Description of biotope or habitat type
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Sabellaria spinulosa with kelp and red seaweeds on sand-influenced infralittoral rock
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Moderately exposed |
| Tidal streams | Weak (>1 kn), Very weak (negligible) |
| Substratum | Bedrock; boulders |
| Zone | Infralittoral |
| Depth Band | 0-5 m, 5-10 m |
| Other Features | Sand-scoured |
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
Laminaria hyperborea kelp forest on shallow infralittoral bedrock and boulders characterised by encrustations of Sabellaria spinulosa tubes which cover much of the rock, together with sand-tolerant red seaweeds such as Phyllophora pseudoceranoïdes, Dilsea carnosa and Carradoriella elongata and Vertebrata fucoides. Red seaweeds such as Plocamium cartilagineum and Delesseria sanguinea may also be found beneath the kelp canopy, although typically low in abundance. They can be colonised by the ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. The cowrie Trivia arctica can also be found here. Much of the available rock is covered with encrusting coralline algae together with patches of the encrusting sponge Halichondria panicea and the anthozoan Urticina felina. More mobile fauna include the echinoderms Asterias rubens, Henricia sanguinolenta, Echinus esculentus, and Ophiothrix fragilis, the gastropod Steromphala cineraria and the hermit crab Pagurus bernhardus. The scouring effect of mobile sand adjacent to the rock maintains a reduced underflora and fauna compared to the association of species found in non-scoured kelp forests (Lhyp.Ft). Scour-resistant fauna such as the barnacle Balanus crenatus can be locally abundant on the rock, while the bivalve Pododesmus patelliformis can be found seeking shelter underneath the cobbles. Above the effect of scour, kelp stipes may be densely colonised by red seaweeds such as Phycodrys rubens, Palmaria palmata and Membranoptera alata, together with some sponges and ascidians.
Situation
This biotope is found in the sand-laden waters of north-east England in conditions in which S. spinulosa is able to thrive. Nearby circalittoral rock is often also dominated by S. spinulosa (Sspi) but lacks the kelp and red seaweeds. As this biotope is not commonly recorded in the UK there is a scarcity of information relating to the surrounding 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sabellaria spinulosa | 20 | Abundant | 81-100% |
| Laminaria hyperborea | 15 | Abundant | 81-100% |
| Asterias rubens | 6 | Frequent | 81-100% |
| Plocamium cartilagineum | 6 | Frequent | 81-100% |
| Steromphala cineraria | 4 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Urticina felina | 4 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Corallinaceae | 3 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Delesseria sanguinea | 3 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Pagurus bernhardus | 3 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Carradoriella elongata | 3 | Common | 41-60% |
| Echinus esculentus | 3 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Halichondria panicea | 2 | Common | 41-60% |
| Henricia sanguinolenta | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Ophiothrix fragilis | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Trivia arctica | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Electra pilosa | 1 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Balanus crenatus | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Botryllus schlosseri | 1 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Dilsea carnosa | 1 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Phyllophora pseudoceranoides | 1 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Pododesmus patelliformis | 1 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Vertebrata fucoides | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
CR.MCR.CSab.Sspi
A similar biotope is found in the circalittoral zone, where it lacks the algal component.Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code |
|---|---|
| 1997 (97.06) | MIR.SabKR |
| 1996 (6.95) | MIR.SabR |