Description of biotope or habitat type
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Sediment-affected or disturbed kelp and seaweed communities
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; unstable boulders and cobbles: often nearby coarse sediment |
| Zone | Infralittoral |
| Depth Band | 0-5 m, 5-10 m, 10-20 m |
| Other Features | Disturbed or sediment-affected |
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 habitats, subject to disturbance through mobility of the substratum (boulders or cobbles) or abrasion/covering by nearby coarse sediments or suspended particulate matter (sand). The associated communities can be quite variable in character, depending on the particular conditions, which prevail. The typical Laminaria hyperborea and red seaweed communities of stable open coast rocky habitats (IR.MIR.KR) are replaced by those, which include more ephemeral species or those tolerant of sand and gravel abrasion. As such Saccharina latissima, Saccorhiza polyschides or Halidrys siliquosa may be prominant components of the community.
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% |
| Asterias rubens | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Balanus crenatus | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Botryllus schlosseri | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Cancer pagurus | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Chondrus crispus | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Clavelina lepadiformis | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Corallina officinalis | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Corallinaceae | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Cryptopleura ramosa | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Delesseria sanguinea | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Desmarestia aculeata | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Dictyota dichotoma | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Dilsea carnosa | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Electra pilosa | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Halarachnion ligulatum | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Halidrys siliquosa | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Heterosiphonia plumosa | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Hypoglossum hypoglossoides | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Laminaria hyperborea | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Phycodrys rubens | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Plocamium cartilagineum | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Rhodomela confervoides | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Saccharina latissima | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Spirobranchus triqueter | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Steromphala cineraria | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Urticina felina | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Vertebrata byssoides | Frequent | 41-60% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
Not applicable or unknown.
Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code |
|---|---|
| 1997 (97.06) | SedK |