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Concept: [Semibalanus balanoides] on exposed to moderately exposed or vertical sheltered eulittoral rock in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A1.113
Preferred label [Semibalanus balanoides] on exposed to moderately exposed or vertical sheltered eulittoral rock
Definition Exposed to moderately exposed mid to upper eulittoral bedrock and large boulders characterised by dense barnacles [Semibalanus balanoides] and the limpet [Patella vulgata]. The community has a relatively low diversity of species though occasional cracks and crevices in the rock can provide a refuge for small individuals of the mussel [Mytilus edulis], the winkle [Littorina saxatilis] and the whelk [Nucella lapillus]. Seaweeds are usually not found in high numbers though fissures and crevices in the bedrock can hold a sparse algal community including the green seaweed [Enteromorpha intestinalis]. On some shores the olive green lichen [Verrucaria mucosa] can be present in some abundance (Frequent). Three variants have been described: A [S. balanoides] and [P. vulgata] dominated community on bedrock (Sem.Sem); [S. balanoides] and sparse [Fucus vesioculosus] and red seaweeds (Sem.FvesR); and barnacles and [L. littorea] eulittoral boulders and cobbles (Sem.LlitX). Situation: On very exposed to exposed shores [Chthamalus] spp. (see Cht for geographical variation) often forms a distinct white band above a darker band of [S. balanoides] in the mid eulittoral zone. Alternatively, the black lichen [Verrucaria maura] dominated biotopes (Ver.Ver or Ver.B) may be found above Sem. In the lower eulittoral and the sublittoral fringe a community dominated by the wrack [Himanthalia elongata] and various red seaweeds such as [Corallina officinalis], [Mastocarpus stellatus] and [Osmundea pinnatifida] (Him; Coff; Osm) often occurs. Sem may also occur on steep and vertical faces on more sheltered shores, while fucoids dominate the flatter areas (FvesB; Sem.FvesR). Temporal variation: Periods with little scour or calmer weather can allow a seaweed community to develop, creating a more diverse biotope (i.e. Fves or FvesB). This is a dynamic process, which will change individual sites over time. More information is required to determine the exact nature of this process.
Notation A1.113
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has narrower
Has exact match