Biodiversity & Conservation

Moerella spp. with venerid bivalves in infralittoral gravelly sand

SS.SCS.ICS.MoeVen

<i>Moerella</i> spp. with venerid bivalves in infralittoral gravelly sand
Distribution map

SS.SCS.ICS.MoeVen recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

SS.SCS.ICS.MoeVen is not listed under any importance categories.

For a list of 2004 characterising species please see the JNCC website.

Map icon UK and Ireland classification

Major habitat SS Sublittoral sediment
Habitat complex SS.SCS Sublittoral coarse sediment (unstable cobbles and pebbles, gravels and coarse sands)
Biotope complex SS.SCS.ICS Infralittoral coarse sediment
Biotope SS.SCS.ICS.MoeVen Moerella spp. with venerid bivalves in infralittoral gravelly sand

Additional information icon Additional information

Alongside FfabMag this biotope may form part of the 'Shallow Venus,/i> Community', the 'Boreal Off-shore Sand Association' and the 'Goniadella-Spisula association' of previous workers (see Petersen 1918; Jones 1951; Thorson 1957; Salzwedel et al., 1985). Epifaunal communities may be reduced in this biotope when compared to FfabMag. In southern areas of the UK and the North Sea, in slightly siltier sand and shelly sand, SCS.MoeVen may give way to the other Spisula biotope SSA.SsubNhom. Together these two biotopes replace the old biotope IGS.Sell.

This review can be cited as follows:

Durkin, O.C. 2009. Moerella spp. with venerid bivalves in infralittoral gravelly sand. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 20/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitatclassification.php?habitatid=388&code=2004>