Biodiversity & Conservation

Styela gelatinosa and other solitary ascidians on very sheltered deep circalittoral muddy sediment

COS.COS.Sty

<i>%Styela gelatinosa%</i> and other solitary ascidians on very sheltered deep circalittoral muddy sediment
Distribution map

COS.COS.Sty recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

  • UK_BAP

Marine natural heritage importance

Listed under UK Biodiversity Action Plan
National importance Rare
Habitat Directive feature (Annex 1)

Biotope importance

Fourteen species are listed by Allen (1953a) as attached to live individuals of Pseudamussium septemradiatum from the Clyde Sea area including five foramaniferans, one sponge, two polychaetes, one bryozoan, two barnacles, two small bivalves but only one ascidian, Styela clava. Allen (1953a) notes that dead shells had very little attached and suggested that movement of the scallop was important in retaining surfaces clear of silt for settlement of attached fauna. None of the other species in the biotope are known to provide food or a habitat for other species.

Exploitation

None

Additional information icon Additional information

This biotope is only known from one location and from one survey station. It is distinctly different from other biotopes and includes one species (Styela gelatinosa) that is unique to it. It is therefore important as a nationally rare biotope.

This review can be cited as follows:

Hiscock, K. 2002. Styela gelatinosa and other solitary ascidians on very sheltered deep circalittoral muddy sediment. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 21/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitatimportance.php?habitatid=274&code=1997>