SS.SMu.SMuVS.PolCvol - Polydora ciliata and Corophium volutator in variable salinity infralittoral firm mud or clay

SS.SMu.SMuVS.PolCvol
Polydora ciliata and Corophium volutator in variable salinity infralittoral firm mud or clay

Full Hierarchy >> SS >> SS.SMu >> SS.SMu.SMuVS >> SS.SMu.SMuVS.PolCvol

Habitat (physical) description

Distribution

Salinity:	Variable (18-35 ppt)
Wave exposure:	Sheltered, Very sheltered, Extremely sheltered
Tidal streams:	Weak (>1 kn)
Substratum:	Hard clay, relict peat, mud with fine sand fraction
Zone:	Infralittoral
Depth Band:	0-5 m, 5-10 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.

Previous code

This biotope occurred in previous versions of the classification as:
IMU.PolVS - Version: 97.06

Distribution of habitat SS.SMu.SMuVS.PolCvol Polydora ciliata and Corophium volutator in variable salinity infralittoral firm mud or clay, based on records on the JNCC marine database. Red dots represent records on which the biotope is based. Blue dots show orther certain records, black dots show records tentatively assigned to this biotope.

Biotope description

Variable salinity clay and firm mud characterised by a turf of the polychaete Polydora ciliata along with the amphipod Corophium volutator. Other important taxa include the polychaetes Pygospio elegans, Hediste diversicolor, Streblospio shrubsolii and the oligochaete Tubificoides benedii. P. ciliata also occurs in high densities elsewhere (see MCR.Pol) and may be a specific feature of the Humber Estuary in these conditions. This biotope occurs only in very firm mud and clay and possibly submerged relict saltmarsh with a high detrital content. It is characterised, and can be separated from other biotopes, by a combination of the sediment characteristics and the very high density of Polydora ciliata. In some areas, such as the Humber estuary, cyclical behaviour with regard its characteristic taxa has been reported with either P. ciliata or C. volutator increasing in dominance at the expense of the other (Gameson 1982). It is possible that changes in water quality or the sediment regime may be responsible for this.

Situation

No situation data available.

Temporal variation

No temporal data available.

Similar biotopes

SS.SMu.SMuVS.AphTubi These two biotopes are similar in characteristics but can be distinguished on the relative abundances of the characterising species Polydora ciliata, Corophium volutator and Aphelochaeta marioni.

Characterising Species

Taxa	Typical Abundance	% Contribution to similarity	Abundance (no.²)
Eteone longa	C	2	32
Hediste diversicolor	C	5	84
Polydora ciliata	A	43	6407
Pygospio elegans	F	9	152
Streblospio shrubsolii	C	6	642
Tharyx	C	2	877
Tubificoides benedii	F	4	616
Tubificoides pseudogaster	A	2	2850
Gammarus salinus	C	1	6
Corophium volutator	C	21	556
Hydrobia ulvae	C	1	332

Example photographs of biotope

No characteristic photos currently available. If you are able to provide a photograph of this biotope please contact .

This report should be cited as:
DAVID W. CONNOR, JAMES H. ALLEN, NEIL GOLDING, KERRY L. HOWELL, LOUISE M. LIEBERKNECHT, KATE O. NORTHEN AND JOHNNY B. REKER (2004)
The Marine Habitat Classification for Britain and Ireland Version 04.05 JNCC, Peterborough<
ISBN 1 861 07561 8 (internet version)
www.jncc.gov.uk/MarineHabitatClassification