Description of biotope or habitat type
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Laminaria digitata on moderately exposed sublittoral fringe rock
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Exposed, Moderately exposed, Sheltered |
| Tidal streams | Moderately strong (1-3 kn), Weak (>1 kn), Very weak (negligible) |
| Substratum | Bedrock; boulders |
| Zone | Sublittoral fringe |
| Depth Band | 0-5 m, Lower shore |
| 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 exposed sublittoral fringe rock characterised by the kelp Laminaria digitata with coralline crusts covering the rock beneath the kelp canopy. Foliose red seaweeds such as Palmaria palmata, Membranoptera alata, Chondrus crispus and Mastocarpus stellatus are often present along with the calcareous Corallina officinalis. The brown seaweed Fucus serratus and the green seaweeds Cladophora rupestris and Ulva lactuca can be present as well. The sponge Halichondria panicea can be found among the kelp holdfasts or underneath overhangs. Also present on the rock are the tube-building polychaete Spirobranchus triqueter, the gastropods Patella vulgata and Steromphala cineraria. The bryozoan Electra pilosa can form colonies on especially C. crispus, M. stellatus and F. serratus while the hydroid Dynanema pumila are more common on the kelp. Three variants of this biotope are described: L. digitata forest on rocky shores (Ldig.Ldig). L. digitata on boulder shores (Ldig.Bo) and soft rock supporting L. digitata, such as the chalk found in south-east England (Ldig.Pid). For L. digitata in sheltered, tide-swept conditions see LdigT.
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 digitata | 27 | Abundant | 81-100% |
| Corallinaceae | 12 | Abundant | 61-80% |
| Chondrus crispus | 5 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Palmaria palmata | 5 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Mastocarpus stellatus | 4 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Electra pilosa | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Corallina officinalis | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Fucus serratus | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Halichondria panicea | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Steromphala cineraria | 2 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Membranoptera alata | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Spirobranchus triqueter | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Cladophora rupestris | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Dynamena pumila | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Lomentaria articulata | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Patella vulgata | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Ulva lactuca | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
Not applicable or unknown.
Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code |
|---|---|
| 1995 | LRK.LDIG |
