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Concept: [Melinna palmata] with [Magelona] spp. and [Thyasira] spp. in infralittoral sandy mud in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A5.334
Preferred label [Melinna palmata] with [Magelona] spp. and [Thyasira] spp. in infralittoral sandy mud
Definition In infralittoral cohesive sandy mud, in sheltered marine inlets, and occasionally variable salinity environments, dense populations of the polychaete [Melinna palmata] may occur, often with high numbers of [Magelona] spp. and the bivalve [Thyasira flexuosa]. Other important taxa may include [Chaetozone gibber, Nephtys hombergii, Galathowenia oculata], [Euclymene oerstedii], [Ampelisca tenuicornis], [Ampharete lindstroemi], [Abra alba], and [Phoronis] sp. In addition the polychaete [Aphelochaeta] spp. and the gastropod [Turritella communis] may be common or abundant in some areas. At the sediment surface visible taxa may include occasional [Virgularia mirabilis], and mobile epifauna such as [Pagurus bernhardus]. This biotope is characteristic in many southern UK marine inlets and in some areas e.g. Plymouth Sound during high levels of recruitment when [M. palmata] often occurs in abundances between 500 to 1000 per m2 moderate numbers of the species often 'overspill' into adjacent biotopes (Allen [et al]. 2001). Situation: In many areas this biotope is found on or near the boundary between euryhaline and polyhaline waters and in such areas moderately high numbers of [Aphelochaeta] spp. are often recorded. Temporal variation: Numbers of [M. palmata] tend to vary considerably from year to year presumably due to recruitment and/or adult mortality.
Notation A5.334
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has exact match