Description of biotope or habitat type
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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.
- 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 |
