Biodiversity & Conservation

Laminaria saccharina, Chorda filum and filamentous red seaweeds on sheltered infralittoral sediment

SS.SMp.KSwSS.LsacCho

IMX.LsacX

Image Anon. - Saccharina latissima, Chorda filum and filamentous red seaweeds on sheltered infralittoral sediment. Image width ca 50 cm in foreground.
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Distribution map

SS.SMp.KSwSS.LsacCho recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

  • EC_Habitats

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.SMp Sublittoral macrophyte-dominated communities on sediments
Biotope complex SS.SMp.KSwSS Kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediment
Biotope SS.SMp.KSwSS.LsacCho Laminaria saccharina and Chorda filum on sheltered upper infralittoral muddy sediment

Additional information icon Additional information

This biotope occurs in much more stable (less wave-exposed) situations than other biotopes with similar dominant species (Chorda filum and Laminaria saccharina), for instance MIR.SedK.Lsac.ChoR. With a slight decrease in salinity and presence of stable rock, it may develop to SIR.LsacRS.Psa (Laminaria saccharina and Psammechinus miliaris on slightly reduced salinity grazed infralittoral rock). The appearance of the biotope is greatly influenced by the presence of the cape form of Laminaria saccharina, which has very wide fronds. The sea urchin Psammechinus miliaris is often present in the biotope (although not listed as a characterising species) feeding on the fronds of Laminaria saccharina.

This review can be cited as follows:

Hiscock, K. 2001. Laminaria saccharina, Chorda filum and filamentous red seaweeds on sheltered infralittoral sediment. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 24/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitatclassification.php?habitatid=58&code=2004>