Description of biotope or habitat type
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Fucus serratus on moderately exposed lower eulittoral rock
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Moderately exposed, Sheltered |
| Tidal streams | Moderately strong (1-3 kn), Weak (>1 kn) |
| Substratum | Bedrock; boulders |
| Zone | Eulittoral - lower |
| Depth Band | |
| 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'
Point data based on records in the UK Marine Recorder Snapshot.
Description
Lower eulittoral bedrock and stable boulders on moderately exposed to sheltered shores with a canopy of the wrack Fucus serratus and an associated fauna consisting of the limpet Patella vulgata, the barnacle Semibalanus balanoides, the whelk Nucella lapillus, the anemone Actinia equina and the sponge Halichondria panicea. Green seaweeds such as Ulva intestinalis and Ulva lactuca are usually present among/beneath the F. serratus canopy. Three variants of this biotope are described. These are: F. serratus with red seaweeds (Fser.R) and F. serratus with under-boulder communities (Fser.Bo) with sponges. Lastly, a F. serratus and piddocks community on soft rock has been identified (Fser.Pid). Dense F. serratus with fewer red seaweeds occurs on more sheltered shores (Fserr).
Situation
Above the F. serratus biotope on moderately exposed bedrock shores is the Fucus vesiculosus and/or S. balanoides and P. vulgata dominated biotopes (Sem; Sem.FvesR; FvesB). On more sheltered shores are biotopes dominated by the wracks F. vesiculosus and Ascophyllum nodosum (Fves; Asc.FS). On moderately exposed shores, the sublittoral fringe below Fser is dominated by the kelp Laminaria digitata and on vertical faces the kelp Alaria esculenta may be present (Ldig.LdigBo; Ala.Ldig). On more sheltered shores the kelp Saccharina latissima is found among the L. digitata (Lsac.Ldig; Lsac.Ft).
Temporal variation
Unknown.
Characterising species
| Taxon | Relative importance of taxon for defining this community (%) | Typical abundance - SACFOR scale | % of core records where taxon was recorded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fucus serratus | 20 | Abundant | 81-100% |
| Patella vulgata | 8 | Frequent | 81-100% |
| Mastocarpus stellatus | 7 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Corallinaceae | 6 | Common | 61-80% |
| Semibalanus balanoides | 5 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Osmundea pinnatifida | 4 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Chondrus crispus | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Ulva intestinaloides | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Halichondria panicea | 3 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Lomentaria articulata | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Nucella lapillus | 3 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Corallina officinalis | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Steromphala cineraria | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Littorina littorea | 2 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Spirorbinae | 2 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Ulva lactuca | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Actinia equina | 1 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Carcinus maenas | 1 | Occasional | 41-60% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
Not applicable or unknown.
Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code |
|---|---|
| 1995 | LRK.FSE |
