Description of biotope or habitat type
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Sublittoral mud in low or reduced salinity (lagoons)
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Reduced (18-30ppt), Low (<18ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Extremely sheltered |
| Tidal streams | Weak (>1 kn), Very weak (negligible) |
| Substratum | Mud and sandy mud |
| Zone | Infralittoral, Sublittoral fringe |
| Depth Band | 0-5 m |
| Other Features |
Biotope origin
| Derived using data from | Various |
| Faunal group | Infauna |
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
Shallow, typically anoxic, muddy and sandy mud sediments in areas of low or reduced, although stable, salinity (may vary annually) with largely ephemeral faunal communities. Characterised by Arenicola marina and blue-green algae with other species which commonly occur in lagoons, including Corophium spp. and Chironomid larvae. Important infaunal species may include polychaetes Hediste diversicolor, and oligochaetes Baltidrilus costatus and Tubificoides spp. Other species found include mysids and Carcinus maenas.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arenicola marina | 45 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Hediste diversicolor | 44 | Abundant | 61-80% |
| Baltidrilus costatus | 34 | Abundant | 61-80% |
| Chironomidae | 15 | Common | 61-80% |
| Mysidae | 13 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Carcinus maenas | 8 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Corophium volutator | 8 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Crangon crangon | 8 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Ruppia | 4 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Peringia ulvae | 3 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Pygospio elegans | 3 | 41-60% | |
| Peringia ulvae | 1 | Common | 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.SMu.SMuLS | Sublittoral mud in low or reduced salinity (lagoons) |
| 2004 (04.05) | SS.SMu.SMuLS | Sublittoral mud in low or reduced salinity (lagoons) |