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Marine Habitat Classification


Description of biotope or habitat type

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   Corallina officinalis on exposed to moderately exposed lower eulittoral rock


Physical habitat description

Salinity Full (30-35 ppt)
Wave exposure Very exposed, Exposed, Moderately exposed
Tidal streams Moderately strong (1-3 kn), Weak (>1 kn), Very weak (negligible)
Substratum Bedrock
Zone Eulittoral - lower
Depth Band 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.

Distribution of habitat LR.HLR.FR.Coff <I>Corallina officinalis</I> on exposed to moderately exposed lower eulittoral rock

  • 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

Very exposed to moderately exposed lower eulittoral rock that supports a dense turf of the red seaweed Corallina officinalis, often on wave surged rocky slopes. There is usually a low abundance of other turf-forming red seaweeds including Lomentaria articulata, Mastocarpus stellatus, Palmaria palmata and Osmundea pinnatifida. Other seaweeds that occur in low abundance includes the wrack Himanthalia elongata, Laminaria digitata while the brown seaweed Leathesia marina can be found growing on and around the other seaweeds. The green seaweeds Ulva intestinalis, Ulva lactuca and Cladophora rupestris are present as well. A number of invertebrates are present on the bedrock underneath the coralline turf, including the barnacle Semibalanus balanoides, the mussel Mytilus edulis, the sponges Halichondria panicea and Hymeniacidon perlevis, the anemone Actinia equina and the limpets Patella ulyssiponensis and Patella vulgata. The brown seaweed Bifurcaria bifurcata and the barnacle Perforatus perforatus may occur in the extreme south-west. Two variants have been described: C. officinalis and kelp (Coff.Coff) and C. officinalis, H. elongata and the limpet P. ulyssiponensis (Coff.Puly).

Situation

This community usually forms a distinct band just above the kelp zone (Ala, Ala.Ldig or Ldig). It can be found below the barnacle and P. vulgata dominated biotopes (Cht; Sem; Sem.FvesR).

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
Corallina officinalis 17 Abundant 81-100%
Lomentaria articulata 10 Frequent 41-60%
Osmundea pinnatifida 7 Frequent 61-80%
Patella ulyssiponensis 7 Common 61-80%
Corallinaceae 6 Common 61-80%
Semibalanus balanoides 5 Common 41-60%
Ulva intestinalis 4 Occasional 61-80%
Patella vulgata 4 Common 41-60%
Mastocarpus stellatus 3 Frequent 81-100%
Actinia equina 2 Occasional 41-60%
Laminaria digitata 2 Occasional 41-60%
Mytilus edulis 2 Occasional 41-60%
Palmaria palmata 2 Occasional 41-60%
Ulva lactuca 2 Occasional 21-40%
Bifurcaria bifurcata 1 Occasional 1-20%
Halichondria panicea 1 Occasional 41-60%
Hymeniacidon perlevis 1 Occasional 41-60%
Leathesia marina 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.RED.COR

Photos

LR.HLR.FR.Coff Corallina officinalis on exposed to moderately exposed lower eulittoral rock, Trebetherick. Keith Hiscock© JNCC
LR.HLR.FR.Coff Corallina officinalis on exposed to moderately exposed lower eulittoral rock, Trebetherick. Keith Hiscock© JNCC
LR.HLR.FR.Coff Corallina officinalis on exposed to moderately exposed lower eulittoral rock, Trebetherwick. Keith Hiscock© JNCC
LR.HLR.FR.Coff Corallina officinalis on exposed to moderately exposed lower eulittoral rock, Trebetherwick. Keith Hiscock© JNCC

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