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Concept: [Alaria esculenta] on exposed sublittoral fringe bedrock in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A3.111
Preferred label [Alaria esculenta] on exposed sublittoral fringe bedrock
Definition Exposed sublittoral fringe bedrock with an [Alaria esculenta] forest and an encrusting fauna of the mussel [Mytilus edulis] and barnacles such as [Semibalanus balanoides]. The kelp [Laminaria digitata] can be part of the canopy. Underneath the canopy are red seaweeds such as [Mastocarpus] stellatus and [Palmaria palmata], while encrusting coralline red algae such as [Lithothamnion graciale] covers the rock surface. The limpet [Patella vulgata] can be found grazing the rock surface, while the whelk Nucella lapillus is preying on the limpets, barnacles and mussels. Two variants of this biotope are described. In more wave exposed conditions [Laminaria digitata] is absent and the rock surface is often characterised by dense patches of mussels (Ala.Myt). In slightly less exposed sites the [A. esculenta] is mixed with [L. digitata] (Ala.Ldig). Situation: This biotope is found in the sublittoral fringe on exposed shores, typically occupying the extreme lower shore down to 1 or 2 m depth, although it can also extend down to 15 m depth on very exposed coasts. It is generally found below the mussel-barnacle zone of the lower shore (MytB) or a narrow band of the seaweed-dominated biotopes featuring dense [Himanthalia elongata] or red seaweeds (Him, Mas). Below the [A. esculenta] zone, the upper infralittoral rock generally supports a [Laminaria hyperborea] kelp community (LhypFa, LhypR.Ft or Lhyp.Ft).
Notation A3.111
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has narrower
Has exact match