Concept
Flustra foliacea on slightly scoured silty circalittoral rock
| URI | http://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/M20/current/JNCCMNCR00002153/1/ | |
|---|---|---|
| Within Vocab | Marine Habitat Classification for Britain and Ireland Version 04.05 | |
| Alternative Labels | CR.MCR.EcCr.FaAlCr.Flu | |
| Definition | This variant is typically found on the upper faces of moderately wave-exposed circalittoral bedrock or boulders subjected to moderately strong tidal streams. These rocky patches may be interspersed with gravelly sand patches, causing a scouring effect. From afar, the variant appears dominated by the bryozoan Flustra foliacea. Alcyonium digitatum may also be seen attached to the rocky substratum. Under closer inspection, the white tubes of the polychaete Pomatoceros triqueter may be observed on the rock and boulders, especially on vertical faces. There may be sandy/gravelly patches in between the boulders colonised by the anemone Urticina felina. The regular occurrence of large numbers of the sea urchin Echinus esculentus in this biotope may be responsible for grazing the faunal and algal turf, thus keeping species richness relatively low. Other echinoderms that may be seen include the ubiquitous starfish Asterias rubens and the common brittlestar Ophiothrix fragilis. Sparse clumps of the hydroids Thuiaria thuja, Abietinaria abietina, Nemertesia antennina and Tubularia indivisa are occasionally seen attached to the rocky substratum. The hermit crab Pagurus bernhardus, the polychaete Sabella pavonina and sparse bryozoan crusts may also be present. This biotope is characteristic of the bedrock terraces along the Northumberland coast that are generally species impoverished compared to similar F. foliacea biotopes on the west coasts of the UK, which have a more diverse range of sponges, hydroids and bryozoans. As the turbidity levels increase in this fairly silty biotope, so the species diversity is reduced. | |
| Date | 2018-02-13T18:42:27 | |
| Identifier | SDN:M20::JNCCMNCR00002153 | |
| Note | accepted | |
| Is Version Of | JNCCMNCR00002153 | |
| version | 1 | |
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