Description of biotope or habitat type
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Loose-lying mats of Phyllophora crispa on infralittoral muddy sediment
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 | Sandy mud and gravel |
| Zone | Infralittoral - upper, Sublittoral fringe |
| Depth Band | 0-5 m, 5-10 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
Infralittoral muddy sand and sandy mud, sometimes with some shells or pebbles, and a dense, loose-lying cover of Phyllophora crispa. This biotope occurs in very sheltered conditions such as those found in sea lochs and voes. SS.SMp.KSwSS.Pcri is similar to other biotopes described with dense, loose-lying algae but has been less frequently recorded, and from the few records available, appears to occur in slightly deeper infralittoral waters primarily between 10 m to 30 m and typically in fully saline waters. The seaweeds in this biotope may be epiphytised by ascidians such as Ascidiella aspera. Kelp such as Saccharina latissima and red seaweeds including Plocamium cartilagineum may be present in some areas. The scallops Pecten maximus and Aequipecten opercularis may also be found occasionally in this biotope and Trailliella/Bonnemaisonia hamifera may also be present but not at the levels found in SS.SMp.KSwSS.Tra.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phyllophora crispa | 27 | Abundant | 81-100% |
| Liocarcinus depurator | 14 | Frequent | 81-100% |
| Asterias rubens | 6 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Pagurus bernhardus | 6 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Ascidiella aspersa | 5 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Carcinus maenas | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Saccharina latissima | 3 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Plocamium cartilagineum | 3 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Echinus esculentus | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Aequipecten opercularis | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Balanus crenatus | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Bonnemaisonia hamifera | 2 | Common | 21-40% |
| Hydractinia echinata | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Pecten maximus | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Electra pilosa | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Cerianthus lloydii | 1 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Henricia | 1 | Rare | 21-40% |
| Seraphsidae | 1 | Frequent | 41-60% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
SS.SMp.KSwSS.Tra
Similar to SS.SMp.KSwSS.Pcri, however, Trailliea, if present in SS.SMp.KSwSS.Pcri, does not form distinct mats as in SS.SMp.KSwSS.Tra.Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code | Habitat name |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 (15.03) | SS.SMp.KSwSS.Pcri | Loose-lying mats of Phyllophora crispa on infralittoral muddy sediment |
| 2004 (04.05) | SS.SMp.KSwSS.Pcri | Loose-lying mats of Phyllophora crispa on infralittoral muddy sediment |
| 1997 (97.06) | SS.IMX.KSwMx.Pcri | Loose-lying mats of Phyllophora crispa on infralittoral muddy sediment |