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Concept: [Fucus spiralis] on sheltered upper eulittoral rock in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A1.312
Preferred label [Fucus spiralis] on sheltered upper eulittoral rock
Definition Sheltered upper eulittoral bedrock is typically characterised by a band of the spiral wrack [Fucus spiralis] overlying the black lichen [Verrucaria maura]. Underneath the fronds of [F. spiralis] and the occasional [Pelvetia canaliculata] is a community consisting of the limpet [Patella vulgata], the winkles [Littorina saxatilis] and [Littorina littorea] and the barnacle [Semibalanus balanoides]. The rock surface can often be covered by the red crust [Hildenbrandia rubra]. During the summer months the ephemeral green seaweed [Enteromorpha intestinalis] can be common. Two variants have been described: Upper eulittoral bedrock characterised by [F. spiralis], the black lichen [Verrucaria maura] and the olive green lichen [Verrucaria mucosa] (Fspi.FS). Upper eulittoral mixed substrata characterised by [F. spiralis] with occasional clumps of the wrack [Pelvetia canaliculata] (Fspi.X). Note that a [F. spiralis] biotope in variable salinity conditions (FspiVS) has also been descibed. Situation: This zone usually lies below a zone dominated by the wrack [Pelvetia canaliculata] (PelB: Pel), but occasional clumps of [P. canaliculata] may be present (usually less than common) amongst the [F. spiralis]. In areas of extreme shelter, such as in Scottish sea lochs, the [P. canaliculata] and [F. spiralis] zones often merge together forming a very narrow band. Fspi occurs above the wracks [Ascophyllum nodosum] (Asc) and/or [Fucus vesiculosus] (Fves) zones and these two fucoids may also occur, although [F. spiralis] always dominates. Vertical surfaces in this zone, especially on moderately exposed shores, often lack the fucoids and are characterised by a barnacle-limpet dominated community (Sem).
Notation A1.312
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has narrower
Has exact match