Description of biotope or habitat type
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Serpula vermicularis reefs on very sheltered infralittoral muddy sand
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt), Variable (18-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Sheltered, Very sheltered, Extremely sheltered |
| Tidal streams | Weak (>1 kn), Very weak (negligible) |
| Substratum | Calcareous tubes; pebbles; shells; gravel on sandy mud |
| Zone | Infralittoral - lower, Circalittoral |
| Depth Band | 0-5 m, 5-10 m, 10-20 m, 20-30 m |
| Other Features |
Biotope origin
| Derived using data from | Various |
| Faunal group | Epifauna |
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
Large clumps (mini 'reefs') of the calcareous tubes of Serpula vermicularis, typically attached to stones on muddy sediment in very sheltered conditions in sea lochs and other marine inlets. A rich associated biota attached to the calcareous tube may include Amphilectus fucorum, thin encrusting sponges, and the ascidians Ascidiella aspersa, Ascidia mentula, Dendrodoa grossularia and Diplosoma listerianum. The echinoderms Ophiothrix fragilis and Psammechinus miliaris and the queen scallop (Aequipecten opercularis) are also found throughout this biotope. In shallow water dense Phycodrys rubens may grow on the 'reefs'. This biotope has been recorded in the U.K. from Loch Creran, where these reefs have been well studied (Moore 1996), and Loch Sween, where they are reported to have deteriorated. The only other known sites for this biotope are Salt Lake, Cliffden and Killary Harbour, Co. Galway.
Situation
No situation data available.
Temporal variation
No temporal data available.
Characterising species
| Taxon | Relative importance of taxon for defining this community (%) | Typical abundance - SACFOR scale | % of core records where taxon was recorded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serpula vermicularis | 25 | Common | 81-100% |
| Psammechinus miliaris | 16 | Frequent | 81-100% |
| Ophiothrix fragilis | 8 | Occasional | 81-100% |
| Ascidiella aspersa | 5 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Aequipecten opercularis | 4 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Asterias rubens | 4 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Pagurus bernhardus | 4 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Ascidia mentula | 3 | Rare | 61-80% |
| Dendrodoa grossularia | 3 | Common | 41-60% |
| Spirobranchus triqueter | 3 | Common | 41-60% |
| Corallinaceae | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Buccinum undatum | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Carcinus maenas | 2 | Rare | 61-80% |
| Diplosoma listerianum | 2 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Amphilectus fucorum | 2 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Steromphala cineraria | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Phycodrys rubens | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Ciona intestinalis | 1 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Corella parallelogramma | 1 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Lithothamnion glaciale | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Nemertesia antennina | 1 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Sabella pavonina | 1 | Occasional | 41-60% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
Not applicable or unknown.
Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code | Habitat name |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 (15.03) | SS.SBR.PoR.Ser | Serpula vermicularis reefs on very sheltered circalittoral muddy sand |
| 2004 (04.05) | SS.SBR.PoR.Ser | Serpula vermicularis reefs on very sheltered circalittoral muddy sand |
| 1997 (97.06) | SS.CMS.Ser | Serpula vermicularis reefs on very sheltered circalittoral muddy sand |
| 1996 (6.95) | SCR.Sver |