Description of biotope or habitat type
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Sabellaria alveolata reefs on sand-abraded eulittoral rock
Physical habitat description
Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
---|---|
Wave exposure | Exposed, Moderately exposed |
Tidal streams | |
Substratum | Cobbles; boulders; pebbles; sand |
Zone | Eulittoral - lower, Eulittoral - mid |
Depth Band | Lower shore, Mid shore |
Other Features | Sand-abraded |
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'
Point data based on records in the UK Marine Recorder Snapshot.
Description
Exposed to moderately exposed bedrock and boulders in the eastern basin of the Irish Sea (and as far south as Cornwall) characterised by reefs of the polychaete Sabellaria alveolata. The sand based tubes formed by S. alveolata form large reef-like hummocks, which serve to stabilise the boulders and cobbles. Other species in this biotope include the barnacles Semibalanus balanoides and Austrominius modestus and the limpet Patella vulgata, the winkle Littorina littorea, the mussel Mytilus edulis and the whelk Nucella lapillus. The anemone Actinia equina and the crab Carcinus maenas can be present in cracks and crevices on the reef. Low abundance of seaweeds tend to occur in areas of eroded reef. The seaweed diversity can be high and may include the foliose red seaweeds Palmaria palmata, Mastocarpus stellatus, Osmundea pinnatifida, Chondrus crispus and some filamentous species e.g. Polysiphonia spp. and Ceramium spp. Coralline crusts can occur in patches. Wracks such as Fucus vesiculosus, Fucus serratus and the brown seaweed Cladostephus spongiosus may occur along with the ephemeral green seaweeds Ulva intestinalis and Ulva lactuca. On exposed surf beaches in the south-west S. alveolata forms a crust on the rocks, rather than the classic honeycomb reef form, and may be accompanied by the barnacle Perforatus perforatus (typically common to abundant). On wave-exposed shores in Ireland, the wrack Himanthalia elongata can also occur.
Situation
Above Salv are biotopes dominated either by ephemeral seaweeds, such as Ulva spp. and Porphyra spp. or the perennial wrack Fucus vesiculosus on mixed substrata (FvesB; Fves.X; EphX; EntPor). Rockpool biotopes dominated by the red seaweed Corallina officinalis (Cor), by wracks such as Fucus spp. or by kelp such as Laminaria spp. (FK) can usually be found above this biotope. Beneath this biotope is a community consisting of mixed scour-tolerant like the kelp Laminaria digitata and opportunistic foliose red seaweeds such as Polyides rotunda and Ahnfeltia plicata (Ldig.Ldig; XKScrR; EphR; PolAhn). In adjacent sediment areas Lanice conchilega may dominante (Lan).
Temporal variation
These reefs may be susceptible to storm damage in the winter, although they can regenerate remarkably quickly in a season as long as some adults are left as they facilitate the larval settlement. S. alveolata is tolerant to burial under sand for several weeks. Changes in desiccation over a period of time can cause part of the population to die.
Characterising species
Taxon | Relative importance of taxon for defining this community (%) | Typical abundance - SACFOR scale | % of core records where taxon was recorded |
---|---|---|---|
Sabellaria alveolata | 24 | Common | 81-100% |
Semibalanus balanoides | 8 | Frequent | 61-80% |
Nucella lapillus | 7 | Frequent | 61-80% |
Littorina littorea | 6 | Frequent | 61-80% |
Fucus serratus | 5 | Frequent | 61-80% |
Patella vulgata | 5 | Occasional | 61-80% |
Ulva lactuca | 4 | Occasional | 61-80% |
Corallinaceae | 3 | Frequent | 41-60% |
Mytilus edulis | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
Actinia equina | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
Ceramium nodulosum | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
Chondrus crispus | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
Cladostephus spongiosus | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
Corallina officinalis | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
Austrominius modestus | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
Mastocarpus stellatus | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
Osmundea pinnatifida | 2 | Frequent | 41-60% |
Palmaria palmata | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
Polysiphonia | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
Fucus vesiculosus | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
Carcinus maenas | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
Ulva intestinalis | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
Steromphala cineraria | 1 | Rare | 21-40% |
Lanice conchilega | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
IR.MIR.KR.Lhyp.Sab
Occurs in the upper infralittoral zone. Kelp such as Laminaria spp. are present.Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
Classification version | Code |
---|---|
1996 (6.95) | MLR.Sab |
1995 | LMXD.SAB |