Description of biotope or habitat type
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Blidingia spp. on vertical littoral fringe soft rock
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Moderately exposed |
| Tidal streams | |
| Substratum | Bedrock |
| Zone | Littoral fringe |
| Depth Band | |
| Other Features | Soft rock (chalk); vertical faces |
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
Vertical soft rock in the littoral fringe may be characterised by a band of the green seaweeds Blidingia minima and Blidingia marginata. Unbranched filamentous green seaweeds, including Ulothrix flacca and Urospora wormskioldii, are found amongst the Blidingia spp. The siphonous Xanthophyceae Vaucheria spp. can also occur in high abundance in this biotope, where they can form dense mats. During low tide terrestrial fauna such as red mites, insects and centipedes migrate into this zone. More information is needed to improve this description.
Situation
Bli is found below the Verrucaria maura zone (Ver.Ver) and above a band of the similar looking green algae Ulva spp. (Ent and EntPor), where these occur in habitats not influenced by freshwater.
Temporal variation
Unknown.
Characterising species
| Taxon | % of core records where taxon was recorded |
|---|---|
| Blidingia marginata | |
| Blidingia minima | |
| Ulva intestinalis | |
| Urospora wormskioldii | |
| Vaucheria |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
LR.FLR.Lic.UloUro
Occurs in similar physical conditions, but usually on freshwater influenced rock. Ulothrix flacca and Urospora spp. are the dominant species.
LR.FLR.Eph.Ulv
Occurs similar physical conditions at a wide exposure range. Also on freshwater-influenced rock, but below the LR.FLR.Lic.Bli. Ulva spp. dominate instead of Blidingia spp., but care should be taken in distinguishing and recording these as separate biotopes as the green seaweeds are superficially similar.Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code |
|---|---|
| 1995 | LRK.BLID |