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Biodiversity & Conservation
| Basic Information | Biotope classification | Ecology | Habitat preferences and distribution | Species composition | Sensitivity | Importance |
Himanthalia elongata and red seaweeds on exposed lower eulittoral rock
LR.HLR.FR.Him
Image Keith Hiscock - Himanthalia elongata and Laminaria digitata on lower shore bedrock. Image width ca XX cm.
Image copyright information
LR.HLR.FR.Him recorded (
) and expected (
) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)
Marine natural heritage importance
| Listed under |
EC Habitats Directive |
|---|---|
| National importance | Common |
| Habitat Directive feature (Annex 1) | Reefs Large shallow inlets and bays |
Biotope importance
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Exploitation
- Himanthalia elongata is eaten as a food in Ireland and France. It is sold dried and pickled or may be eaten fresh in a salad. The species is harvested commercially on the west coast of Ireland on a small scale (Stengel et al., 1999).
- Chondrus crispus is harvested commercially in Ireland, Spain, France, Portugal and North America for the extraction of carrageenan (Guiry & Blunden, 1991). The gelling and thickening properties of carrageenan are used widely in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries (see review by Guiry & Blunden, 1991).
- In North America and Europe (Brittany, Ireland and Iceland) the fronds of Palmaria palmata are eaten raw as a vegetable substitute or dried and eaten as a condiment (Guiry & Blunden, 1991). The species is also used as fodder for a variety of animals in many countries.
- Corallina officinalis is collected for medical purposes; the fronds are dried and converted to hydroxyapatite and used as bone forming material (Ewers et al. 1987). It is also sold as a powder for use in the cosmetic industry.
Additional information
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This review can be cited as follows:
Budd, G.C. 2002. Himanthalia elongata and red seaweeds on exposed lower eulittoral rock. 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=360&code=2004>
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