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Concept: Crustose sponges on extremely wave-surged infralittoral cave or gully walls in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A3.715
Preferred label Crustose sponges on extremely wave-surged infralittoral cave or gully walls
Definition Walls, or massive boulders, in caves or gullies that are subject to severe wave-surge and characterised by extensive thin crusts of the sponge [Halichondria panicea] with smaller patches of other sponges such as [Esperiopsis fucorum] or [Clathrina coriacea]. Small turfs of robust hydroids, such as [Diphasia rosacea] and [Ventromma halecioides], and patches of the barnacle [Balanus crenatus], coralline crusts and tube-building spirorbid polychaetes may be present. The starfish [Henricia] spp., the brittlestar [Ophiopholis aculeata] and the crabs [Cancer pagurus] and [Necora puber] can be present. The anemones [Sagartia elegans], [Urticina felina] and [Actinia equina] can be found in cracks and crevices or under boulders. The mussel [Mytilus edulis] may be present in low densities. Situation: This surge-tolerant biotope of low-growing fauna is typically confined to the mid or rear section of caves (or the narrowest part of gullies) where the wave-surge is intensified. It generally abuts the less surged ascidian-sponge communities (CrSpAsAn, DenCcor and CrSpAsDenB). A highly scoured zone of barnacles and calcareous tubeworms often form a zone below, abutting the cave/gully floor (CC.BalPom).
Notation A3.715
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has exact match