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Marine Habitat Classification


Description of biotope or habitat type

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   Laminaria hyperborea with dense foliose red seaweeds on exposed infralittoral rock


Physical habitat description

Salinity Full (30-35 ppt)
Wave exposure Extremely exposed, Very exposed, Exposed
Tidal streams Strong (3-6 kn), Moderately strong (1-3 kn), Weak (>1 kn), Very weak (negligible)
Substratum Bedrock; boulders
Zone Infralittoral
Depth Band 0-5 m, 5-10 m, 10-20 m, 20-30 m
Other Features

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.

Distribution of habitat IR.HIR.KFaR.LhypR <I>Laminaria hyperborea</I> with dense foliose red seaweeds on exposed infralittoral rock

  • 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

Very exposed to exposed infralittoral bedrock or large boulders characterised by the kelp Laminaria hyperborea, beneath which is a dense turf of foliose red seaweeds. Three variations of this biotope are described: the upper infralittoral kelp forest (LhypR.Ft), the kelp park below (LhypR.Pk) and a third type of kelp forest, confined to southern England, that is characterised by a mixture of L. hyperborea and Laminaria ochroleuca (LhypR.Loch). The fauna of these biotopes is markedly less abundant than kelp forests in areas of greater wave surge (LhypFa); sponges, anthozoans and polyclinid ascidians may be present, though never at high abundance. Beneath the under-storey of red seaweeds, the rock surface is generally covered with encrusting coralline algae.

Situation

No situation data available.

Temporal variation

No temporal variation data available.

Characterising species

Taxon Relative importance of taxon for defining this community (%) Typical abundance - SACFOR scale % of core records where taxon was recorded
Laminaria hyperborea 15 Abundant 81-100%
Delesseria sanguinea 7 Frequent 81-100%
Corallinaceae 5 Frequent 61-80%
Cryptopleura ramosa 5 Frequent 61-80%
Dictyota dichotoma 5 Frequent 61-80%
Plocamium cartilagineum 4 Frequent 61-80%
Echinus esculentus 4 Frequent 61-80%
Asterias rubens 3 Occasional 41-60%
Metacallophyllis laciniata 3 Frequent 61-80%
Membranipora membranacea 2 Frequent 41-60%
Alcyonium digitatum 2 Occasional 41-60%
Botryllus schlosseri 2 Occasional 41-60%
Calliostoma zizyphinum 2 Occasional 41-60%
Corynactis viridis 2 Frequent 41-60%
Kallymenia reniformis 2 Occasional 41-60%
Electra pilosa 1 Frequent 21-40%
Caryophyllia smithii 1 Occasional 41-60%
Steromphala cineraria 1 Occasional 41-60%
Heterosiphonia plumosa 1 Frequent 41-60%
Hypoglossum hypoglossoides 1 Occasional 41-60%
Membranoptera alata 1 Occasional 21-40%
Obelia geniculata 1 Frequent 41-60%
Spirobranchus triqueter 1 Occasional 41-60%
Urticina felina 1 Occasional 41-60%

Similar biotopes or habitat types

Not applicable or unknown.

Photos

IR.HIR.KFAR.LhypR Laminaria hyperborea with dense foliose red seaweeds on exposed infralittoral rock, Point of Ardnamurchan, Ardnamurchan Point. Paul Brazier© JNCC
IR.HIR.KFAR.LhypR Laminaria hyperborea with dense foliose red seaweeds on exposed infralittoral rock, Point of Ardnamurchan, Ardnamurchan Point. Paul Brazier© JNCC
IR.HIR.KFAR.LhypR Laminaria hyperborea with dense foliose red seaweeds on exposed infralittoral rock, NE En Raonuill, South Channel, Loch Moidart. Christine Howson© JNCC
IR.HIR.KFAR.LhypR Laminaria hyperborea with dense foliose red seaweeds on exposed infralittoral rock, NE En Raonuill, South Channel, Loch Moidart. Christine Howson© JNCC

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