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.
- 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 |