Description of biotope or habitat type
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Mixed turf of bryozoans and erect sponges with Cylista elegans on tide-swept ciraclittoral rock
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Extremely exposed, Very exposed, Exposed, Moderately exposed |
| Tidal streams | Moderately strong (1-3 kn) |
| Substratum | Bedrock; boulder |
| Zone | Circalittoral - lower, Circalittoral - upper |
| Depth Band | 10-20 m, 20-30 m, 30-50 m |
| Other Features |
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
This variant is typically found on wave-exposed circalittoral bedrock and boulders, on steep slopes and upper faces in moderate tidal streams. This species-rich biotope is characterised by a dense sponge, hydroid and bryozoan turf and frequent Alcyonium digitatum. There are frequently large growths of Cliona celata and Pachymatisma johnstonia. Other species present in this diverse sponge community include Polymastia boletiformis, Haliclona viscosa, Polymastia mamilliaris, Sycon ciliatum, Hemimycale columella and Dysidea fragilis. Axinellid sponges such as Stelligera stuposa and Raspailia ramosa may be present in low abundance, and are usually more abundant in deeper water. A dense hydroid turf forms a significant part of this biotope, with tufts of large hydroids such as Nemertesia antennina and Nemertesia ramosa frequently recorded. Other hydroid turf component species include Halecium halecinum, Aglaophenia tubulifera and Abietinaria abietina. Anemones are also well represented, with species such as Urticina felina, Cylista elegans and Metridium senile recorded. The cup coral Caryophyllia smithii and the anemone Corynactis viridis are also frequently seen. The bryozoan turf is composed predominantly of Alcyonidium diaphanum and Flustra foliacea, whilst crustose species such as Parasmittina trispinosa contribute to a lesser extent. The delicate Crisularia plumosa may also be present. There is a significant echinoderm component in this biotope. Species such as the starfish Asterias rubens, Henricia oculata, Marthasterias glacialis and Luidia ciliaris, the sea urchin Echinus esculentus and the crinoid Antedon bifida are all regularly recorded. Other species which may be observed include the top shell Calliostoma zizyphinium, the colonial ascidian Clavelina lepadiformis and the barnacle Balanus crenatus. The crab Cancer pagurus is typically found under boulders. This variant has been recorded from from various sites including Pembrokeshire, the Calf of Man and the west coast of Ireland.
Situation
Dense kelp forests containing L. hyperborea and S. polyschides are typically found above ByErSp.Sag.
Temporal variation
Not known
Characterising species
| Taxon | Relative importance of taxon for defining this community (%) | Typical abundance - SACFOR scale | % of core records where taxon was recorded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcyonium digitatum | 6 | Frequent | 81-100% |
| Nemertesia antennina | 5 | Frequent | 81-100% |
| Cliona celata | 4 | Frequent | 81-100% |
| Asterias rubens | 3 | Occasional | 81-100% |
| Calliostoma zizyphinum | 3 | Occasional | 81-100% |
| Caryophyllia smithii | 3 | Frequent | 81-100% |
| Henricia oculata | 3 | Occasional | 81-100% |
| Nemertesia ramosa | 3 | Frequent | 81-100% |
| Urticina felina | 3 | Occasional | 81-100% |
| Echinus esculentus | 3 | Occasional | 81-100% |
| Alcyonidium diaphanum | 2 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Antedon bifida | 2 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Balanus crenatus | 2 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Clavelina lepadiformis | 2 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Corynactis viridis | 2 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Flustra foliacea | 2 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Halecium halecinum | 2 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Haliclona viscosa | 2 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Luidia ciliaris | 2 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Marthasterias glacialis | 2 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Polymastia boletiformis | 2 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Cylista elegans | 2 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Abietinaria abietina | 1 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Aglaophenia tubulifera | 1 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Crisularia plumosa | 1 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Cancer pagurus | 1 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Dysidea fragilis | 1 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Hemimycale columella | 1 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Metridium senile | 1 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Pachymatisma johnstonia | 1 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Parasmittina trispinosa | 1 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Polymastia mamillaris | 1 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Sycon ciliatum | 1 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Stelligera stuposa | 1 | Occasional | 41-60% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
CR.HCR.XFa.ByErSp.Eun
This biotope occurs under similar conditions and depths as CR.HCR.XFa.ByErSp.Cyl. A diverse group of sponges, hydroids and bryozoans are found in both biotopes, but it is the frequently recorded Eunicella verrucosa and the occasional presence of Parazoanthus axinellae and Isozoanthus sulcatus that distinguishes it from CR.HCR.XFa.ByErSp.Cyl.
CR.HCR.XFa.ByErSp.DysAct
This biotope occurs under similar wave-exposure conditions with stronger tides than CR.HCR.XFa.ByErSp.Cyl. Also, CR.HCR.XFa.ByErSp.DysAct is found at slightly shallower depths than CR.HCR.XFa.ByErSp.Cyl. Both biotopes have similar suites of species but distinct geographical distributions: CR.HCR.XFa.ByErSp.DysAct only tends to be found off Wales and Lundy whereas CR.HCR.XFa.ByErSp.Cyl is usually found off the west coast of Ireland.Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code |
|---|---|
| 2015 (15.03) | CR.HCR.XFa.ByErSp.Sag |
