Description of biotope or habitat type
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Nephtys hombergii and Tubificoides spp. in variable salinity infralittoral soft mud
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Variable (18-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Moderately exposed, Sheltered |
| Tidal streams | Strong (3-6 kn), Moderately strong (1-3 kn), Weak (>1 kn) |
| Substratum | Mud; sandy mud |
| Zone | Infralittoral |
| Depth Band | 0-5 m, 5-10 m |
| Other Features |
Biotope origin
| Derived using data from | Day/Van Veen Grab |
| 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
Variable salinity soft infralittoral mud and sandy mud characterised by the polychaete Nephtys hombergii and oligochaetes of the genus Tubificoides. Other characterising species that may be present are the polychaetes Streblospio shrubsolii and Aphelochaeta marioni, and the cumacean Diastylis rathkei typica.
Situation
The biotope is found in areas of silt deposition in soft and sandy muds but may not form a stable habitat. It may be found adjacent to SS.Smu.SMuVS.AphTubi, separated by the abundance of Aphelochaeta marioni and its more cohesive sediments.
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 hombergii | 44 | Common | 112 | 81-100% |
| Tubificoides amplivasatus | 20 | Common | 271 | 41-60% |
| Diastylis rathkei typica | 8 | Common | 48 | 41-60% |
| Streblospio shrubsolii | 8 | Common | 92 | 41-60% |
| Tubificoides | 7 | Common | 243 | 21-40% |
| Aphelochaeta marioni | 5 | Frequent | 65 | 41-60% |
| Peringia ulvae | 2 | Frequent | 17 | 21-40% |
| Tubificoides benedii | 2 | Frequent | 74 | 21-40% |
| Scoloplos armiger | 1 | Abundant | 35 | 21-40% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
SS.SMu.SMuVS.AphTubi
This biotope may be an impoverished version of SS.SMu.SMuVS.AphTubi and can be distinguished by the abundance of A. marioni, terebellids and the stability of the sediment in SS.SMu.SMuVS.AphTubi, together with the importance of associated species such as Diastylis rathkei typica in SS.SMu.SMuVS.NhomTubi and species such as Chaetozone zetlandica in SS.SMu.SMuVS.AphTubi.
SS.SMu.SMuVS.MoMu
The more mobile muds (SS.SMu.SMuVS.MoMu) may contain a reduced element of this biotope in which case only sediment description will distinguish the two biotopes.
SS.SMu.ISaMu.NhomMac
This biotope may also be allied with SS.SMu.ISaMu.NhomMac which is found in more marine conditions and can be distinguished by the abundance of Macoma balthica and weaker tidal streams.Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code | Habitat name |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 (15.03) | SS.SMu.SMuVS.NhomTubi | Nephtys hombergii and Tubificoides spp. in variable salinity infralittoral soft mud |
| 2004 (04.05) | SS.SMu.SMuVS.NhomTubi | Nephtys hombergii and Tubificoides spp. in variable salinity infralittoral soft mud |
| 1997 (97.06) | SS.IMU.EstMu.NhomTub | Nephtys hombergii and Tubificoides spp. in variable salinity infralittoral soft mud |