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Concept: [Flustra foliacea], small solitary and colonial ascidians on tide-swept circalittoral bedrock or boulders in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A4.1342
Preferred label [Flustra foliacea], small solitary and colonial ascidians on tide-swept circalittoral bedrock or boulders
Definition This sub-biotope is typically found on the upper faces of exposed to moderately exposed, tide-swept, scoured, circalittoral bedrock or boulders. It most frequently occurs between 10-20m water depth. The biotope is characteristically dominated by dense [Flustra foliacea] with a variety of slightly scour/silt-tolerant species forming a dense turf. This turf is primarily composed of bryozoans ([Alcyonidium diaphanum], [Bugula flabellata], [Bugula plumosa], [Bicellariella ciliata]) and hydroids ([Tubularia indivisa], [Nemertesia antennina], [Sertularia argentea], [Hydrallmania falcata], [Abietinaria abietina]). Where space permits, barnacles such as [Balanus crenatus] may be found encrusting on the rock surface. There may also be occasional crusts formed by the polychaete [Sabellaria spinulosa], especially where the rock is most influenced by sand. Anthozoans which may be observed include [Urticina felina], [Sagartia elegans], whilst the soft coral [Alcyonium digitatum] may be recorded on the tops of boulders and bedrock ridges. A range of small solitary and colonial ascidians may be seen, including [Polycarpa scuba], [Dendrodoa grossularia], [Molgula manhattensis], [Botryllus schlosseri], [Clavelina lepadiformis] and polyclinids. Sponges found include [Scypha ciliata], [Cliona celata], [Esperiopsis fucorum] and [Dysidea fragilis]. Echinoderms such as [Asterias rubens], [Henricia oculata] and [Crossaster papposus] may be seen on the rock surface. Other species found include the top shell [Calliostoma zizyphinum], the crabs [Cancer pagurus] and [Necora puber]. Situation: Above this variant, exposed kelp forest supporting [Laminaria hyperborea] is commonly found (LhypR). At locations where wave-exposure and/or tidal streams are less, this biotope may be replaced by [Alcyonium digitatum] and [Securiflustra securifrons] (FaAlCr.Sec). Where the substrata changes to a less stable mixed substrata, then this biotope will be replaced by the sub-biotope FluCoAs.X, with more `sediment' species such as [Cerianthus lloydii] and [Chaetopterus variopedatus].
Notation A4.1342
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has exact match