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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 31.01.2014
Accepted Date 31.01.2014
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has narrower
Has exact match