You are here:
Eionet
Data Dictionary
Vocabulary

Concept: [Sabellaria spinulosa] encrusted circalittoral rock in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A4.221
Preferred label [Sabellaria spinulosa] encrusted circalittoral rock
Definition This biotope is typically found encrusting the upper faces of wave-exposed and moderately wave-exposed circalittoral bedrock, boulders and cobbles subject to strong/moderately strong tidal streams in areas with high turbidity. The crusts formed by the sandy tubes of the polychaete worm [Sabellaria spinulosa] may even completely cover the rock, binding the substratum together to form a crust. A diverse fauna may be found attached to, and sometimes obscuring the crust, often reflecting the character of surrounding biotopes. Bryozoans such as [Flustra foliacea], [Pentapora foliacea] and [Alcyonidium diaphanum], anemones such as [Urticina felina] and [Sagartia elegans], the polychaete [Pomatoceros triqueter], [Alcyonium digitatum], the hydroid [Nemertesia antennina] and echinoderms such as [Asterias rubens] and [Crossaster papposus] may all be recorded within this biotope. There are two variants. The first (Sspi.ByB) contains significant cover of barnacles ([Balanus crenatus]) and bryozoans. The second (Sspi.As) has a dense turf of didemnid ascidians as well as scour-tolerant bryozoans such as [F. foliacea], sponges such as [Tethya aurantium] and [Phorbas fictitius], colonies of the serpulid worm [Salmacina dysteri] and patchy occurrences of the ascidians [Distomus variolosus], [Polycarpa pomaria] and [Polycarpa scuba]. This biotope has been recorded from the Lleyn Peninsula, Lundy Island (including the wreck of the MV Robert) and the north-east and south coast of England.
Notation A4.221
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has narrower
Has exact match