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Concept: [Mytilus edulis] beds on littoral sand in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A2.7212
Preferred label [Mytilus edulis] beds on littoral sand
Definition This sub-biotope occurs on mid to lower shore sand and muddy sand. Mussels [Mytilus edulis] grow attached to shell debris and live cockles [Cerastoderma edule], forming patches of mussels on consolidated shell material, and often growing into extensive beds. The mussel valves are usually encrusted with barnacles such as [Elminius modestus] and [Semibalanus balanoides], and the mussel bed provides a habitat for a range of species including [Littorina littorea]. The sediment infaunal community is usually rich and very similar to that of cockle beds (CerPo), including cockles [Cerastoderma edule], the baltic tellin [Macoma balthica], and a range of burrowing crustaceans and polychaetes typical for CerPo. Further species may be present are the sand mason [Lanice conchilega], the sand gaper [Mya arenaria], the peppery furrow shell [Scrobicularia plana], [Nephtys] spp., and the ragworm [Hediste diversicolor]. Scattered fronds of eelgrass [Zostera noltii] may occur. Situation: This biotope often occurs in large sandy estuaries, or on enclosed shores, alongside other sand and muddy sand biotopes, most notably CerPo. It is possible that Lanice beds (Lan) occur lower down on the shore. Temporal variation: Where this sub-biotope occurs in very sheltered conditions on muddy sand, it could change to Myt.Mu over time as pseudofaeces build up forming a layer of mud. This cannot happen where wave action or tidal streams wash away pseudofaeces and prevent a build up. In areas where mussel spat ("mussel crumble") settles on the surface shell layer of cockle beds, the mussel cover may be ephemeral, as is the case in the Burry Inlet.
Notation A2.7212
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has exact match