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Concept: [Musculus discors] beds on moderately exposed circalittoral rock in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A4.242
Preferred label [Musculus discors] beds on moderately exposed circalittoral rock
Definition This biotope typically occurs on the upper faces of moderately exposed, moderately tide-swept bedrock, boulders and cobbles in slightly silty conditions. The mussel [Musculus discors] occurs in dense mats and occasionally completely coats all available surfaces. There is also often a layer of pseudofaeces, forming a thick, silty matrix. A relatively diverse fauna of cushion and branching sponges is often present on rocky outcrops and other hard substratum that is free of mussels. These include [Tethya aurantium], [Scypha ciliata], [Pachymatisma johnstonia], [Dysidea fragilis], [Cliona celata] and [Stelligera stuposa]. There may be isolated clumps of silt-tolerant bryozoans such as [Flustra foliacea] and [Bugula plumosa]. Various species may be observed on top of the mussels, including [Asterias rubens], [Crossaster papposus] and the brittlestar [Ophiura albida]. Occasional [Alcyonium digitatum] and clumps of the hydroid [Nemertesia antennina] are found attached to rocky outcrops and boulders whilst the anemone [Urticina felina] may be seen in crevices in the rock or on gravely patches between boulders. Colonial ascidians such as [Clavelina lepadiformis] and didemnids may occasionally be present. A wide range of seaweeds may be present, including [Dictyota dichotoma], [Plocamium cartliagineum], [Dictyopteris membranacea], [Cryptopleura ramosa] and [Heterosiphonia plumosa]. The crab [Cancer pagurus] may be observed in crevices. The majority of the records for this biotope are from the Lleyn Peninsula.
Notation A4.242
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has exact match