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Concept: Mussels and fucoids on moderately exposed shores in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A1.22
Preferred label Mussels and fucoids on moderately exposed shores
Definition Mid and lower eulittoral exposed to moderately exposed bedrock, often with nearby sediment, may be densely covered by large individuals of the mussel [Mytilus edulis]. Three biotopes have been described: In the mid eulittoral, the mussels may form a band or large patches with scattered bladder wrack [Fucus vesiculosus] (A1.221). In the lower eulittoral a range of red seaweeds including [Mastocarpus stellatus] and [Palmaria palmata] occur amongst the mussels (in higher abundance than the mid eulittoral) (A1.222). Clay outcrops in the mid to lower eulittoral may be bored by a variety of piddocks including [Pholas dactylus], [Barnea candida] and [Petricola pholadiformis], while the surface is characterised by small clumps of the mussel [M. edulis], the barnacle [Elminius modestus] and the winkle [Littorina littorea] (A1.223). Ephemeral green seaweeds such as [Enteromorpha intestinalis] and [Ulva lactuca] commonly occur on the shells of the mussels. Barnacles are common on both the mussel valves and on patches of bare rock, where the limpet [Patella vulgata] is found as well, often at high abundance. The whelk [Nucella lapillus] and a range of littorinids also occur within the mussel bed. A dense [M. edulis] community may be found on more sheltered coasts on mixed substrata (A2.721). Situation: Above this habitat type is a [M. edulis] and [S. balanoides] dominated zone or a [F. vesiculosus] dominated biotope (A1.213). In the lower eulittoral zone below is a zone dominated by the wrack [Fucus serratus, M. edulis] and a variety of red seaweeds (A1.21) while kelp dominate the sublittoral fringe.
Notation A1.22
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has narrower
Has exact match