Biodiversity & Conservation

Urticina felina on sand-affected circalittoral rock

CR.MCR.EcCr.UrtScr

MCR.Urt

Image Keith Hiscock - Urticina felina and Ciocalypta penicillus on sand-covered circalittoral rock (MCR.Urt.Cio). Image width ca 60 cm.
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Distribution map

CR.MCR.EcCr.UrtScr 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) Reefs
Submerged or partly submerged sea caves
Large shallow inlets and bays
Estuaries

Biotope importance

The biotope does not provide any obvious significant source of shelter for other species or food for demersal fish or mobile crustaceans. However, colonies of ross Pentapora fascialis provide a significant habitat for a wide range of cryptic species (see, for instance, Hayward & Ryland, 1979). Species of Nemertesia provide an important source of food for several nudibranch species. In well mixed of strongly following waters suspension feeders may significantly deplete the concentration of seston (organic particulates and phytoplankton) (Hartnoll, 1998) as has been shown over horse mussel beds (see MCR.ModT).

Exploitation

None known.

Additional information icon Additional information

This biotope is host for the nationally rare branching sponge Adreus fascicularis.

This review can be cited as follows:

Hiscock, K. 2002. Urticina felina on sand-affected circalittoral rock. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 20/06/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitatimportance.php?habitatid=290&code=2004>