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Concept: Bryozoan turf and erect sponges on tide-swept circalittoral rock in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A4.131
Preferred label Bryozoan turf and erect sponges on tide-swept circalittoral rock
Definition This biotope is typically found on wave-exposed circalittoral bedrock or boulders subject to tidal streams ranging from moderately strong to strong. It often has a thin layer of silt covering the seabed, and is characterised by a bryozoan/hydroid turf with erect sponges. Typical bryozoans to be found include crisiids, [Alcyonidium diaphanum], [Flustra foliacea], [Pentapora foliacea], [Bugula plumosa] and [Bugula flabellata], while typical hydroids include [Nemertesia antennina], [Nemertesia ramosa] and [Halecium halecinum]. The soft coral [Alcyonium digitatum] is frequently recorded on the tops of boulders and rocky outcrops. Characteristic erect sponges include [Raspailia ramosa], [Stelligera stuposa] and [Stelligera rigida]; other sponges present include [Cliona celata], [Dysidea fragilis], [Pachymatisma johnstonia], [Polymastia boletiformis], [Hemimycale columella], [Esperiopsis fucorum], [Polymastia mamillaris] and [Tethya aurantium]. Other species present include [Caryophylia smithii], [Actinothoe sphyrodeta], [Corynactis viridis], [Urticina felina], [Balanus crenatus], [Asterias rubens], [Marthasterias glacialis], [Henricia oculata], [Echinus esculentus], [Clavelina lepadiformis], [Calliostoma zizyphinum] and [Necora puber]. Three variants of this biotope have been described, but all are characterised by a bryozoan turf with erect sponges. ByErSp.Eun is found primarily on circalittoral bedrock and is dominated by the seafan [Eunicella verrucosa]. ByErSp.DysAct is found under slightly stronger tide-swept conditions, and is characterised particularly by the sponge [D. fragilis] and the anemone [A. sphyrodeta]. Finally ByErSp.Sag is characterised by the anemone [Sagartia elegans].
Notation A4.131
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
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Has exact match