Description of biotope or habitat type
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Coralline crust-dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Very exposed, Exposed, Moderately exposed, Sheltered |
| Tidal streams | |
| Substratum | Bedrock; boulders |
| Zone | Eulittoral, Littoral fringe |
| Depth Band | Mid shore, Upper shore |
| Other Features | Rockpool |
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
Shallow and smaller rockpools throughout the eulittoral zone in a wide range of wave exposures characterised by a covering of encrusting coralline algae on which Corallina officinalis often forms a dense turf. The bottom of these pools can be covered in coarse gravel and cobbles. These 'coralline' pools have a striking appearance as they are dominated by red seaweeds. Foliose red seaweeds found in these pools include Mastocarpus stellatus, Chondrus crispus and the filamentous Ceramium nodulosum. The ephemeral green seaweeds Cladophora rupestris, Ulva lactuca and Ulva spp. can also occur in high abundance. The pools may hold large numbers of grazing molluscs, particularly the winkle Littorina littorea (which often occur in exceptionally high densities in upper shore pools) and the limpet Patella vulgata. Gastropods may graze these pools to such an extent that they is devoid of any foliose red seaweeds, and the flora are reduced to encrusting coralline algae and large numbers of gastropods. Large brown seaweeds are generally absent. Within the pools, pits and crevices are often occupied by the anemone Actinia equina and small individuals of the mussel Mytilus edulis. The whelk Nucella lapillus can be found on the rock surface preying on the barnacles and mussels. A number of variants have been identified. Pools dominated by coralline algae and foliose red seaweeds with a distribution throughout the UK (see Cor.Cor). In Ireland, the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus can dominate these shallow coralline pools (see Cor.Par). In south-west Britain, the brown seaweed Bifurcaria bifurcata (Cor.Bif) or Cystoseira spp. (Cor.Cys) can be regionally dominant.
Situation
Rockpools throughout the eulittoral and lower littoral fringe on rocky shores.
Temporal variation
No temporal variation data available.
Characterising species
| Taxon | Relative importance of taxon for defining this community (%) | Typical abundance - SACFOR scale | % of core records where taxon was recorded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corallinaceae | 26 | Abundant | 81-100% |
| Corallina officinalis | 23 | Common | 81-100% |
| Ulva intestinalis | 7 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Littorina littorea | 6 | Common | 41-60% |
| Patella vulgata | 6 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Actinia equina | 4 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Ulva lactuca | 3 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Ceramium nodulosum | 2 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Mytilus edulis | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Chondrus crispus | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Cladophora | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Mastocarpus stellatus | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Nucella lapillus | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
Not applicable or unknown.
Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code |
|---|---|
| 1996 (6.95) | Includes RKP.Gas |
