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Concept: [Codium] spp. with red seaweeds and sparse [Laminaria saccharina] on shallow, heavily-silted, very sheltered infralittoral rock in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A3.321
Preferred label [Codium] spp. with red seaweeds and sparse [Laminaria saccharina] on shallow, heavily-silted, very sheltered infralittoral rock
Definition Very shallow, heavily-silted infralittoral rock characterised by dense stands of [Codium] spp., together with silt-tolerant red seaweeds, the green seaweed [Ulva] spp. and often only a sparse covering of the kelp [Laminaria saccharina]. This biotope appears to have a restricted distribution, being known at present only from the sheltered voes of Shetland, some Scottish lagoons and from the harbours of south-west England. These locations suggest the habitat is likely to be subject to reduced salinity conditions (although the habitat data indicate mostly fully marine records). Dense [Codium] spp. can occur at very sheltered sites, on cobbles or boulders, often in dense patches interspersed with filamentous red seaweeds [Bonnemaisonia hamifera], [Antithamnionella spirographidis] and [Ceramium] spp. Where sediment is present the red seaweed [Polyides rotundus] is commonly found along the rock-sediment interface, and the sponge [Dysidea fragilis] often occurs on the rock. Other red seaweeds that may be present include [Chondrus crispus], [Callophyllis laciniata], [Gelidium latifolium], [Corallina officinalis] and coralline crusts. The brown seaweeds [Halidrys siliquosa], [Desmarestia viridis] or [Chorda filum] may be present in high abundance and although kelp [L. saccharina] may occur, it is usually sparse. There are no conspicuous fauna that typify this biotope, though polychaetes such as terebellids and spirorbids may occur. The opisthobranch [Elysia viridis] may be locally abundant on the seaweeds and is known to favour [Codium fragilis] in particular. Large stands of [Codium] sp. (generally Common abundance) are accompanied by red seaweeds such as [G. latifolium], [C. laciniata] and [A. spirographidis] on the rock beneath. Cod has been reported to occur in the shallows of The Fleet, Bembridge Ledges, Pagham Harbour and Jersey (Tittley et al. 1985). In Ireland, species-poor shallow, silted bedrock in the North Water of Mulroy Bay, Co. Donegal, is characterised by [Griffithsia corallinoides] (Common) and [Codium tomentosum] (Frequent) forming a narrow band below the kelp zone (Lsac.Ft). Cod has not been described from any other sites in Ireland. If [Codium] spp. is less than Common amongst dense [L. saccharina] and [Chorda filum], it should not be recorded as Cod. Situation: This biotope occurs on bedrock below a sublittoral fringe of mixed kelp [L. saccharina] and [Laminaria digitata] (Lsac.Ldig) or below a [L. saccharina] forest (Lsac.Ft) or else on isolated boulders on sediment. It appears to be most frequently found in lagoons. Further information on which species of [Codium] is present and on the associated fauna is required.
Notation A3.321
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has exact match