BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Polydora ciliata
All Taxonomy Biology Distribution Reproduction

Researched by	Lizzie Tyler	Data supplied by	University of Sheffield
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Polydora ciliata is widely distributed around Britain and Ireland.
Global distribution	Widely distributed in north-west Europe.
Biogeographic range	Not researched	Depth range
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information	None entered

Substratum preferences	Other species (see additional information) Algae Artificial (e.g. metal/wood/concrete) Mud Bedrock	Physiographic preferences	Open coast Offshore seabed Strait / sound Estuary Isolated saline water (Lagoon) Enclosed coast / Embayment
Biological zone	Mid Eulittoral Lower Eulittoral Sublittoral Fringe Upper Infralittoral Lower Infralittoral Upper Circalittoral Lower Circalittoral	Wave exposure	Exposed Moderately Exposed Sheltered Very Sheltered Extremely Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Strong (3-6 kn) Moderately Strong (1-3 kn) Weak (<1 kn)	Salinity	Low (<18 psu) Full (30-40 psu) Variable (18-40 psu)
Habitat Preferences Additional Information	The species makes a U-shaped tube from small particles (usually of mud, but may be whitish and calcareous if excavating in lithothamnia or other encrusting coralline algae (Hayward & Ryland, 1995). Much of this tube may be embedded in a burrow excavated in limestone rock, shells and calcareous algae, and the two ends extend a few millimetres above the surface of the substratum. It has been suggested that burrowing is achieved by mechanical action of the chaete, especially those of the 5th segment, but this is open to some doubt as chemical action may also be involved (Fish & Fish, 1996).
Distribution References	Fish & Fish, 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b,