Description of biotope or habitat type
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Kelp and red seaweeds (moderate energy infralittoral rock)
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Exposed, Moderately exposed, Sheltered |
| Tidal streams | Moderately strong (1-3 kn), Weak (>1 kn), Very weak (negligible) |
| Substratum | Bedrock & boulders |
| Zone | Infralittoral, Sublittoral fringe |
| Depth Band | 0-5 m, 5-10 m, 10-20 m, Lower shore |
| 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.
- 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
Infralittoral rock subject to moderate wave exposure, or moderately strong tidal streams on more sheltered coasts. On bedrock and stable boulders there is typically a narrow band of kelp Laminaria digitata in the sublittoral fringe which lies above a Laminaria hyperborea forest and park. Associated with the kelp are communities of seaweeds, predominantly reds and including a greater variety of more delicate filamentous types than found on more exposed coasts (KFaR). The faunal component of the understorey is also less prominant than in KFaR.
Situation
No situation data available.
Temporal variation
No temporal variation data available.
Characterising species
| Taxon | Typical abundance - SACFOR scale | % of core records where taxon was recorded |
|---|---|---|
| Alcyonium digitatum | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Antedon bifida | Occasional | 1-20% |
| Asterias rubens | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Balanus crenatus | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Botryllus schlosseri | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Bryozoa indet crusts | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Calliostoma zizyphinum | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Cancer pagurus | Rare | 21-40% |
| Caryophyllia smithii | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Chondrus crispus | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Clavelina lepadiformis | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Corallina officinalis | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Corallinaceae | Common | 41-60% |
| Cryptopleura ramosa | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Cylista elegans | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Delesseria sanguinea | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Dictyota dichotoma | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Dilsea carnosa | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Echinus esculentus | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Electra pilosa | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Halichondria panicea | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Hypoglossum hypoglossoides | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Laminaria digitata | Abundant | 41-60% |
| Laminaria hyperborea | Common | 61-80% |
| Membranipora membranacea | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Membranoptera alata | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Metacallophyllis laciniata | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Necora puber | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Obelia geniculata | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Ophiothrix fragilis | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Pagurus bernhardus | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Palmaria palmata | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Phycodrys rubens | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Plocamium cartilagineum | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Saccharina latissima | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Spirobranchus triqueter | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Steromphala cineraria | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Sycon ciliatum | Occasional | 1-20% |
| Urticina felina | Occasional | 41-60% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
Not applicable or unknown.