Description of biotope or habitat type
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Arenicola marina in infralittoral fine sand or muddy sand
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 | Fine to very fine sand and muddy sand |
| Zone | Infralittoral |
| Depth Band | 0-5 m, 5-10 m, 10-20 m |
| Other Features |
Biotope origin
| Derived using data from | Various |
| Faunal group | Infauna |
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
In shallow fine sand or non-cohesive muddy sand in fully marine conditions (or occasionally in variable salinity) a community characterised by the polychaete Arenicola marina may occur. This biotope appears quite faunally sparse. Taxa present, however, include scavenging crustaceans such as Pagurus bernhardus and Liocarcinus depurator, terebellid polychaetes such as Lanice conchilega and the burrowing anemone Cerianthus lloydii. Occasional Sabella pavonina and frequent Ensis spp. may also be observed in some areas. The majority of records for this biotope are derived from epifaunal surveys and consequently there is little information available for the associated infaunal species. It is possible that this biotope, like SS.SSa.IMuSa.EcorEns (to which it is broadly similar) is an epibiotic overlay on other biotopes from the SSa complex.
Situation
No situation data available.
Temporal variation
At certain times of the year a diatom film may be present on the sediment surface.
Characterising species
| Taxon | Relative importance of taxon for defining this community (%) | Typical abundance - SACFOR scale | % of core records where taxon was recorded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capitella capitata | 91 | Common | 61-80% |
| Arenicola marina | 55 | Common | 81-100% |
| Pagurus bernhardus | 10 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Diatoms - film | 9 | Common | 21-40% |
| Arenicola marina | 9 | Abundant | 61-80% |
| Lanice conchilega | 5 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Carcinus maenas | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Cerianthus lloydii | 2 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Liocarcinus depurator | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Ensis | 1 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Hydractinia echinata | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Sabella pavonina | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Seraphsidae | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
LS.LSa.MuSa.MacAre
SS.SSa.IMuSa.AreISa is likely to be a shallow water extension of the littoral Arenicola biotope LS.LSa.MuSa.MacAre.Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code | Habitat name |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 (15.03) | SS.SSa.IMuSa.AreISa | Arenicola marina in infralittoral fine sand or muddy sand |
| 2004 (04.05) | SS.SSa.IMuSa.AreISa | Arenicola marina in infralittoral fine sand or muddy sand |