Description of biotope or habitat type
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Fucus serratus on full salinity lower eulittoral mixed substrata
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Sheltered, Very sheltered, Extremely sheltered |
| Tidal streams | |
| Substratum | Mixed cobbles, boulders and pebbles on sediment |
| 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
Sheltered to extremely sheltered full salinity lower eulittoral mixed substrata with dense stands of the wrack Fucus serratus. The crab Carcinus maenas and a large number of winkles such as Littorina littorea and Littorina can be found amongst the pebbles and cobbles as well as large individuals of the mussel Mytilus edulis, commonly occurring in clumps. On these mussels and on larger cobbles are the barnacle Semibalanus balanoides and the limpet Patella vulgata. Red algae such as coralline crusts including Lithothamnion spp. and the tube-forming polychaetes Spirobranchus triqueter and Spirorbis spp. can be found on cobbles and boulders. Spirorbis spp. can also be found on the F. serratus fronds. Sediment in the spaces between the loose substrata may support infauna including the polychaete Arenicola marina. The red seaweed Mastocarpus stellatus and the wrack Ascophyllum nodosum can occur in patches, while the green seaweeds Ulva intestinalis and Cladophora spp. can be found among the mussels and underneath the F. serratus canopy.
Situation
Fserr.X occurs in the lower eulittoral below the biotopes dominated by the wrack Fucus vesiculosus and A. nodosum (Fves.X or Asc.X) on mixed substrata shores, or on sediment shores where mixed substrata occurs in discrete patches on the lower shore. Fserr.X occurs above biotopes dominated by the kelp Laminaria digitata or Saccharina latissima (Ldig.Ldig; Lsac.Ldig; Lsac.Ft) depending on the substrata.
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 | 34 | Abundant | 81-100% |
| Littorina littorea | 12 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Spirorbis | 7 | Common | 41-60% |
| Littorina fabalis | 6 | Common | 41-60% |
| Mastocarpus stellatus | 5 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Fucus vesiculosus | 5 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Ulva intestinaloides | 3 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Spirobranchus triqueter | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Corallinaceae | 2 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Ascophyllum nodosum | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Patella vulgata | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Semibalanus balanoides | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Carcinus maenas | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Cladophora | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Lithothamnion | 1 | Frequent | 21-40% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
LR.HLR.FT.FserTX
Occurs on similar, but tide-swept substrata. It has a community dominated by filter-feeders such as the sponges Hymeniacidon perlevis and the bryozoan Electra pilosa.
LR.HLR.FT.FserT
Occurs in full salinity on lower eulittoral bedrock and boulders, which are influenced by strong tidal streams. Filter-feeders such as hydroids Dynamena pumila or the bryozoans Alcyonidium spp. are present. Sponges such as Halichondria panicea and foliose red seaweeds such as Lomentaria articulata or Chondrus crispus are present.Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code |
|---|---|
| 1997 (97.06) | SLR.Fser.X |