Description of biotope or habitat type
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Fucus serratus on sheltered lower eulittoral rock
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt), Variable (18-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Sheltered, Very sheltered, Extremely sheltered |
| Tidal streams | |
| Substratum | Bedrock; boulders; cobbles |
| Zone | Eulittoral - lower |
| Depth Band | |
| 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'
Point data based on records in the UK Marine Recorder Snapshot.
Description
Sheltered to extremely sheltered lower eulittoral rock with Fucus serratus (for detailed description of the rich associated community please see Fserr.FS). Two variants of this biotope have been described. Fully marine conditions (Fserr.FS) and mixed substrata (Fserr.X). Please notice that three other biotopes with a F. serratus dominance have been described: Variable salinity (FserVS), tide-swept (FserT) and tide-swept on mixed substrata (FserXT).
Situation
This biotope usually occurs immediately below a dense canopy of Fucus vesiculosus (Fves) on sheltered shores or an Ascophyllum nodosum zone (Asc.FS) on sheltered shores; consequently low densities of these species may occur in this biotope. The sublittoral fringe below is dominated by the kelps Saccharina latissima and Laminaria digitata on sheltered shores (Lsac.Ldig; Lsac.Ft).
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 serratus | 34 | Abundant | 81-100% |
| Semibalanus balanoides | 6 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Littorina littorea | 4 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Mastocarpus stellatus | 4 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Corallinaceae | 3 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Halichondria panicea | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Mytilus edulis | 3 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Patella vulgata | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Ascophyllum nodosum | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Carcinus maenas | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Ulva intestinalis | 3 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Ulva lactuca | 2 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Cladophora rupestris | 1 | Frequent | 21-40% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
LR.MLR.BF.Fser.Bo
Occurs on large boulders and in a wider exposure range. Has a high species richness and mobile species such as the crabs Porcellana platycheles and Cancer pagurus and the starfish Asterias rubens are present in low numbers.
LR.MLR.BF.Fser.R
Occurs in slightly more wave exposed conditions. The species diversity and abundance of red seaweeds are higher. D. pumila can form dense populations on the F. serratus fronds.Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code |
|---|---|
| 1996 (6.95) | SLR.Fser |
| 1995 | LRK.FSE (part) |
Photos
