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Concept: [Laminaria hyperborea] forest with dense foliose red seaweeds on exposed upper infralittoral rock in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A3.1151
Preferred label [Laminaria hyperborea] forest with dense foliose red seaweeds on exposed upper infralittoral rock
Definition Very exposed to exposed upper infralittoral bedrock or large boulders characterised by a dense forest of the kelp [Laminaria hyperborea]. On the rock surface beneath the kelp canopy is a dense turf of red foliose seaweeds including [Cryptopleura ramosa], [Plocamium cartilagineum], [Phycodrys rubens] and [Callophyllis laciniata] as well as encrusting coralline algae and the foliose brown seaweed [Dictyota dichotoma]. The red algal turf can be virtually mono-specific, dominated by stands of [P. cartilagineum], [C. ramosa] or [Heterosiphonia plumosa], [Kallymenia reniformis] or in the north, [Odonthalia dentata]. Other sites may contain a dense mixed turf of these and other species. The dense turf is due, in part, to the relatively low grazing pressure from the urchin [Echinus esculentus] in such shallow exposed conditions. The shallowest kelp plants are often short or stunted, while deeper plants are taller and the stipes are heavily epiphytised by red seaweeds such as [Delesseria sanguinea] and [Membranoptera alata]. The bryozoan [Electra pilosa] can form colonies on the foliose red seaweeds, while the bryozoan [Membranipora membranacea] more often can be found on the [L. hyperborea] fronds along with the ascidian [Botryllus schlosseri] and the hydroid [Obelia geniculata]. The gastropods [Gibbula cineraria] and [Calliostoma zizyphinum] are found grazing among the kelp holdfasts, while a few individuals of the barnacle [Balanus crenatus] can present along with the white calcareous tubes of the polychaete [Pomatoceros triqueter], where substratum is available. The starfish [Asterias rubens] can be found predating on polychaetes, mussels and small crustaceans. The soft coral [Alcyonium digitatum] can be present covering the rock surface as well as the anthozoan [Urticina felina]. Situation: This kelp forest biotope most commonly occurs beneath a zone of [Alaria esculenta/Mytilus edulis] (Ala.Myt) and above a [L. hyperborea] park (LhypR.Pk). At very exposed sites, such as some areas of Shetland and St Kilda, the lower infralittoral zone is often characterised by a park of [Laminaria saccharina] and/or [Saccorhiza polyschides] (LsacSac). This zone presumably develops due to the mobility of nearby cobbles, boulders and sediment during winter storms, removing the slower growing [L. hyperborea]. Occasionally, a band of dense foliose seaweeds, with no kelp, occurs below the kelp forest (FoR or FoR.Dic).
Notation A3.1151
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has exact match