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Concept: Piddocks with a sparse associated fauna in sublittoral very soft chalk or clay in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A4.231
Preferred label Piddocks with a sparse associated fauna in sublittoral very soft chalk or clay
Definition This biotope occurs on circalittoral soft rock, such as soft chalk or clay, most often in moderately exposed tide-swept conditions. As soft chalk and firm clay are often too soft for sessile filter-feeding animals to attach and thrive in large numbers, an extremely impoverished epifauna results on upward-facing surfaces, although vertical faces may be somewhat richer. The rock is sufficiently soft to be bored by bivalves. Species vary with location, but [Pholas dactylus] is the most widespread borer and may be abundant. Other species present may include the sponges [Dysidea fragilis] and [Suberites carnosus] and the polychaete [Bispira volutacornis]. Foliose red algae may be present on the harder, more stable areas of rock. Mobile fauna often include the crabs [Necora puber] and [Cancer pagurus]. Situation: Subtidal chalk reefs or clay outcrops, mostly known from south-east England.
Notation A4.231
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has exact match