Description of biotope or habitat type
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Laminaria hyperborea and foliose red seaweeds on moderately exposed infralittoral rock
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Moderately exposed |
| Tidal streams | Strong (3-6 kn), Moderately strong (1-3 kn), Weak (>1 kn) |
| Substratum | Bedrock; boulders |
| Zone | Infralittoral |
| Depth Band | 0-5 m, 5-10 m, 10-20 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
Moderately exposed infralittoral bedrock and boulders characterised by a canopy of the kelp Laminaria hyperborea beneath which is an under-storey of foliose red seaweeds and coralline crusts. Some red seaweeds can be found as epiphytes on the kelp stipes and include Delesseria sanguinea and Phycodrys rubens. Other red seaweeds present include the Plocamium cartilagineum, Metacallophyllis laciniata, Cryptopleura ramosa and the brown seaweeds Dictyota dichotoma and Cutleria multifida. The kelp fronds can be colonised by the hydroid Obelia geniculata or the bryozoans Membranipora membranacea. The echinoderm Antedon bifida, the ascidian Clavelina lepadiformis, the tube-building polychaete Spirobranchus triqueter, the anthozoans Alcyonium digitatum and Urticina felina can be found on the rock beneath the canopy. Mobile species often present include the gastropods Steromphala cineraria and Calliostoma zizyphinum and the echinoderms Echinus esculentus and Asterias rubens. Five variants has been described: Kelp forest (Lhyp.Ft), kelp park (Lhyp.Pk), grazed kelp forest (Lhyp.GzFt), grazed kelp park (Lhyp.GzPk) and kelp with Sabellaria spinulosa reefs (Lhyp.Sab). This suite of biotopes differs from the wave exposed L. hyperborea biotopes (KFaR) by having a lower diversity of cushion-forming faunal species. The foliose red seaweed component of the two suites of biotopes may also differ in composition with a tendency for Lhyp to include some more delicate filamentous species.
Situation
No situation data available.
Temporal variation
Not known
Characterising species
| Taxon | Relative importance of taxon for defining this community (%) | Typical abundance - SACFOR scale | % of core records where taxon was recorded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminaria hyperborea | 19 | Abundant | 81-100% |
| Corallinaceae | 9 | Common | 61-80% |
| Echinus esculentus | 6 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Asterias rubens | 5 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Delesseria sanguinea | 4 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Phycodrys rubens | 4 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Plocamium cartilagineum | 4 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Steromphala cineraria | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Spirobranchus triqueter | 3 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Alcyonium digitatum | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Metacallophyllis laciniata | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Dictyota dichotoma | 2 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Membranipora membranacea | 1 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Antedon bifida | 1 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Clavelina lepadiformis | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Cutleria multifida | 1 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Obelia geniculata | 1 | Frequent | 21-40% |
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