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Concept: [Caryophyllia smithii], sponges and crustose communities on wave-exposed circalittoral rock in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A4.212
Preferred label [Caryophyllia smithii], sponges and crustose communities on wave-exposed circalittoral rock
Definition This biotope typically occurs on the upper and vertical faces of wave-exposed, moderately strong to weakly tide-swept, circalittoral bedrock or boulders, with a water depth range of 20-30m. This often silty biotope has a typically sparse fauna, appearing grazed, and is characterised by common cup corals [Caryophyllia smithii], frequent [Alcyonium digitatum] and occasional urchins [Echinus esculentus]. There may be occasional large growths of the sponge [Cliona celata], [Haliclona viscosa], [Pachymatisma johnstonia] and the axinellid sponge [Stelligera stuposa]. Echinoderms form a prominent feature of the fauna within this biotope, with species such as [Marthasterias glacialis], [Asterias rubens], [Luidia ciliaris], [Henricia oculata], [Holothuria forskali], [Antedon bifida] and [Aslia lefevrei] present. Bryozoan crusts such as [Parasmittina trispinosa] and encrusting red algae cover the rock/boulder surface. The bryozoan [Porella compressa] may also be recorded occasionally. Isolated clumps of hydroids feature species such as [Nemertesia antennina], [Nemertesia ramosa], [Abietinaria abietina], [Halecium halecinum] and [Sertularella gayi]. Other species observed include the anemone [Corynactis viridis], [Urticina felina], [Sagartia elegans], [Calliostoma zizyphinum], [Balanus crenatus] and [Pomatoceros triqueter]. Two variants within this biotope have been distinguished: CarSp.PenPcom and CarSp.Bri. While CarSp.PenPcom tends to have the bryozoans [Pentapora foliacea] and [P. compressa], while CarSp.Bri features a dynamic community of brittlestars covering the seabed in a dense mat. [Ophiothrix fragilis] is usually the dominant species in shallow water but tends to be replaced by [Ophiocomina nigra] in deeper water.
Notation A4.212
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has narrower
Has exact match