Description of biotope or habitat type
To understand more about what this page is describing, see How to use the classification. See also How to cite.
Kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediment
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt), Variable (18-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Moderately exposed, Sheltered, Very sheltered, Extremely sheltered |
| Tidal streams | Moderately strong (1-3 kn), Weak (>1 kn), Very weak (negligible) |
| Substratum | Mixed sediment (with stones and shells) |
| Zone | Infralittoral |
| Depth Band | 0-5 m, 5-10 m, 10-20 m |
| Other Features |
Biotope origin
| Derived using data from | Various |
| 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 sublittoral sediments which support seaweed communities, typically including the kelp Saccharina latissima, the bootlace weed Chorda filum and various red and brown seaweeds, particularly filamentous types. The generally sheltered nature of these habitats enables the seaweeds to grow on shells and small stones which lie on the sediment surface; some communities develop as loose-lying mats on the sediment surface.
Situation
No situation data available.
Temporal variation
No temporal data available.
Characterising species
| Taxon | Typical abundance - SACFOR scale | % of core records where taxon was recorded |
|---|---|---|
| Arenicola marina | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Ascidiella aspersa | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Asterias rubens | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Balanus crenatus | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Bonnemaisonia asparagoides | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Bonnemaisonia hamifera | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Buccinum undatum | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Cancer pagurus | Rare | 21-40% |
| Carcinus maenas | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Carradoriella elongata | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Cerianthus lloydii | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Chaetopterus variopedatus | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Chorda filum | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Corallinaceae | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Delesseria sanguinea | Occasional | 1-20% |
| Desmarestia aculeata | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Desmarestia viridis | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Dictyota dichotoma | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Echinus esculentus | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Gibbula magus | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Gracilaria gracilis | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Halarachnion ligulatum | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Hydractinia echinata | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Lanice conchilega | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Liocarcinus depurator | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Lomentaria clavellosa | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Ophiura albida | Occasional | 1-20% |
| Pagurus bernhardus | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Pecten maximus | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Phycodrys rubens | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Phyllophora crispa | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Plocamium cartilagineum | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Polyides rotunda | Occasional | 1-20% |
| Pomatoschistus minutus | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Pterothamnion plumula | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Rhodophyllis divaricata | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Saccharina latissima | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Seraphsidae | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Spirobranchus triqueter | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Steromphala cineraria | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Ulva | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Vertebrata byssoides | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Corophium volutator | Super abundant | 21-40% |
| Nematoda | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Tubificoides benedii | Abundant | 21-40% |
| Mediomastus fragilis | Common | 41-60% |
| Ampelisca brevicornis | 41-60% | |
| Kurtiella bidentata | Abundant | 21-40% |
| Capitella capitata | Common | 21-40% |
| Baltidrilus costatus | Abundant | 1-20% |
| Abra alba | 21-40% | |
| Chaetozone setosa | Abundant | 21-40% |
| Phyllodoce mucosa | 21-40% | |
| Hediste diversicolor | 1-20% | |
| Lucinoma borealis | 21-40% | |
| Mya arenaria | Super abundant | 21-40% |
| Nephtys hombergii | 1-20% | |
| Notomastus latericeus | 21-40% | |
| Pygospio elegans | 21-40% | |
| Scoloplos armiger | Super abundant | 21-40% |
| Nemertea | Abundant | 21-40% |
| Urothoe elegans | 21-40% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
Not applicable or unknown.
Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code | Habitat name |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 (15.03) | SS.SMp.KSwSS | Kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediment |
| 2004 (04.05) | SS.SMp.KSwSS | Kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediment |
| 1997 (97.06) | SS.IMX.KSwMx | Laminaria saccharina (sugar kelp) and filamentous seaweeds (mixed sediment) |