Description of biotope or habitat type
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Ampelisca spp., Photis longicaudata and other tube-building amphipods and polychaetes in infralittoral sandy mud
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | |
| Tidal streams | |
| Substratum | Sandy muds |
| Zone | Infralittoral |
| Depth Band | |
| Other Features |
Biotope origin
| Derived using data from | Various |
| Faunal group | Infauna |
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
Sublittoral stable cohesive sandy muds occurring over a wide depth range may support large populations of semi-permanent tube-building amphipods and polychaetes. In particular large numbers of the amphipods Ampelisca spp. and Photis longicaudata may be present along with polychaetes such as Lagis koreni. Other important taxa may include bivalves such as Nucula nitidosa, Chamelea gallina, Abra alba and Kurtiella bidentata and the echinoderms Echinocardium cordatum and Acrocnida brachiata. In some areas, polychaetes such as Spiophanes bombyx and Polydora ciliata may also be conspicuously numerous. This community is poorly known, appearing to occur in restricted patches. In some areas it is possible that SS.SMu.ISaMUuAmpPlon may develop as a result of moderate organic enrichment. A similar community in mud has also been reported in the Baltic which is characterised by large populations of amphipods such as Ampelisca spp., Corophium spp. and Haploops tubicola (see Petersen 1918; Thorson 1957) and it is not known if SS.SMu.ISaMu.AmpPlon is a UK variant of this biotope. Additionally, in organically enriched areas, the community may be characterised by capitellids and Mediomastus fragilis.
Situation
No situation data available.
Temporal variation
In some areas of the Irish Sea this biotope is reported to be a temporal variant of SS.SSa.CMuSa.AalbNuc, SS.SSa.IMuSa.SsubNhom and SS.SMu.CSaMu.LkorPpel. Some researchers consider these biotopes to be part of a wider muddy sand community which varies temporally depending on changes in sediment deposition and recruitment as was reported in areas of Red Wharf Bay off the Welsh coast (E.I.S. Rees pers. comm. 2002)
Characterising species
| Taxon | Relative importance of taxon for defining this community (%) | % of core records where taxon was recorded | Relative frequency % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ophiura | 17 | 1-20% | 0.3 |
| Polydora | 13 | 1-20% | 0.2 |
| Tubificoides benedii | 6 | 21-40% | 37.5 |
| Ampelisca | 6 | 1-20% | 0.5 |
| Paguridae | 6 | 1-20% | 0.2 |
| Mediomastus fragilis | 4 | 1-20% | 6.7 |
| Capitella capitata | 4 | 1-20% | 5.7 |
| Nemertea | 3 | 1-20% | 2.7 |
| Cerianthus lloydii | 3 | 1-20% | 0.1 |
| Aequipecten opercularis | 3 | 1-20% | 0.1 |
| Kurtiella bidentata | 2 | 1-20% | 2.3 |
| Serpulidae | 2 | 1-20% | 0.1 |
| Nemertesia antennina | 2 | 1-20% | 0.1 |
| Ophryotrocha hartmanni | 1 | 1-20% | 19.3 |
| Crassicorophium bonellii | 1 | 1-20% | 1.6 |
| Psamathe fusca | 1 | 1-20% | 1.1 |
| Protodorvillea kefersteini | 1 | 1-20% | 1 |
| Photis longicaudata | 1 | 1-20% | 0.7 |
| Phyllodoce mucosa | 1 | 1-20% | 0.4 |
| Pholoe inornata | 1 | 1-20% | 0.3 |
| Eteone longa | 1 | 1-20% | 0.2 |
| Spirobranchus triqueter | 1 | 1-20% | 0.2 |
| Tubulanus polymorphus | 1 | 1-20% | 0.2 |
| Eumida bahusiensis | 1 | 1-20% | 0.2 |
| Calliostoma zizyphinum | 1 | 1-20% | 0.1 |
| Pagurus bernhardus | 1 | 1-20% | 0.1 |
| Buccinum undatum | 1 | 1-20% | 0.1 |
| Asterias rubens | 1 | 1-20% | 0.1 |
| Inachus | 1 | 1-20% | 0.1 |
| Lanice conchilega | 1 | 1-20% | 0.1 |
| Aonides oxycephala | 1 | 1-20% | 0.1 |
| Flustra foliacea | 1 | 1-20% | 0.1 |
| Hydroides | 1 | 1-20% | 0 |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
SS.SMu.ISaMu.KurAbr
Similar to SS.SMu.ISaMu.AmpPlon but differs in the variety and abundance of amphipods and is found in muddier sediments in sheltered sealochs such as Strangford Lough. It is possible that these two biotopes are actually part of a wider biotope which contains more than one entity depending on its geographic location and prevailing environmental conditions.Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code | Habitat name |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 (15.03) | SS.SMu.ISaMu.AmpPlon | Ampelisca spp., Photis longicaudata and other tube-building amphipods and polychaetes in infralittoral sandy mud |
| 2004 (04.05) | SS.SMu.ISaMu.AmpPlon | Ampelisca spp., Photis longicaudata and other tube-building amphipods and polychaetes in infralittoral sandy mud |
| 1997 (97.06) | Part SS.LMS.SMu.HedMac | Hediste diversicolor and Macoma balthica in sandy mud shores |