Description of biotope or habitat type
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Mytilus edulis beds on sublittoral sediment
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Moderately exposed, Sheltered |
| Tidal streams | Moderately strong (1-3 kn) |
| Substratum | Mixed muddy sediment |
| Zone | Circalittoral, Infralittoral |
| Depth Band | 0-5 m, 5-10 m, 10-20 m |
| Other Features |
Biotope origin
| Derived using data from | Various |
| Faunal group | Epifauna/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
Shallow sublittoral mixed sediment, in fully marine coastal habitats or sometimes in variable salinity conditions in the outer regions of estuaries, are characterised by beds of the common mussel Mytilus edulis. Other characterising infaunal species may include the amphipod Gammarus salinus and oligochaetes of the genus Tubificoides. The polychaetes Harmothoe spp., Psamathe fusca and Heteromastus filiformis are also important. Epifaunal species in addition to the M. edulis include the whelks Nucella lapillus and Buccinum undatum, the common starfish Asterias rubens , the spider crab Maja squinado, and the anemone Urticina felina. Relatively few records are available for this biotope and it is possible that as more data is accumulated separate estuarine and fully marine sub-biotopes may be described. Further clarification may also be required regarding the overlap between littoral and sublittoral mussel beds and regarding mussel beds biotopes on hard substratum.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mytilus edulis | 60 | Abundant | 81-100% |
| Mytilus edulis | 25 | Super abundant | 81-100% |
| Oligochaeta | 15 | Abundant | 81-100% |
| Gammarus salinus | 11 | Super abundant | 81-100% |
| Urticina felina | 7 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Nemertea | 6 | Abundant | 81-100% |
| Maja squinado | 6 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Cancer pagurus | 4 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Harmothoe impar | 4 | Abundant | 81-100% |
| Asterias rubens | 3 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Heteromastus filiformis | 3 | Common | 61-80% |
| Pagurus bernhardus | 3 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Anthozoa | 2 | Abundant | 61-80% |
| Cirripedia | 2 | Common | 61-80% |
| Turbellaria | 2 | Frequent | 81-100% |
| Actinothoe sphyrodeta | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Asterias rubens | 2 | Abundant | 61-80% |
| Capitella capitata | 2 | Common | 61-80% |
| Eteone longa | 2 | Abundant | 61-80% |
| Harmothoe imbricata | 2 | Super abundant | 61-80% |
| Psamathe fusca | 2 | Super abundant | 81-100% |
| Necora puber | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Pleuronectes platessa | 2 | Rare | 21-40% |
| Spirobranchus triqueter | 2 | Abundant | 61-80% |
| Nucella lapillus | 2 | Common | 61-80% |
| Buccinum undatum | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Crepidula fornicata | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Flustra foliacea | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Nereididae | 1 | 81-100% | |
| Paguridae | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Pholoe inornata | 1 | Common | 61-80% |
| Scoloplos armiger | 1 | Abundant | 61-80% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
LS.LBR.LMus.Myt
SS.SBR.SMus.MytSS may be an extension of the littoral biotope LS.LBR.LMus.Myt.
SS.SMx.SMxVS.AphPol
SS.SMx.SMxVS.AphPol may be separated from SS.SBR.SMus.MytSS by the dominance of M. edulis in 'beds' rather than scattered individuals. Care must be taken with data to ensure juvenile spat recruitments are not classified as mussel beds.Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code | Habitat name |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 (15.03) | SS.SBR.SMus.MytSS | Mytilus edulis beds on sublittoral sediment |
| 2004 (04.05) | SS.SBR.SMus.MytSS | Mytilus edulis beds on sublittoral sediment |
| 1997 (97.06) | Part of SS.IMX.EstMx.MytV | Mytilus edulis beds on variable salinity infralittoral mixed sediment |