Moderately strong (1-3 kn), Weak (>1 kn), Very weak (negligible)
Substratum:
Sand with some gravel
Zone:
Infralittoral
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.
Distribution of habitat SS.SMp.KSwSS.LsacR.Sa Laminaria saccharina and filamentous red algae on infralittoral sand, 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
Shallow kelp community found on sand and slightly gravelly sand, in moderately exposed and sheltered conditions, with weak tidal currents. The community is characterised by occasional Laminaria saccharina with an undergrowth of red algae. Characteristic red seaweeds, as with LsacR.Gv, include Plocamium cartilagineum, Polyides rotundus, Polysiphonia elongate and Lomentaria clavellosa. Coralline encrusting algae is much less important in this biotope as a result of a lack of suitable substrate. Brown algal species present, as with other LsacR biotopes, include Desmarestia spp., Dictyota dichotoma and Chorda filum, all at low abundance. The ubiquitous green seaweed Ulva sp. may also be present. The sandy substrate is home to a variety of typical sand dwelling infauna including polychaetes (Scoloplos armiger, Exogone hebes, and Aricidea minuta), amphipods (Ampelisca brevicornis), and bivalves (Lucinoma borealis and Abra alba). Arenicola worm casts and Lanice worm tubes may be visible at the sediment surface.
Similar in species composition, but differ in sediment characteristics and therefore in infaunal species composition.
Characterising Species
Taxa
Frequency
Typical Abundance
% Contribution to similarity
Abundance (no.2)
Cerianthus lloydii
O
2
Nemertea
P
4
50
Exogone hebes
F
7
35
Scoloplos armiger
P
10
129
Aricidea minuta
P
6
40
Spiophanes bombyx
P
4
146
Chaetopterus variopedatus
O
2
Arenicola marina
F
4
Terebellidae
O
1
Lanice conchilega
O
3
Pomatoceros triqueter
O
2
Urothoe elegans
P
4
15
Ampelisca brevicornis
P
19
27
Pariambus typicus
P
4
10
Pagurus bernhardus
F
8
Cancer pagurus
R
1
Liocarcinus depurator
O
5
Gibbula magus
O
2
Gibbula cineraria
O
1
Pecten maximus
O
1
Lucinoma borealis
P
10
33
Ensis
F
2
Ensis arcuatus
C
1
Abra alba
P
10
18
Thracia villosiuscula
P
4
25
Cochlodesma praetenue
P
4
20
Asterias rubens
O
7
Echinus esculentus
O
2
Echinocardium cordatum
P
8
13
Pomatoschistus minutus
O
2
Polyides rotundus
O
2
Plocamium cartilagineum
O
2
Lomentaria clavellosa
O
2
Ceramium
F
1
Pterothamnion plumula
F
1
Polysiphonia elongata
O
3
Desmarestia aculeata
O
1
Desmarestia viridis
O
2
Chorda filum
O
2
Laminaria saccharina
O
9
Ulva
O
2
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
