Description of biotope or habitat type
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Coralline crusts and Corallina officinalis in shallow eulittoral rockpools
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Very exposed, Exposed, Moderately exposed, Sheltered |
| Tidal streams | |
| Substratum | Bedrock |
| Zone | Eulittoral - mid, Eulittoral - upper |
| 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 occurs in exceptionally high densities in upper shore pools), the limpet Patella vulgata and top shell Steromphala cineraria. 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, while the barnacle Semibalanus balanoides can be found on the rock surface. The whelk Nucella lapillus can be found on the rock surface preying on the barnacles and mussels.
Situation
Rockpools throughout the eulittoral and lower littoral fringe rocky shores.
Temporal variation
The ephemeral green seaweeds Enteromorpha intestinalis and Ulva lactuca can occur during the summer.
Characterising species
| Taxon | Relative importance of taxon for defining this community (%) | Typical abundance - SACFOR scale | % of core records where taxon was recorded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corallinaceae | 27 | Abundant | 81-100% |
| Corallina officinalis | 24 | Common | 81-100% |
| Ceramium nodulosum | 7 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Littorina littorea | 7 | Common | 41-60% |
| Patella vulgata | 7 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Actinia equina | 4 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Mytilus edulis | 3 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Mastocarpus stellatus | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Ulva lactuca | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Semibalanus balanoides | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Chondrus crispus | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Cladophora | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Nucella lapillus | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor.Par
Occurs in similar physical conditions though mostly on exposed to very exposed shores (and it is only reported from Ireland). It has a higher species richness and is dominated by P. lividus though the anemone Anemonia viridis can also be present.
LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor.Bif
Occurs in similar physical conditions. The brown seaweed Bifurcaria bifurcata dominates this biotope. The diversity of red seaweeds is higher and includes species such as Palmaria palmata and Gastroclonium ovatum.
LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor.Cys
Occurs in similar physical conditions. The brown seaweed Cystoseira spp. dominates, and species such as Scytosiphon lomentaria, Laminaria digitata and Laminaria hyperborea are usually present (Rare to Occasional ).
LR.FLR.Rkp.G
Similar sized pools in the littoral fringe generally lack the encrusting coralline algae and are characterised by green seaweeds such as Ulva intestinalis.Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code |
|---|---|
| 1997 (97.06) | LR.Cor |
