Description of biotope or habitat type
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Saccharina latissima and filamentous red algae on infralittoral sand
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Sheltered, Very sheltered |
| Tidal streams | Weak (>1 kn), Very weak (negligible) |
| Substratum | Mud or muddy sand with shells, gravel or pebbles |
| Zone | Infralittoral - lower |
| Depth Band | 5-10 m, 10-20 m, 20-30 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 kelp community found on sand and slightly gravelly sand, in moderately exposed and sheltered conditions, with weak tidal currents. The community is characterised by occasional Saccharina latissima with an undergrowth of red algae. Characteristic red seaweeds, as with SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatR.Gv, include Plocamium cartilagineum, Polyides rotunda, Polysiphonia elongate and Lomentaria clavellosa. Coralline encrusting algae are much less important in this biotope as a result of a lack of suitable substrate. Brown algal species present, as with other SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatR biotopes, include Desmarestia spp., Dictyota dichotoma and Chorda filum, all at low abundance. The ubiquitous green seaweed Ulva sp. may also be present. The sandy substrate is home to a variety of typical sand dwelling infauna including polychaetes (Scoloplos armiger, Parexogone hebes, and Aricidea (Aricidea) minuta), amphipods (Ampelisca brevicornis), and bivalves (Lucinoma borealis and Abra alba). Arenicola worm casts and Lanice worm tubes may be visible at the sediment surface.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ampelisca brevicornis | 19 | 81-100% | |
| Abra alba | 10 | 61-80% | |
| Lucinoma borealis | 10 | 61-80% | |
| Scoloplos armiger | 10 | 61-80% | |
| Saccharina latissima | 9 | Occasional | 81-100% |
| Echinocardium cordatum | 8 | 61-80% | |
| Pagurus bernhardus | 8 | Frequent | 81-100% |
| Asterias rubens | 7 | Occasional | 81-100% |
| Parexogone hebes | 7 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Aricidea minuta | 6 | 61-80% | |
| Liocarcinus depurator | 5 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Arenicola marina | 4 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Cochlodesma praetenue | 4 | 61-80% | |
| Nemertea | 4 | 61-80% | |
| Pariambus typicus | 4 | 61-80% | |
| Spiophanes bombyx | 4 | 61-80% | |
| Thracia villosiuscula | 4 | 61-80% | |
| Urothoe elegans | 4 | 61-80% | |
| Lanice conchilega | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Carradoriella elongata | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Cerianthus lloydii | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Chaetopterus variopedatus | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Chorda filum | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Desmarestia viridis | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Ensis | 2 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Gibbula magus | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Lomentaria clavellosa | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Plocamium cartilagineum | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Polyides rotunda | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Spirobranchus triqueter | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Echinus esculentus | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Pomatoschistus minutus | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Ulva | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Cancer pagurus | 1 | Rare | 41-60% |
| Ceramium | 1 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Desmarestia aculeata | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Ensis magnus | 1 | Common | 21-40% |
| Steromphala cineraria | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Pecten maximus | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Pterothamnion plumula | 1 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Seraphsidae | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatR.Gv
Similar in species composition, but differ in sediment characteristics and therefore infaunal species composition.
SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatR.Mu
Similar in species composition, but differ in sediment characteristics and therefore in infaunal species composition.Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code | Habitat name |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 (15.03) | SS.SMp.KSwSS.LsacR.Sa | Laminaria latissima and filamentous red algae on infralittoral sand |
| 2004 (04.05) | SS.SMp.KSwSS.LsacR.Sa | Laminaria latissima and filamentous red algae on infralittoral sand |
| 1997 (97.06) | Part of SS.IMX.KSwMx.LsacX | Laminaria saccharina, Chorda filum and filamentous red seaweeds on sheltered infralittoral sediment |