Concept: [Fucus vesiculosus] and barnacle mosaics on moderately exposed mid eulittoral rock in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A1.213
Preferred label [Fucus vesiculosus] and barnacle mosaics on moderately exposed mid eulittoral rock
Definition Exposed to moderately exposed mid eulittoral bedrock and boulders are frequently characterised by a mosaic of the barnacle [Semibalanus balanoides] and the wrack [Fucus vesiculosus]. The limpet [Patella vulgata] and the whelk [Nucella lapillus] are typically present, whilst the anemone [Actinia equina] and small individuals of the mussel [Mytilus edulis] are confined to crevices. Underneath the [F. vesiculosus] is a community of red seaweeds, including [Corallina officinalis, Mastocarpus stellatus] and [Osmundea pinnatifida], usually with the winkles [Littorina littorea] and [Littorina] spp. present. Opportunistic seaweeds such as [Enteromorpha intestinalis] may occur in patches recently cleared on the rock or growing on the [M. edulis]. Situation: On exposed shores FvesB is found below the black lichen [Verrucaria maura] and sparse barnacles biotope (Ver.B) and/or below the [Chthamalus] spp. and [P. vulgata] biotopes (Cht.Cht). FvesB is found above the biotope dominated by the wrack [Himanthalia elongata] (Him) or the red seaweed biotopes (Coff; R). FvesB forms an intermediate along the wave exposure gradient between the exposed shore barnacle-[P]. [vulgata] biotopes (Sem.FvesR) and the sheltered shore [F. vesiculosus] biotope (Fves). Vertical surfaces tend to be dominated by the barnacle-[P. vulgata] biotope (Sem). Temporal variation: On some shores, particularly those, which are moderately exposed to wave action, temporal fluctuations in the abundance of limpets, barnacles and fucoid seaweeds may occur. As a result, over a number of years, a single shore may cycle between the barnacle-[P. vulgata] dominated biotope (Sem.FvesR), through this mosaic (FvesB) to a [F. vesiculosus]-dominated biotope (Fves).
Notation A1.213
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has exact match