Description of biotope or habitat type
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Lithophyllum fasciculatum maerl beds on infralittoral mud
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Sheltered |
| Tidal streams | Weak (>1 kn), Very weak (negligible) |
| Substratum | Mud and muddy gravel with shell |
| Zone | Infralittoral |
| Depth Band | 0-5 m |
| Other Features |
Biotope origin
| Derived using data from | Recording (Phase II) |
| Faunal group | Epifauna |
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, sheltered infralittoral muddy plains with Lithophyllum fasciculatum maerl. This rarely recorded maerl species forms flattened masses or balls several centimetres in diameter (Irvine & Chamberlain 1994). Lfas may be found on mud and muddy gravel mixed with shell. Species of anemone typical of sheltered conditions may be found in association, for example, Anthopleura ballii, Cereus pedunculatus and Cylista undata. Polychaetes such as Myxicola infundibulum and terebellids, also characteristic of sheltered conditions, may be present as may hydroids such as Kirchenpaueria pinnata. Occasional Mimachlamys varia and Thyone fuscus are present in all records of this biotope and red seaweeds such as Plocamium cartilagineum, Calliblepharis jubata and Chylocladia verticillata are often present.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lithophyllum fasciculatum | 18 | Common | 81-100% |
| Carcinus maenas | 9 | Occasional | 81-100% |
| Mimachlamys varia | 9 | Occasional | 81-100% |
| Thyone fusus | 9 | Occasional | 81-100% |
| Seraphsidae | 8 | Frequent | 81-100% |
| Myxicola infundibulum | 5 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Anthopleura ballii | 3 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Asterias rubens | 3 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Cereus pedunculatus | 3 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Kirchenpaueria pinnata | 3 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Liocarcinus depurator | 3 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Pagurus bernhardus | 3 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Plocamium cartilagineum | 3 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Pomatoschistus pictus | 3 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Cylista undata | 3 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Calliblepharis jubata | 2 | 61-80% | |
| Cancer pagurus | 2 | Rare | 61-80% |
| Chylocladia verticillata | 2 | 61-80% | |
| Hydractinia echinata | 2 | 61-80% | |
| Lomentaria clavellosa | 2 | 61-80% | |
| Macropodia rostrata | 2 | Rare | 61-80% |
| Ophiothrix fragilis | 2 | 61-80% | |
| Spyridia filamentosa | 2 | 61-80% | |
| Suberites ficus | 2 | Rare | 61-80% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
SS.SMp.Mrl.Lcor
Similar habitat with different dominant maerl species.Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code | Habitat name |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 (04.05) | SS.SMp.Mrl.Lfas | Lithophyllum fasciculatum maerl beds on infralittoral mud |
| 1997 (97.06) | SS.IMX.MrlMx.Lfas | Lithophyllum fasciculatum maerl beds with Chlamys varia on infralittoral sandy mud or mud |