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Concept: [Laminaria digitata] and piddocks on sublittoral fringe soft rock in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A3.2113
Preferred label [Laminaria digitata] and piddocks on sublittoral fringe soft rock
Definition Soft rock, such as chalk, in the sublittoral fringe characterised by [Laminaria digitata] and rock-boring animals such as piddocks [Barnea candida] and [Pholas dactylus], the bivalve [Hiatella arctica] and worms [Polydora] spp. Beneath the kelp forest, a wide variety of foliose red seaweeds occur such as [Palmaria palmata], [Chondrus crispus], [Membranoptera alata] and [Halurus flosculosus]. Filamentous red seaweeds often present are [Polysiphonia fucoides] and [Ceramium nodulosum], while coralline crusts cover available rock surface. The bryozoan [Membranipora membranacea] and the hydroid [Dynanema pumila] can form colonies on the kelp fronds, while the bryozoan [Electra pilosa] more often occur on the foliose red seaweeds. Empty piddock burrows are often colonised by the polychaete [Sabellaria spinulosa] or in more shaded areas the sponges [Halichondria panicea] and [Hymeniacidon perleve]. The undersides of small chalk boulders are colonised by encrusting bryozoans, colonial ascidians and the tube-building polychaete [Pomatoceros lamarcki]. The boulders and any crevices within the chalk provide a refuge for small crustaceans such as [Carcinus maenas], the mussel [Mytilus edulis] or the barnacle [Semibalanus balanoides]. The echinoderm [Asterias rubens] is present as well. Situation: This biotope occurs on moderately exposed soft rock where Ldig.Ldig would normally occur. Above it may lie a zone of [Fucus serratus] on similarly bored soft rock (Fser.Pid) or a variant of one of the [F. serratus] biotopes (Fser.R or Fser.Fser). Lower shore sites influenced by sand may have more [Mytilus edulis] beneath the seaweed canopy (MytFR) or the sand-binding red seaweed [Rhodothamniella floridula] (Rho). Below the Ldig.Pid biotope a variety of biotopes can occur such as LsacChoR on unstable infralittoral cobbles and boulders or even MCR.Pid in the turbid waters of south-east England where the kelp generally extends to less than 4m BCD. Temporal variation: The under-storey of foliose and filamentous seaweeds will diminish towards the autumn and regrow in the spring. Since the soft rock does not provide a strong hold for the seaweeds they are easily dislodged during storm periods. After such an event the green seaweeds [Enteromorpha] spp. and [Ulva] spp. and/or the red seaweed [P. palmata] may temporarily cover much of the rock. Eventually a more diverse range of seaweeds and associated animals will re-establish on the rock.
Notation A3.2113
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has exact match