Description of biotope or habitat type
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Dendrodoa grossularia and Clathrina coriacea on wave-surged vertical infralittoral rock
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Very exposed, Exposed, Moderately exposed |
| Tidal streams | Weak (>1 kn), Very weak (negligible) |
| Substratum | Bedrock |
| Zone | Infralittoral, Sublittoral fringe |
| Depth Band | 0-5 m, 5-10 m, 10-20 m |
| Other Features | Wave-surged gullies or caves; |
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
Vertical or overhanging infralittoral rock subject to considerable wave-surge, especially in the middle or back of caves but also in gullies and tunnels, and dominated by dense sheets of the ascidian Dendrodoa grossularia, together with variable quantities of the sponge Clathrina coriacea. At some sites D. grossularia forms continuous sheets, with few other species present. Other sponges such as Amphilectus fucorum, Pachymatisma johnstonia, Leucosolenia botryoides, Sycon ciliatum and Halichondria panicea regularly occur in this biotope, though generally at low abundance. Other ascidians, especially Polyclinum aurantium, Diplosoma spp. and other didemnids may also occur, though only P. aurantium is ever as abundant as D. grossularia. Being characteristically found in the middle or towards the backs of the caves mean that there is generally insufficient light to support any foliose seaweeds, although encrusting coralline algae are not uncommon. More scoured areas may also contain the anemone Urticina felina, whilst Cylista elegans is often present in low numbers. Mobile fauna are often limited to the starfish Asterias rubens and Henricia spp., the brittlestar Ophiopholis aculeata and crabs Cancer pagurus and Necora puber. The barnacle Balanus crenatus can occur, usually in low densities.
Situation
Where this biotope develops in a cave or tunnel it can occur anywhere from the entrance to the rear of the system. Typically, it will give way to sponge crust or barnacle and encrusting tubeworm communities at the rear of the cave, where surge forces are amplified (CrSp or CC.BalPom). The vertical rock below the DenCla zone, abutting the cave/gully floor, is likely to be severely scoured, colonised by the robust CC.BalPom biotope. The cave or gully floor is generally scoured clean by boulders and/or cobbles (CC.Mo). The cave or gully entrance has more available light for algal growth so dense foliose seaweeds usually dominate the rock walls at the entrance, abutting the D. grossularia - C. coriacea zone further into the cave (FoSwCC). This dense seaweed growth may also extend to the upward-facing surfaces of boulders around the entrance. Where DenCla occurs in a gully situation, the rock tends to be colonised by dense Alaria esculenta in the sublittoral fringe (Ala) or by Laminaria hyperborea forest in the shallow infralittoral (LhypR.Ft).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dendrodoa grossularia | 32 | Abundant | 81-100% |
| Clathrina coriacea | 16 | Common | 81-100% |
| Cancer pagurus | 4 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Halichondria panicea | 4 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Balanus crenatus | 3 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Pachymatisma johnstonia | 3 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Asterias rubens | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Henricia | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Leucosolenia complicata | 2 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Ophiopholis aculeata | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Cylista elegans | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Urticina felina | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Corallinaceae | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Botryllus schlosseri | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Didemnidae | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Grantia compressa | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Necora puber | 1 | Rare | 21-40% |
| Polyclinum aurantium | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Porifera indet crusts | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Sycon ciliatum | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Spirorbinae | 1 | Frequent | 21-40% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
Not applicable or unknown.
Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code |
|---|---|
| 1997 (97.06) | EIR.SCAs.DenCla |
Photos
