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.
Sabella pavonina with sponges and anemones on infralittoral mixed sediment
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Moderately exposed, Sheltered, Very sheltered |
| Tidal streams | Strong (3-6 kn), Moderately strong (1-3 kn) |
| Substratum | Muddy gravelly sand with pebbles |
| Zone | Circalittoral |
| 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
Muddy gravelly sand with pebbles off shallow, sheltered or moderately exposed coasts or embayments may support dense populations of the peacock worm Sabella pavonina. This community may also support populations of sponges such as Amphilectus fucorum, Haliclona oculata and Halichondria panicea and anemones such as Cylista elegans, Cerianthus lloydii and Urticina felina. Hydroids such as Hydrallmania falcata and the encrusting polychaete Spirobranchus triqueter are also important. This biotope may have an extremely diverse epifaunal community. Less is known about its infaunal component, although it is likely to include polychaetes such as Nephtys spp., Harmothoe spp., Glycera spp., syllid and cirratulid polychaetes, bivalves such as Abra spp., Aoridae amphipods and brittlestars such as Amphipholis squamata.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sabella pavonina | 36 | Abundant | 81-100% |
| Asterias rubens | 6 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Carcinus maenas | 5 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Pagurus bernhardus | 5 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Hydrallmania falcata | 4 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Cylista elegans | 4 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Halichondria panicea | 3 | Common | 41-60% |
| Lanice conchilega | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Liocarcinus depurator | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Spirobranchus triqueter | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Alcyonidium diaphanum | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Ascidiella scabra | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Buccinum undatum | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Cerianthus lloydii | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Amphilectus fucorum | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Haliclona oculata | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Hyas araneus | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Ophiothrix fragilis | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Dendrodoa grossularia | 1 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Diplosoma spongiforme | 1 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Urticina felina | 1 | Occasional | 41-60% |
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.SMx.IMx.SpavSpAn | Sabella pavonina with sponges and anemones on infralittoral mixed sediment |
| 2004 (04.05) | SS.SMx.IMx.SpavSpAn | Sabella pavonina with sponges and anemones on infralittoral mixed sediment |