You are here:
Eionet
Data Dictionary
Vocabulary

Concept: [Sabellaria alveolata] reefs on sand-abraded eulittoral rock in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A2.711
Preferred label [Sabellaria alveolata] reefs on sand-abraded eulittoral rock
Definition Exposed to moderately exposed bedrock and boulders in the eastern basin of the Irish Sea (and as far south as Cornwall) characterised by reefs of the polychaete [Sabellaria alveolata]. The sand based tubes formed by [S. alveolata] form large reef-like hummocks, which serve to stabilise the boulders and cobbles. Other species in this biotope include the barnacles [Semibalanus balanoides] and [Elminius modestus] and the limpet [Patella vulgata], the winkle [Littorina littorea], the mussel [Mytilus edulis] and the whelk [Nucella lapillus]. The anemone [Actinia equina] and the crab [Carcinus maenas] can be present in cracks and crevices on the reef. Low abundance of seaweeds tend to occur in areas of eroded reef. The seaweed diversity can be high and may include the foliose red seaweeds [Palmaria palmata], [Mastocarpus stellatus], [Osmundea pinnatifida, Chondrus crispus] and some filamentous species e.g. [Polysiphonia] spp. and [Ceramium] spp. Coralline crusts can occur in patches. Wracks such as [Fucus vesiculosus], [Fucus serratus] and the brown seaweed [Cladostephus spongiosus] may occur along with the ephemeral green seaweeds [Enteromorpha intestinalis] and [Ulva lactuca]. On exposed surf beaches in the south-west [S. alveolata] forms a crust on the rocks, rather than the classic honeycomb reef form, and may be accompanied by the barnacle [Balanus perforatus] (typically common to abundant). On wave-exposed shores in Ireland, the wrack [Himanthalia elongata] can also occur. Situation: Above Salv are biotopes dominated either by ephemeral seaweeds, such as [Enteromorpha] spp. and [Porphyra] spp. or the perennial wrack [Fucus vesiculosus] on mixed substrata (FvesB; Fves.X; EphX; EntPor). Rockpool biotopes dominated by the red seaweed [Corallina officinalis] (Cor), by wracks such as [Fucus] spp. or by kelp such as [Laminaria] spp. (FK) can usually be found above this biotope. Beneath this biotope is a community consisting of mixed scour-tolerant like the kelp [Laminaria digitata] and opportunistic foliose red seaweeds such as [Polyides rotundus] and [Ahnfeltia plicata] (Ldig.Ldig; XKScrR; EphR; PolAhn). In adjacent sediment areas [Lanice conchilega] may dominante (Lan). Temporal variation: These reefs may be susceptible to storm damage in the winter, although they can regenerate remarkably quickly in a season as long as some adults are left as they facilitate the larval settlement. [S. alveolata] is tolerant to burial under sand for several weeks. Changes in desiccation over a period of time can cause part of the population to die.
Notation A2.711
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has exact match