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Concept: [Semibalanus balanoides], [Patella vulgata] and [Littorina] spp. on exposed to moderately exposed or vertical sheltered eulittoral rock in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A1.1131
Preferred label [Semibalanus balanoides], [Patella vulgata] and [Littorina] spp. on exposed to moderately exposed or vertical sheltered eulittoral rock
Definition Very exposed to sheltered 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] spp. and the whelk [Nucella lapillus]. Seaweeds are usually not found in high numbers though fissures and crevices in the bedrock can hold a sparse algae community, though patches of the red seaweed [Osmundea pinnatifida] can be present throughout the zone. On some shores the olive green lichen [Verrucaria mucosa] can be present in some abundance (Frequent). Records should not be assigned to this species impoverished biotope if there is a significant number or abundance of seaweeds. Situation: On very exposed to exposed shores [Chthamalus] spp. (see Cht.Cht for geographical variation) often forms a distinct white band above a darker band of [S. balanoides] in the mid eulittoral zone. Alternatively, found above Sem are the black lichen [Verrucaria maura] dominated biotopes (Ver.Ver or Ver.B). In the lower eulittoral and the sublittoral fringe is a community dominated by the wrack [Himanthalia elongata] and various red seaweeds including [Corallina officinalis], [Mastocarpus stellatus] and [Osmundea pinnatifida] (Him; Coff; Osm) or the mussel and barnacle dominated biotope MytB. Sem.Sem may occur on steep and vertical faces on more sheltered shores, while fucoids dominate the flatter areas (Sem.FvesR; FvesB). Temporal variation: Periods with little scour or less severe storms can allow a seaweed community to develop creating a more diverse biotope (i.e. Fves). This is a dynamic process, which will change individual sites over time. More information is required to validate this hypothesis.
Notation A1.1131
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has exact match