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Concept: [Alaria esculenta] forest with dense anemones and crustose sponges on extremely exposed infralittoral bedrock in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A3.112
Preferred label [Alaria esculenta] forest with dense anemones and crustose sponges on extremely exposed infralittoral bedrock
Definition This biotope has only been recorded from Rockall, where [Alaria esculenta] appears to replace [Laminaria hyperborea] as the dominant kelp forest species on the extremely wave-exposed steep and vertical rock, a zone that extends from 14 m down to 35 m. Beneath the [A. esculenta] canopy, the rock surface is covered by a dense turf of anthozoans such as [Sagartia elegans], [Phellia gausapata] and [Corynactis viridis], encrusting sponges and coralline algae. The gastropod [Margarites helicinus] can be found grazing on the kelp fronds, whereas the crab [Cancer pagurus] can be found among the kelp stipes. The bryozoan [Tubularia indivisa] also occur, but it does not form such a dense turf as in more shallow waters, while the ascidian [Botryllus leachi] is found encrusting the large brown seaweeds. [Cryptopleura ramosa] is the dominant red seaweed on horizontal surfaces. The kelp [Laminaria digitata] is reported to occur mixed with [A. esculenta] on the nearby Helen's reef. Situation: Above the AlaAnSC zone (about 5 m to 13 m) [A. esculenta] still dominates, but it resembles more closely the typical sublittoral fringe [A. esculenta] biotope (Ala.Myt), though it has a very dense turf of small hydroids and few foliose algae. Towards the lower part of this [A. esculenta] forest (30 m to 35 m), the density of [A. esculenta] is reduced and the rock surface is characterised by a dense turf of red algae (FoR).
Notation A3.112
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has exact match