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Concept: [Polydora] sp. tubes on moderately exposed sublittoral soft rock in the eunishabitats vocabulary

Concept URI http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/eunishabitats/A4.232
Preferred label [Polydora] sp. tubes on moderately exposed sublittoral soft rock
Definition Large patches of chalk and soft limestone are occasionally covered entirely by [Polydora] sp. tubes to the exclusion of almost all other species. This tends to occur in highly turbid conditions and spans the infralittoral and circalittoral in limestone areas such as the Great and Little Ormes (North Wales) and Gower (South Wales). It is even present on the lower shore in the Severn estuary. The boring form of the sponge [Cliona celata] often riddles the surface layer of the stone. Other sponges present include [Halichondria panicea], [Haliclona oculata] and [Hymeniacidon perleve]. [Polydora] sp. also frequently occurs in small patches as part of other biotopes (e.g. FluCoAs). Other species present include [Alcyonium digitatum], [Sarcodictyon roseum], the hydroids [Halecium halecinum], [Abietinaria abietina] and [Tubularia indivisa], the ascidians [Clavelina lepadiformis], [Botryllus schlosseri] and [Morchellium argus], the anemones [Urticina felina], [Metridium senile] and [Sagartia elegans] and the bryozoans [Flustra foliacea] and a crisiid turf. The starfish [Asterias rubens], the crabs [Inachus phalangium] and [Carcinus maenas], the polychaete [Pomatoceros triqueter], the barnacle [Balanus crenatus] and the brittlestar [Ophiothrix fragilis] may also be seen. Please note: this biotope may extend into the infralittoral and littoral zone in areas where water turbidity is sufficiently high.
Notation A4.232
Status Valid
Status Modified 2014-01-31
Accepted Date 2014-01-31
Not Accepted Date
Has broader
Has exact match