Description of biotope or habitat type
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Nephtys cirrosa and amphipods in variable salinity infralittoral mobile sand
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Variable (18-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Moderately exposed, Sheltered |
| Tidal streams | Moderately strong (1-3 kn), Weak (>1 kn) |
| Substratum | Medium to very fine sand |
| Zone | Infralittoral |
| Depth Band | 0-5 m, 5-10 m, 10-20 m |
| Other Features |
Biotope origin
| Derived using data from | Various |
| Faunal group | Infauna |
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
Mobile sand in variable salinity conditions where tidal currents create an unstable, shifting habitat. Characteristic species include the polychaetes Nephtys cirrosa and Scoloplos armiger along with amphipods of the genus Bathyporeia and Haustorius arenarius. The bivalve Macoma balthica may occur in more stable examples of this biotope, although not in the abundances found in the SS.SMu.ISaMu.NhomMac biotope. The biotope contains relatively few species, each typically in low to moderate abundance. It is found in tidal channels with moderate tidal streams. Care should be taken in identification of this biotope due to the presence juveniles and species washed in during slack water.
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 | Typical abundance - (count per m2) | % of core records where taxon was recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nephtys cirrosa | 59 | Common | 22 | 61-80% |
| Bathyporeia pilosa | 13 | Frequent | 90 | 21-40% |
| Scoloplos armiger | 6 | Abundant | 5 | 21-40% |
| Macoma balthica | 5 | Frequent | 7 | 21-40% |
| Haustorius arenarius | 4 | Frequent | 14 | 21-40% |
| Bathyporeia pelagica | 2 | Frequent | 9 | 1-20% |
| Capitella capitata | 2 | 4 | 21-40% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
SS.SSa.SSaVS.MoSaVS
As wave exposure and /or current strength decreases and the finer sand and silt fractions begin to sediment out of the water column, the sediment habitat is less mobile and SS.SSa.SSaVS.MoSaVS grades into SS.SSa.SSaVS.NcirAm.
SS.SSa.IFiSa.NcirBat
The current biotope is a reduced salinity version of SS.SSa.IFiSa.NcirBat, distinguished from this by the absence of species not tolerant of reduced salinities, in particular the polychaete Chaetozone setosa.Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code | Habitat name |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 (15.03) | SS.SSa.SSaVS.NcirMac | Nephtys cirrosa and Macoma balthica in variable salinity infralittoral mobile sand |
| 2004 (04.05) | SS.SSa.SSaVS.NcirMac | Nephtys cirrosa and Macoma balthica in variable salinity infralittoral mobile sand |
| 1997 (97.06) | SS.IGS.EstGS.Ncir | Nephtys cirrosa and fluctuating salinity-tolerant fauna in reduced salinity infralittoral mobile sand |