Description of biotope or habitat type
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Saccharina latissima and robust red algae on infralittoral gravel and pebbles
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Moderately exposed, Sheltered, Very sheltered, Extremely sheltered |
| Tidal streams | Moderately strong (1-3 kn), Weak (>1 kn), Very weak (negligible) |
| Substratum | Muddy gravelly mixed sediment |
| Zone | Infralittoral - lower, Infralittoral |
| Depth Band | 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
Shallow kelp community found on gravel and gravelly sand in slightly less exposed areas than SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatR.CbPb but in moderately strong tidal currents, and characterised by occasional Saccharina latissima with an undergrowth of robust red seaweeds. Characteristic red seaweeds, as with SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatR.CbPb, include Plocamium cartilagineum, Halarachnion ligulatum and Vertebrata byssoides. However, the greater stability of this biotope allows a slightly more diverse range of red seaweeds to become established including Polyides rotunda, Rhodophyllis divaricata, Delesseria sanguinea and Nitophyllum punctatum. Coralline encrusting algae may be found covering the larger pebbles. Laminaria hyperborea may also be present within this biotope at low densities. Other brown algal species present include Desmarestia spp., Dictyota dichotoma and Chorda filum, all at low abundance. The ubiquitous green seaweed Ulva sp. may be found attached to larger pebbles.
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 | 10 | Occasional | 81-100% |
| Plocamium cartilagineum | 5 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Ulva | 5 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Asterias rubens | 4 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Corallinaceae | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Delesseria sanguinea | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Dictyota dichotoma | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Pagurus bernhardus | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Bonnemaisonia asparagoides | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Vertebrata byssoides | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Chorda filum | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Desmarestia aculeata | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Desmarestia viridis | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Gracilaria gracilis | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Halarachnion ligulatum | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Hypoglossum hypoglossoides | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Laminaria hyperborea | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Nitophyllum punctatum | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Polyides rotunda | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Rhodophyllis divaricata | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Metacallophyllis laciniata | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Cerianthus lloydii | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Chylocladia verticillata | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Cryptopleura ramosa | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Cystoclonium purpureum | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Dilsea carnosa | 1 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Steromphala cineraria | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Lomentaria clavellosa | 1 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Phycodrys rubens | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Phyllophora crispa | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Carradoriella elongata | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Spirobranchus triqueter | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Pterothamnion plumula | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Rhodomela confervoides | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Bonnemaisonia hamifera | 1 | Frequent | 21-40% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatR.CbPb
SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatR.CbPb has a less dense covering of S. latissima, with a less diverse, more robust red algal community.
SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatR.Sa
Similar in species composition but differ in sediment characteristics and consequently infaunal species composition.Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code | Habitat name |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 (15.03) | SS.SMp.KSwSS.LsacR.Gv | Laminaria saccharina and robust red algae on infralittoral gravel and pebble |
| 2004 (04.05) | SS.SMp.KSwSS.LsacR.Gv | Laminaria saccharina and robust red algae on infralittoral gravel and pebble |
| 1997 (97.06) | SS.MIR.SedK.EphR (part) | Ephemeral red seaweeds and kelps on tide-swept mobile infralittoral cobbles |