Description of biotope or habitat type
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Infralittoral sandy mud
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt), Variable (18-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Sheltered, Very sheltered, Extremely sheltered |
| Tidal streams | Moderately strong (1-3 kn), Weak (>1 kn), Very weak (negligible) |
| Substratum | Mud with a fine to very fine sand fraction |
| 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
Infralittoral, cohesive sandy mud, typically with over 20% silt/clay, in depths of less than 15-20 m. This habitat is generally found in sheltered bays or marine inlets and along sheltered areas of open coast. Typical species include a rich variety of polychaetes including Melinna palmate, tube building amphipods (Ampelisca spp.) and deposit feeding bivalves such as Macoma balthica and Kurtiella bidentata. Seapens such as Virgularia mirabilis and brittlestars such as Amphiura spp. may be present but not in the same abundances as found in deeper circalittoral waters.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cylista undata | 21 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Nephtys hombergii | 20 | Common | 61-80% |
| Carcinus maenas | 16 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Abra alba | 8 | Common | 41-60% |
| Nucula nitidosa | 8 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Macoma balthica | 7 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Pagurus bernhardus | 7 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Ascidiella aspersa | 6 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Capitella capitata | 5 | Abundant | 21-40% |
| Melinna palmata | 5 | Abundant | 21-40% |
| Nematoda | 4 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Hydractinia echinata | 4 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Seraphsidae | 4 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Asterias rubens | 3 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Cerianthus lloydii | 3 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Liocarcinus depurator | 3 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Scoloplos armiger | 3 | Abundant | 21-40% |
| Pomatoschistus | 3 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Arenicola marina | 2 | Occasional | 1-20% |
| Magelona filiformis | 2 | Common | 21-40% |
| Metridium senile | 2 | Rare | 21-40% |
| Kurtiella bidentata | 2 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Myxicola infundibulum | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Nemertea | 2 | Common | 21-40% |
| Thyasira flexuosa | 2 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Chaetozone gibber | 2 | Abundant | 21-40% |
| Ampelisca brevicornis | 1 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Ampelisca tenuicornis | 1 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Euclymene oerstedii | 1 | Abundant | 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.SMu.ISaMu | Infralittoral sandy mud |
| 2004 (04.05) | SS.SMu.ISaMu | Infralittoral sandy mud |
| 1997 (97.06) | Part of SS.IMS.FaMS | Shallow muddy sand faunal communities |