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

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A3.1112
Preferred label [Alaria esculenta] and [Laminaria digitata] on exposed sublittoral fringe bedrock
Definition Exposed sublittoral fringe bedrock characterised by a mixture of the kelps [Laminaria digitata] and [Alaria esculenta] with an understorey of red seaweeds including [Palmaria palmata] and [Corallina officinalis] with encrusting coralline algal on the rock surface. Anthozoans such as [Halichondria panicea], the mussel [Mytilus edulis] and the barnacle [Semibalanus balanoides] can be found attached in cracks and crevices. The limpets [Patella vulgata] or on southern shores [Patella ulyssiponensis] can be found in their characteristic "scars" grazing the biofilm/algal crusts on the rock surface, while the limpet [Helcion pellucidum] is restricted to grazing the kelp fronds. Colonies of the bryozoan [Electra pilosa] can cover the red seaweeds [Mastocarpus stellatus] and [Chondrus crispus] or the rock surface. Situation: Ala.Ldig represents an intermediate on the wave exposure gradient, with pure stands of [A. esculenta] (Ala.Myt) being found on more exposed shores and pure [L. digitata] (Ldig) on more sheltered shores. This biotope usually occurs immediately above a sublittoral [Laminaria hyperborea] forest (LhypR or Lhyp), although a narrow band of [L. digitata] (Ldig) may occur between these two zones, particularly on less exposed shores. In southwest England a zone of mixed kelp forest [L. hyperborea] and [Laminaria ochroleuca] may occur below the [A. esculenta] (Lhyp.Loch). A number of different biotopes can occur above Ala.Ldig; most commonly these are the mussel-barnacle zone (MytB), [Himanthalia elongata] (Him), a red algal turf or a [Fucus serratus]-red algal mosaic (Fser.R) on the less exposed shores. This biotope also occurs on steep and vertical shores of moderately exposed coasts where a localised increase in wave action restricts the growth of [L. digitata]. As a result of this increased wave action the [L. digitata] plants are usually small and often show signs of damage. Temporal variation: There may be seasonal changes in the amount of ephemeral seaweeds due to disturbance caused by winter storms.
Notation A3.1112
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has exact match