Description of biotope or habitat type
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Infralittoral fluid mobile mud
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Variable (18-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Sheltered, Extremely sheltered |
| Tidal streams | Moderately strong (1-3 kn), Weak (>1 kn) |
| Substratum | Fluid mud |
| Zone | Infralittoral |
| Depth Band | 0-5 m |
| Other Features | Found only on slack water |
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
Fluid mobile mud suspended and deposited on each tide. In areas with very high quantities of suspended particulate material in the water column it may become deposited around slack water when tidal currents fall. This can form fluid mud layers up to several metres thick (Warwick & Uncles 1980) becoming a transient habitat in its own right. Species present within this biotope will be those washed in from other communities such as Nephtys hombergii or Capitella capitata. This biotope may be under-recorded due to sampling problems, and where sediment descriptions are absent from field data.
Situation
It may be found adjacent to SS.SMu.SMuVS.OlVS, SS.SMu.SMuVS.NhomTubi and to some extent SS.SMu.SMuVS.AphTubi.
Temporal variation
No temporal data available.
Characterising species
| Taxon | Relative importance of taxon for defining this community (%) | % of core records where taxon was recorded |
|---|---|---|
| Oligochaeta | 0 | 41-60% |
| Capitella capitata | 0 | 41-60% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
SS.SMu.SMuVS.OlVS
The more mobile muds (SS.SMu.SMuVS.MoMu) may contain a reduced element of SS.SMu.SMuVS.OlVS in which case only sediment description will distinguish the two biotopes.
SS.SMu.SMuVS.CapTubi
The more mobile muds (SS.SMu.SMuVS.MoMu) may contain a reduced element of SS.SMu.SMuVS.CapTubi in which case only sediment description will distinguish the two biotopes.
SS.SMu.SMuVS.NhomTubi
The more mobile muds (SS.SMu.SMuVS.MoMu) may contain a reduced element of SS.SMu.SMuVS.NhomTubi in which case only sediment description will distinguish the two biotopes.Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code | Habitat name |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 (15.03) | SS.SMu.SMuVS.MoMu | Infralittoral fluid mobile mud |
| 2004 (04.05) | SS.SMu.SMuVS.MoMu | Infralittoral fluid mobile mud |
| 1997 (97.06) | SS.IMU.EstMu.MobMud | Infralittoral fluid mobile mud |