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Marine Habitat Classification


Description of biotope or habitat type

To understand more about what this page is describing, see How to use the classification. See also How to cite.

   Fucus ceranoides and Ulva spp. on low salinity infralittoral rock


Physical habitat description

Salinity Reduced (18-30ppt), Low (<18ppt)
Wave exposure Extremely sheltered
Tidal streams Very weak (negligible)
Substratum Bedrock; boulders, cobbles and mixed sediment
Zone Infralittoral
Depth Band 0-5 m
Other Features

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 IR.LIR.Lag.FcerUlv <I>Fucus ceranoides</I> and <I>Ulva</I> spp. on low salinity infralittoral rock

  • 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

Permanently submerged lagoon fringes with dense communities of the wrack Fucus ceranoides and the green seaweed Ulva spp. There is typically a very limited associated biota due to low salinity conditions, and may include the opossum shrimps Mysidae and the freshwater/brackish gastropod Potamopyrgus antipodarum.

Situation

Insufficient information to describe neighbouring biotopes.

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
Fucus ceranoides 67 Common 81-100%
Ulva 11 Common 41-60%
Ulva intestinalis 7 Common 21-40%
Potamopyrgus antipodarum 4 Common 21-40%
Mysidae 2 Frequent 21-40%

Similar biotopes or habitat types

Not applicable or unknown.

Classification history of this biotope or habitat type

Classification version Code
2015 (15.03) IR.LIR.Lag.FcerEnt

Photos

IR.LIR.LAG.FcerEnt Fucus ceranoides and Ulva spp. on low salinity infralittoral rock, Loch Leodosay, Loch Leodsay, North Uist. Tim Hill© JNCC
IR.LIR.LAG.FcerEnt Fucus ceranoides and Ulva spp. on low salinity infralittoral rock, Loch Leodosay, Loch Leodsay, North Uist. Tim Hill© JNCC

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