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Marine Habitat Classification


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.

   Angiosperm communities in reduced salinity


Physical habitat description

Salinity Reduced (18-30ppt), Variable (18-35 ppt), Low (<18ppt)
Wave exposure Extremely sheltered
Tidal streams Very weak (negligible)
Substratum Sandy mud with some pebbles and boulders
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.

Distribution of habitat SS.SMp.Ang Angiosperm communities in reduced salinity

  • 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

Lagoon communities, subject to reduced or low salinity conditions, dominated by angiosperms, including Stuckenia pectinata beds and fringing habitats with reeds Phragmites australis.

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
Potamogeton 26 Frequent 61-80%
Mysidae 25 Frequent 41-60%
Potamopyrgus antipodarum 23 Frequent 41-60%
Stuckenia pectinata 8 Common 21-40%
Cladophora liniformis 4 Frequent 21-40%
Mytilus edulis 4 Occasional 21-40%
Chara aspera 3 Frequent 1-20%
Ulva intestinalis 2 Frequent 1-20%
Filamentous green algae 2 Occasional 1-20%

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.Ang Angiosperm communities in reduced salinity
2004 (04.05) SS.SMp.Ang Angiosperm communities in reduced salinity
1997 (97.06) SS.IMU.Ang Angiosperm communities (lagoons)

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