Description of biotope or habitat type
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Laminaria hyperborea forest and foliose red seaweeds on tide-swept upper infralittoral mixed substrata
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Moderately exposed, Sheltered |
| Tidal streams | Strong (3-6 kn), Moderately strong (1-3 kn), Weak (>1 kn), Very weak (negligible) |
| Substratum | Bedrock, boulders, cobbles, pebbles and gravel |
| Zone | Infralittoral |
| Depth Band | 0-5 m, 5-10 m, 10-20 m |
| Other Features |
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
Moderately wave-exposed to wave sheltered, tide-swept mixed substrata, with dense Laminaria hyperborea forest and sparser Saccharina latissima, characterised by an under-storey and stipe flora of foliose seaweeds. The kelp stipes support epiphytes such as Palmaria palmata Metacallophyllis laciniata, Cryptopleura ramosa, Membranoptera alata, and Phycodrys rubens. At some sites, instead of being covered by red seaweeds, the kelp stipes are heavily encrusted by the ascidians Botryllus schlosseri and in the south-west Distomus variolosus. Epilithic seaweeds (Delesseria sanguinea, Plocamium cartilagineum, Odonthalia dentata, Dictyota dichotoma and Desmarestia aculeata) and crustose seaweeds commonly occur beneath the kelp. The kelp fronds are often covered with growth of the hydroid Obelia geniculata or the bryozoan Membranipora membranacea. Although these species are also found in most kelp forests, in this biotope they are particularly dense. On the rock surface, a rich fauna comprising anthozoans such as Urticina felina, the barnacle Balanus crenatus, the calcareous tubeworm Spirobranchus triqueter, colonial ascidians such as Clavelina lepadiformis, the gastropods Calliostoma zizyphinum and Steromphala cineraria, and the bryozoans Electra pilosa and Alcyonidium diaphanum occur. Also found on the rock are the echinoderms Echinus esculentus, Asterias rubens and Ophiothrix fragilis, and the crabs Cancer pagurus, Pagurus bernhardus and Necora puber.
Situation
No situation data available.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asterias rubens | 5 | 61-80% | |
| Laminaria hyperborea | 5 | 81-100% | |
| Echinus esculentus | 5 | 61-80% | |
| Calliostoma zizyphinum | 4 | 61-80% | |
| Saccharina latissima | 4 | 61-80% | |
| Cancer pagurus | 3 | 41-60% | |
| Delesseria sanguinea | 3 | 61-80% | |
| Desmarestia aculeata | 3 | 41-60% | |
| Steromphala cineraria | 3 | 61-80% | |
| Odonthalia dentata | 3 | 41-60% | |
| Phycodrys rubens | 3 | 61-80% | |
| Plocamium cartilagineum | 3 | 61-80% | |
| Membranipora membranacea | 2 | 41-60% | |
| Electra pilosa | 2 | 41-60% | |
| Botryllus schlosseri | 2 | 41-60% | |
| Metacallophyllis laciniata | 2 | 41-60% | |
| Clavelina lepadiformis | 2 | 41-60% | |
| Cryptopleura ramosa | 2 | 41-60% | |
| Membranoptera alata | 2 | 41-60% | |
| Necora puber | 2 | 41-60% | |
| Obelia geniculata | 2 | 41-60% | |
| Spirobranchus triqueter | 2 | 41-60% | |
| Urticina felina | 2 | 41-60% | |
| Alcyonidium diaphanum | 1 | 41-60% | |
| Balanus crenatus | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Dictyota dichotoma | 1 | 41-60% | |
| Ophiothrix fragilis | 1 | 21-40% | |
| Pagurus bernhardus | 1 | 21-40% | |
| Palmaria palmata | 1 | 41-60% | |
| Lithophyllum | 1 | 41-60% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types