Biodiversity & Conservation

Echinocardium cordatum and Ensis spp. in lower shore or shallow sublittoral muddy fine sand.

SS.SSa.IMuSa.EcorEns

IMS.EcorEns

Image Anon. - Echinocardium cordatum dug out of sand. Image width ca XX cm.
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Distribution map

SS.SSa.IMuSa.EcorEns recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

  • EC_Habitats
  • UK_BAP

Marine natural heritage importance

Listed under EC Habitats Directive
UK Biodiversity Action Plan
National importance Uncommon
Habitat Directive feature (Annex 1) Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time
Large shallow inlets and bays

Biotope importance

May be important feeding grounds for fish and for wading birds particularly on the lower shore. Sand banks may also be important as nursery areas for fish like plaice.

Exploitation

Traditionally Ensis spp. have been hand collected for food, bait and personal consumption. In Scotland, some subtidal razor shell beds are dense enough to be exploited commercially and recently the species has been harvested by suction dredger (Fowler, 1999).

Additional information icon Additional information

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This review can be cited as follows:

Hill, J.M. 2007. Echinocardium cordatum and Ensis spp. in lower shore or shallow sublittoral muddy fine sand.. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 22/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitatimportance.php?habitatid=124&code=2004>