Description of biotope or habitat type
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Cushion sponges and hydroids on turbid tide-swept sheltered circalittoral rock
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt), Variable (18-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Sheltered, Very sheltered, Extremely sheltered |
| Tidal streams | Strong (3-6 kn), Moderately strong (1-3 kn), Weak (>1 kn) |
| Substratum | Bedrock; boulders |
| Zone | Circalittoral |
| Depth Band | 0-5 m, 5-10 m, 10-20 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 biotope is found in variable salinity environments and tends to occur on the upper faces of circalittoral bedrock and boulders, in sheltered sites subject to moderately strong tidal streams. This biotope is characterised by aggregations of cushion sponges such as Hymeniacidon perlevis, Halichondria panicea, Halichondria bowerbanki and Cliona celata, other sponges (Leucosolenia botryoides and Suberites ficus) along with occasional hydroid tufts of Nemertesia antennina, Nemertesia ramosa and Plumularia setacea. Other species that may be present include the colonial ascidians Clavelina lepadiformis and Morchellium argus, Dendrodoa grossularia, the anemones Metridium senile and Sagartia troglodytes, the barnacle Balanus crenatus, Asterias rubens, Carcinus maenas and Crisularia plumosa. Two variants of this biotope have been recorded: CuSpH.VS and CuSpH.As.
Situation
No situation data available.
Temporal variation
No temporal variation data available.
Characterising species
| Taxon | Relative importance of taxon for defining this community (%) | Typical abundance - SACFOR scale | % of core records where taxon was recorded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hymeniacidon perlevis | 10 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Suberites ficus | 10 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Clavelina lepadiformis | 9 | Frequent | 61-80% |
| Balanus crenatus | 7 | Common | 41-60% |
| Halichondria panicea | 7 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Nemertesia antennina | 6 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Plumularia setacea | 5 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Asterias rubens | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Carcinus maenas | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Metridium senile | 3 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Nemertesia ramosa | 3 | Frequent | 41-60% |
| Crisularia plumosa | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Cliona celata | 2 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Halichondria bowerbanki | 2 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Morchellium argus | 2 | Occasional | 41-60% |
| Dendrodoa grossularia | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
| Leucosolenia botryoides | 1 | Frequent | 21-40% |
| Sagartia troglodytes | 1 | Occasional | 21-40% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
Not applicable or unknown.
