Biodiversity & Conservation

Polydora ciliata in variable salinity infralittoral firm mud or clay

SS.SMu.SMuVS.PolCvol

<i>%Polydora ciliata%</i> in variable salinity infralittoral firm mud or clay
Distribution map

SS.SMu.SMuVS.PolCvol recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

  • EC_Habitats

Marine natural heritage importance

Listed under EC Habitats Directive
National importance Not available
Habitat Directive feature (Annex 1) Estuaries

Biotope importance

Polydora ciliata is a serious pest of oysters and mussels, but invades only the shell and does not eat the soft tissue. When infestation is heavy, the shell is weakened and this makes the mollusc more susceptible to predation by crabs. Occasionally, the inner surface of the shell is damaged by the worms and the mollusc secretes a nacreous substance to seal the perforation. The resulting blisters are an indication of attack by the species, and mussels heavily infested with the polychaete have reduced flesh content, possibly as a result of some impact on the metabolism of the mussel.

Exploitation

The biotope is unlikely to be exploited because Polydora ciliata is of no commercial interest.

Additional information icon Additional information

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This review can be cited as follows:

Hill, J.M. 2002. Polydora ciliata in variable salinity infralittoral firm mud or clay. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 25/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitatimportance.php?habitatid=193&code=2004>