Description of biotope or habitat type
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Saccharina latissima with red and brown seaweeds on lower infralittoral muddy mixed sediment
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Moderately exposed, Sheltered, Very sheltered |
| Tidal streams | Moderately strong (1-3 kn), Weak (>1 kn), Very weak (negligible) |
| Substratum | Sand with some gravel |
| Zone | Infralittoral |
| Depth Band | 0-5 m, 5-10 m, 10-20 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
Slightly deeper kelp community in the lower infralittoral, found on sandy gravelly mud, in sheltered and very sheltered conditions, with very weak tidal currents. The community is characterised by occasional Saccharina latissima with an undergrowth of red and brown algae. Characteristic red seaweeds, as with other SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatR biotopes include Plocamium cartilagineum and Phycodrys rubens. However, the sheltered conditions of this biotope allow the 'Trailliella' phase of Bonnemaisonia hamifera to develop (although not to the extent of forming distinct mats as in SS.SMp.KSwSS.Tra), and the related species Bonnemaisonia asparagoides. Brown algal species present, as with other SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatR biotopes, include Desmarestia spp at low abundance. The ubiquitous green seaweed Ulva sp. may also be present. The muddy substrate is home to a variety of typical mud dwelling fauna including the burrowing anemone Cerianthus lloydii. The gravelly component of this biotope provides a substrate for encrusting species such as the polychaete Spirobranchus triqueter and coralline encrusting algae.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saccharina latissima | 8 | Occasional | 81-100% |
| Pagurus bernhardus | 8 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Asterias rubens | 7 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Cerianthus lloydii | 5 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Liocarcinus depurator | 5 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Seraphsidae | 4 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Phycodrys rubens | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Echinus esculentus | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Bonnemaisonia asparagoides | 2 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Desmarestia viridis | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Steromphala cineraria | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Gibbula magus | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Lanice conchilega | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Ophiura albida | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Pecten maximus | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Plocamium cartilagineum | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Spirobranchus triqueter | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Bonnemaisonia hamifera | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Corallinaceae | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Vertebrata byssoides | 1 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Delesseria sanguinea | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Desmarestia aculeata | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Pomatoschistus minutus | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Ulva | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatR.Sa
Similar species composition, however the two differ in their sediment characteristics and therefore in their infaunal communities.Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code | Habitat name |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 (15.03) | SS.SMp.KSwSS.LsacR.Mu | Laminaria saccharina with red and brown seaweeds on lower infralittoral muddy mixed sediment |
| 2004 (04.05) | SS.SMp.KSwSS.LsacR.Mu | Laminaria saccharina with red and brown seaweeds on lower infralittoral muddy mixed sediment |
| 1997 (97.06) | Part of SS.IMX.KSwMx.LsacX | Laminaria saccharina, Chorda filum and filamentous red seaweeds on sheltered infralittoral sediment |