Description of biotope or habitat type
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Caryophyllia smithii with faunal and algal crusts on moderately wave-exposed circalittoral rock
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Exposed, Moderately exposed, Sheltered |
| Tidal streams | Weak (>1 kn), Very weak (negligible) |
| Substratum | Bedrock, boulders |
| Zone | Circalittoral |
| Depth Band | 10-20 m, 20-30 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 the upper and vertical faces of exposed and moderately wave-exposed circalittoral rock, subject to very little water movement. Where this variant is found on slightly more wave-exposed sites, it tends to be found towards the bottom of its depth range. The rocky substratum has a grazed appearance, with encrusting red algae. Diversity of species is very low, possibly due to grazing pressure from the sea urchin Echinus esculentus. From afar, there is little evident epifauna attached to the rocks apart from the white, calcareous tubes of the polychaete Spirobranchus triqueter and the cup-coral Caryophyllia smithii. In addition, bryozoan crusts such as Parasmittina trispinosa are frequently seen. Under closer inspection, a few more species become apparent but few are typically characterising of this particular variant. The echinoderms Antedon bifida, Asterias rubens, Ophiothrix fragilis, Marthasterias glacialis, Ophiocomina nigra and Crossaster papposus are occasionally present. Sparse clumps of hydroids such as Halecium halecinum, Kirchenpaueria pinnata and Nemertesia antennina may be found attached to rocky outcrops or boulders. Small specimens of Alcyonium digitatum may be present. The ascidians Ciona intestinalis, Clavelina lepadiformis and Ascidia mentula also occur in this variant but are found in greater numbers in other biotopes. The top shells Calliostoma zizyphinum, Steromphala cineraria, and the saddle oyster Pododesmus patelliformis may be seen on the rock surface whilst the crab Cancer pagurus may be seen under boulders and in crevices. The anemone Metridium senile may be found under rocky overhangs and on the sides of boulders.
Situation
As FaAlCr.Car occurs on moderately wave-exposed coasts, kelp forests in the infralittoral zone shallower than this variant tend to be dominated by robust kelp species such as Laminaria hyperborea (Lhyp) and Saccorhiza polyschides. Immediately below FaAlC.Car (typically bedrock/boulder substratum), sublittoral sediment biotopes such as muddy sands, containing Nephrops norvegicus, Virgularia mirabilis and Funiculina quadrangularis are found. Occasionally, biotopes composed of coarser sand/gravelly material may be present, with species such as Peachea cylindrica and Neopentadactyla mixta. When wave exposure and tidal stream increase, FaAlC.Car tends to grade into FaAlC.Pom.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corallinaceae | 16 | Abundant | 81-100% |
| Caryophyllia smithii | 9 | Frequent | 81-100% |
| Echinus esculentus | 9 | Frequent | 81-100% |
| Spirobranchus triqueter | 8 | Frequent | 81-100% |
| Antedon bifida | 4 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Asterias rubens | 4 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Parasmittina trispinosa | 4 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Alcyonium digitatum | 2 | Occasional | 61-80% |
| Ascidia mentula | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Ciona intestinalis | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Clavelina lepadiformis | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Halecium halecinum | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Nemertesia antennina | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Ophiothrix fragilis | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Pododesmus patelliformis | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Calliostoma zizyphinum | 1 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Cancer pagurus | 1 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Crossaster papposus | 1 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Steromphala cineraria | 1 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Kirchenpaueria pinnata | 1 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Marthasterias glacialis | 1 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Metridium senile | 1 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Ophiocomina nigra | 1 | Frequent | 21-40% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
CR.MCR.EcCr.FaAlCr.Spi
This variant tends to be found in slightly more wave-exposed areas subject to slightly stronger tides and is distinguished from CR.MCR.EcCr.FaAlCr.Car by its lack of C. smithii.
CR.LCR.BrAs.AmenCio.Ant
This variant is found in wave-sheltered sea lochs subject to only weak (if any) tidal streams. It has a barren appearance apart from frequent large solitary ascidians and a pink appearance due to encrusting corallines.Photos
