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Marine Habitat Classification


Description of biotope or habitat type

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   Saccharina latissima and Gracilaria gracilis with sponges and ascidians on variable salinity infralittoral sediment


Physical habitat description

Salinity Full (30-35 ppt), Variable (18-35 ppt)
Wave exposure Sheltered, Very sheltered, Extremely sheltered
Tidal streams Moderately strong (1-3 kn), Weak (>1 kn), Very weak (negligible)
Substratum Stoney mixed sediment
Zone Infralittoral, 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.

Distribution of habitat SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatGraVS <I>Saccharina latissima</I> and <I>Gracilaria gracilis</I> with sponges and ascidians on variable salinity infralittoral sediment

  • 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

Shallow kelp community found on stony sediment, in extremely sheltered, variable salinity conditions, with moderately strong tidal currents. The community is characterised by a sparser covering of Saccharina latissima, particularly when compared to the fully marine version of this sub biotope (SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatGraFS). Beneath the canopy the community is characterised by the red algae Gracilaria gracilis, and a variety of faunal species in particular sponges Suberites ficus and Halichondria panacea and ascidians Ascidiella aspersa and Dendrodoa grossularia. The stony substrate provides a surface for attachment for these and many other filter and suspension feeding species, particularly barnacles Balanus crenatus, hydroids Urticina feline and Hydractinia echinata and anemones. Other members of the understory may include a variety of filamentous and foliose red algae in particular Pterothamnion plumula, and the green alga Ulva.

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
Carcinus maenas 8 Occasional 61-80%
Balanus crenatus 7 Frequent 61-80%
Cereus pedunculatus 5 Frequent 41-60%
Dendrodoa grossularia 5 Frequent 41-60%
Gracilaria gracilis 5 Frequent 41-60%
Ulva 5 Occasional 61-80%
Saccharina latissima 4 Occasional 41-60%
Pterothamnion plumula 3 Frequent 41-60%
Suberites ficus 3 Rare 41-60%
Ascidiella aspersa 2 Frequent 21-40%
Crepidula fornicata 2 Rare 41-60%
Steromphala cineraria 2 Occasional 41-60%
Halichondria panicea 2 Occasional 41-60%
Lanice conchilega 2 Occasional 41-60%
Pagurus 2 Frequent 21-40%
Spirobranchus 2 Occasional 41-60%
Seraphsidae 2 Frequent 21-40%
Urticina felina 2 Frequent 21-40%
Antithamnionella spirographidis 1 Occasional 21-40%
Asterias rubens 1 Occasional 21-40%
Griffithsia corallinoides 1 Frequent 21-40%
Hydractinia echinata 1 Occasional 21-40%

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.SMp.KSwSS.LsacGraVS Laminaria saccharina and Gracilaria gracilis with sponges and ascidians on variable salinity infralittoral sediment
2004 (04.05) SS.SMp.KSwSS.LsacGraVS Laminaria saccharina and Gracilaria gracilis with sponges and ascidians on variable salinity infralittoral sediment

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