Description of biotope or habitat type
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Laminaria hyperborea park and foliose red seaweeds on tide-swept lower infralittoral mixed substrata
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Exposed, Moderately exposed |
| Tidal streams | Very strong (>6 kn), Strong (3-6 kn), Moderately strong (1-3 kn) |
| Substratum | Boulders, cobbles, pebbles & gravel |
| Zone | Infralittoral - lower |
| Depth Band | 10-20 m, 20-30 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
Exposed to moderately wave-exposed, tide-swept, Infralittoral mixed substrata with Laminaria hyperborea park characterised by an under-storey and stipe flora of foliose seaweeds such as Phycodrys rubens, Plocamium cartilagineum, Hypoglossum hypoglossoides, Kallymenia reniformis, Cryptopleura ramosa and Delesseria sanguinea. Epilithic seaweeds (Bonnemaisonia asparagoides, Metacallophyllis laciniata, Lomentaria orcadensis and Vertebrata byssoides) and crustose seaweeds commonly occur beneath the kelp. The foliose brown seaweed Dictyota dichotoma is often present as well. Amongst the red seaweeds is a fairly diverse fauna comprising sponges (Scypha ciliate), anthozoans (Alcyonium digitatum, Urticina felina and Caryophyllia smithii), hydroids (Tubularia indivisa, Halecium halecinum, Sertularia argentea and Nemertesia antennina), colonial ascidians (Botryllus schlosseri) and bryozoans such as Alcyonium diaphanum. On the rock surface, the calcareous tubeworm Spirobranchus triqueter, the crab Cancer pagurus and the gastropods Steromphala cineraria and Calliostoma zizyphinum may be found. A diverse range of echinoderms are also found in this biotope: Crossaster papposus, Henricia oculata, Asterias rubens, Echinus esculentus and Ophiothrix fragilis.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminaria hyperborea | 6 | 81-100% | |
| Echinus esculentus | 6 | 81-100% | |
| Asterias rubens | 4 | 61-80% | |
| Calliostoma zizyphinum | 4 | 61-80% | |
| Delesseria sanguinea | 4 | 61-80% | |
| Plocamium cartilagineum | 4 | 61-80% | |
| Alcyonium digitatum | 3 | 41-60% | |
| Alcyonidium diaphanum | 2 | 41-60% | |
| Metacallophyllis laciniata | 2 | 61-80% | |
| Cancer pagurus | 2 | 41-60% | |
| Caryophyllia smithii | 2 | 41-60% | |
| Crossaster papposus | 2 | 41-60% | |
| Cryptopleura ramosa | 2 | 41-60% | |
| Steromphala cineraria | 2 | Rare | 41-60% |
| Nemertesia antennina | 2 | 41-60% | |
| Phycodrys rubens | 2 | 41-60% | |
| Spirobranchus triqueter | 2 | 41-60% | |
| Bonnemaisonia asparagoides | 1 | 21-40% | |
| Botryllus schlosseri | 1 | 21-40% | |
| Vertebrata byssoides | 1 | 41-60% | |
| Dictyota dichotoma | 1 | 41-60% | |
| Halecium halecinum | 1 | 41-60% | |
| Henricia oculata | 1 | 41-60% | |
| Hypoglossum hypoglossoides | 1 | 41-60% | |
| Kallymenia reniformis | 1 | 41-60% | |
| Lomentaria orcadensis | 1 | 41-60% | |
| Ophiothrix fragilis | 1 | 41-60% | |
| Sycon ciliatum | 1 | 41-60% | |
| Sertularia argentea | 1 | 41-60% | |
| Tubularia indivisa | 1 | 41-60% | |
| Urticina felina | 1 | Rare | 21-40% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
IR.MIR.KR.LhypT.Pk
Occurs over similar range of tidal streams but found on bedrock and boulders.