Description of biotope or habitat type
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Crustose sponges and colonial ascidians with Dendrodoa grossularia or barnacles on wave-surged infralittoral rock
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Extremely exposed, Very exposed, Exposed, Moderately exposed |
| Tidal streams | Strong (3-6 kn), Moderately strong (1-3 kn), Weak (>1 kn), Very weak (negligible) |
| Substratum | Bedrock |
| Zone | Infralittoral, Sublittoral fringe |
| Depth Band | 0-5 m, 5-10 m, 10-20 m |
| Other Features | Surge gullies and caves |
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
Vertical and overhanging, exposed to moderately exposed bedrock gullies, tunnels and cave entrances subject to wave surge, and dominated by the crustose sponges Halichondria panicea, Myxilla incrustans, Clathrina coriacea, Leucosolenia botryoides, Amphilectus fucorum and Grantia compressa. There may also be dense aggregations of the anthozoan Cylista elegans, dwarf Metridium senile, Alcyonium digitatum, and Urticina felina, and a dense covering of the barnacle Balanus crenatus on the bare rock face. Dense aggregations of the robust hydroid Tubularia indivisa may be recorded, growing through the sponge crust. Colonial ascidians such as Polyclinum aurantium, Botryllus schlosseri, Botrylloides leachii, Aplidium nordmanni and the solitary ascidian Dendrodoa grossularia may all be recorded. The echinoderms Asterias rubens, Echinus esculentus, Henricia sp., the crab Cancer pagurus and the calcareous tubeworm Spirobranchus triqueter may also be present on the rock face, along with encrusting coralline algae.
Situation
No situation data available.
Temporal variation
Unknown.
Characterising species
| Taxon | Relative importance of taxon for defining this community (%) | Typical abundance - SACFOR scale | % of core records where taxon was recorded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balanus crenatus | 7 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Cylista elegans | 7 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Halichondria panicea | 6 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Polyclinum aurantium | 5 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Tubularia indivisa | 5 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Botrylloides leachii | 4 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Botryllus schlosseri | 4 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Cancer pagurus | 4 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Metridium senile | 4 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Myxilla incrustans | 4 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Corallinaceae | 3 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Alcyonium digitatum | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Asterias rubens | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Clathrina coriacea | 3 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Spirobranchus triqueter | 3 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Aplidium nordmanni | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Caprelloidea | 2 | Common | 21-40% |
| Dendrodoa grossularia | 2 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Urticina felina | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Bryozoa indet crusts | 1 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Didemnidae | 1 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Amphilectus fucorum | 1 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Grantia compressa | 1 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Henricia | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Leucosolenia botryoides | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Echinus esculentus | 1 | Occasional | 41-60% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
IR.FIR.SG.CrSpAsAn