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Concept: [Sargassum muticum] on shallow slightly tide-swept infralittoral mixed substrata in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A3.315
Preferred label [Sargassum muticum] on shallow slightly tide-swept infralittoral mixed substrata
Definition Mixed substrata from the sublittoral fringe to 5m below chart datum dominated by the brown seaweed [Sargassum muticum]. This invasive non-native brown seaweed can form a dense canopy on areas of mixed substrata (typically 0-10% bedrock on 90-100% sandy sediment). The substrate on which this [S. muticum]-dominated community is able to develop is highly variable, but particularly prevalent on broken rock and pebbles anchored in sandy sediment. The pebbles, cobbles and broken bedrock provide a substrate for alga such as the kelp [Laminaria saccharina]. During the spring, [S. muticum] has large quantities of epiphytic ectocarpales and may also support some epifauna e.g. the hydroid [Obelia geniculata] commonly found on kelp. The brown seaweed [Chorda filum], which thrives well on these mixed substrata, is also commonly found with [S. muticum] during the summer months. In Strangford Lough, where this biotope occurs, the amphipod [Dexamine spinosa] has been recorded to dominate the epiphytic fauna (this is known to be commonly found in [Zostera] spp. beds). [S. muticum] is also found on hard, bedrock substrates within [L. saccharina] canopies. [S. muticum] plants on hard substrate area, under a dense [L. saccharina] canopy, are typically smaller and at a much lower density, especially where a lush, under-storey exists with red seaweeds such as [Ceramium nodolosum, Gracilaria gracilis, Chylocladia verticillata, Pterosiphonia plumula] and [Polysiphonia elongata] and the green seaweeds [Cladophora sp., Ulva lactuca] and [Bryopsis plumosa]. The anthozoan [Anemonia viridis] and the crab [Necora puber] can be present. More information is necessary to validate this description. Situation: Where there is a greater proportion of bedrock or boulders (15-100%) [L. saccharina] will typically dominate the canopy. Areas with pebble cover on a hard substrate are colonised by [S. muticum], but individuals quickly become peripatetic and are lost.
Notation A3.315
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has exact match