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Concept: Mixed [Laminaria hyperborea] and [Laminaria saccharina] forest on sheltered upper infralittoral rock in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A3.3121
Preferred label Mixed [Laminaria hyperborea] and [Laminaria saccharina] forest on sheltered upper infralittoral rock
Definition Sheltered, often silted, upper infralittoral bedrock and boulder slopes with mixed kelps [Laminaria hyperborea] and [Laminaria saccharina] and red seaweeds beneath. The kelp at these sheltered sites often has large `cape-form' fronds, which form a dense canopy over the seabed and are often epiphytised by the hydroid [Obelia geniculata] and the bryozoan [Membranipora membranacea]. Beneath the kelp, red seaweeds such as [Delesseria sanguinea] and [Cryptopleura ramosa] occur on top of encrusting coralline algae. Often, a dense algal turf of [Bonnemaisonia hamifera] (tetrasporophyte) carpets the rock. The stipes of [L. hyperborea] may be densely covered with seaweeds such as [Phycodrys rubens], [Plocamium cartilagineum] and [Porphyropsis coccinea]. There can also be a prominent faunal component on the stipes including the solitary ascidian [Clavelina lepadiformis] and the colonial ascidian [Botryllus schlosseri]. Brown seaweeds, occurring here in low abundance, include [Dictyota dichotoma]. The kelp [Saccorhiza polyschides] may also occur but rarely in equal abundance to [L. hyperborea] or [L. saccharina]. Beneath the kelp canopy, the faunal component is generally less diverse than the more exposed kelp forests (Lhyp). The silted rock supports a sparse fauna of gastropods [Gibbula cineraria] and [Calliostoma zizyphinum], the tube-building polychaete [Pomatoceros triqueter] and occasional starfish [Asterias rubens] and the urchin [Echinus esculentus]. Steeper, less silted rock, may have the anthozoans [Caryophyllia smithii] and [Alcyonium digitatum].Sheltered, often silted, upper infralittoral bedrock and boulder slopes with mixed kelps [Laminaria hyperborea] and [Laminaria saccharina] and red seaweeds beneath. The kelp at these sheltered sites often has large `cape-form' fronds, which form a dense canopy over the seabed and are often epiphytised by the hydroid [Obelia geniculata] and the bryozoan [Membranipora membranacea]. Beneath the kelp, red seaweeds such as [Delesseria sanguinea] and [Cryptopleura ramosa] occur on top of encrusting coralline algae. Often, a dense algal turf of [Bonnemaisonia hamifera] (tetrasporophyte) carpets the rock. The stipes of [L. hyperborea] may be densely covered with seaweeds such as [Phycodrys rubens], [Plocamium cartilagineum] and [Porphyropsis coccinea]. There can also be a prominent faunal component on the stipes including the solitary ascidian [Clavelina lepadiformis] and the colonial ascidian [Botryllus schlosseri]. Brown seaweeds, occurring here in low abundance, include [Dictyota dichotoma]. The kelp [Saccorhiza polyschides] may also occur but rarely in equal abundance to [L. hyperborea] or [L. saccharina]. Beneath the kelp canopy, the faunal component is generally less diverse than the more exposed kelp forests (Lhyp). The silted rock supports a sparse fauna of gastropods [Gibbula cineraria] and [Calliostoma zizyphinum], the tube-building polychaete [Pomatoceros triqueter] and occasional starfish [Asterias rubens] and the urchin [Echinus esculentus]. Steeper, less silted rock, may have the anthozoans [Caryophyllia smithii] and [Alcyonium digitatum]. Situation: This biotope occurs below [Laminaria digitata] on the sheltered sublittoral fringe (Ldig.Ldig) or a mix of [L. saccharina] and [L. digitata] in very sheltered conditions (Lsac.Ldig). It can also be found on isolated rock exposures amid a sediment seabed (VirOphPmax or PhiVir). Where suitable substrata allow, the kelp thins out with increased depth to form a park below the forest (LhypLsac.Pk).
Notation A3.3121
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has exact match