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Concept: Kelp with cushion fauna and/or foliose red seaweeds in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A3.11
Preferred label Kelp with cushion fauna and/or foliose red seaweeds
Definition Rocky habitats in the infralittoral zone subject to exposed to extremely exposed wave action or strong tidal streams. Typically the rock supports a community of kelp [Laminaria hyperborea] with foliose seaweeds and animals, the latter tending to become more prominent in areas of strongest water movement (A3.113, A3.115 and A3.1152). The depth to which the kelp extends varies according to water clarity, exceptionally (e.g. St Kilda) reaching 45 m. In some areas, there may be a band of dense foliose seaweeds (reds or browns) below the main kelp zone (A3.116). The sublitttoral fringe is characterised by dabberlocks [Alaria esculenta] (A3.111). In very strong wave action the sublittoral fringe [A. esculenta] zone extends to 5 to 10 m depth, whilst at Rockall [A. esculenta] replaces [L. hyperborea] as the dominant kelp in the infralittoral zone (A3.112). Situation: Very exposed rocky coasts, from low water to depths up to 45m. Temporal variation: Winter storms may remove patches of kelp, and fast-growing annuals may form a temporary forest (A3.122).
Notation A3.11
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Editorial note
  • There is a certain degree of duplication among some habitat classes in the EUNIS system coming either from BioMar or the Barcelona or HELCOM classifications. Therefore this means that all level 4 definitions (presently based on BioMar and Barcelona) should be checked, and given a new name if necessary. The biogeographic details are to be addressed in level 5 habitats.
Has broader
Has narrower
Has exact match