Lanice conchilega | 4 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Pagurus bernhardus | 4 | Rare | 41-60% |
| Pholis gunnellus | 3 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Bryozoa | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Carcinus maenas | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Cerianthus lloydii | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Edwardsia claparedii | 2 | 21-40% | |
| Obelia | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Obelia geniculata | 2 | 21-40% | |
| Urticina felina | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Alcyonium digitatum | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Amphipholis squamata | 1 | 21-40% | |
| Chondrus crispus | 1 | 21-40% | |
| Chorda filum | 1 | 21-40% | |
| Clavelina lepadiformis | 1 | Rare | 21-40% |
| Crossaster papposus | 1 | 21-40% | |
| Cryptopleura ramosa | 1 | 21-40% | |
| Desmarestia aculeata | 1 | 21-40% | |
| Dilsea carnosa | 1 | 21-40% | |
| Eudendrium | 1 | Rare | 21-40% |
| Eupolymnia nebulosa | 1 | 21-40% | |
| Steromphala cineraria | 1 | 21-40% | |
| Saccharina latissima | 1 | 21-40% | |
| Nemertesia antennina | 1 | Rare | 21-40% |
| Nitophyllum punctatum | 1 | 21-40% | |
| Pecten maximus | 1 | Rare | 21-40% |
| Polysiphonia stricta | 1 | 21-40% | |
| Sabella pavonina | 1 | Rare | 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.SCS.ICS.HchrEdw | Halcampa chrysanthellum and Edwardsia timida on sublittoral clean stone gravel |
| 2004 (04.05) | SS.SCS.ICS.HchrEdw | Halcampa chrysanthellum and Edwardsia timida on sublittoral clean stone gravel |
| 1997 (97.06) | SS.IGS.FaG.HalEdw | Halcampa chrysanthellum and Edwardsia timida on sublittoral clean stone gravel |