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Concept: Coralline crusts and [Paracentrotus lividus] in shallow eulittoral rockpools in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A1.4112
Preferred label Coralline crusts and [Paracentrotus lividus] in shallow eulittoral rockpools
Definition Shallow and relatively small rockpools throughout the eulittoral zone on very exposed to exposed shores, characterised by a covering of encrusting coralline algae on which [Corallina officinalis] forms a dense turf. The bottom of these pools can be covered in coarse gravel and cobbles. In south and west Ireland these coralline pools may be dominated by the sea urchin [Paracentrotus lividus] and the seaweed diversity is generally low due to the grazing pressure of [P. lividus], the top shells [Gibbula cineraria] and [Gibbula umbilicalis], and winkles such as [Littorina littorea]. Within the pools, pits and crevices are often occupied by the anemone such as [Actinia equina] and [Anemonia viridis] and small individuals of the mussel [Mytilus edulis]. The siphonous green seaweed [Codium] spp. can also be present along with the wrack [Himanthalia elongata] and the brown seaweed [Leathesia difformis] and the filamentous red seaweed [Ceramium] spp. The barnacle [Semibalanus balanoides] is either absent or occurs at low abundance in these rockpools, presumably due to the grazing pressure on the larval stage and the predation pressure from the whelk [Nucella lapillus]. Soft bedrock, such as limestone, allows [P. lividus] to bore into the rock. Situation: Rockpools throughout the eulittoral and lower littoral fringe in bedrock on very exposed to exposed shores. Temporal variation: The ephemeral green seaweeds [Enteromorpha intestinalis] and [Ulva lactuca] can occur during the summer.
Notation A1.4112
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has exact match