Biodiversity & Conservation

Modiolus modiolus beds with hydroids and red seaweeds on tide-swept circalittoral mixed substrata

SS.SBR.SMus.ModT

MCR.ModT

Image Anon. - Modiolus modiolus beds with hydroids and red seaweeds on tide-swept circalittoral mixed substrata. Image width ca 50 cm.
Image copyright information

Distribution map

SS.SBR.SMus.ModT recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

  • EC_Habitats
  • UK_BAP
  • OSPAR

Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland

Recorded from the Shetland Voes, Orkney Isles, the Lleyn Peninsula, off the Ards Peninsula and within the Skerries Northern Island, and some Scottish Sealochs, including Loch Duich, Loch Long and Loch Alsh cSAC. Records from off the Humber and the Bristol Channel could not be substantiated.

Habitat preferences

Temperature range preferences - See additonal information

Water clarity preferences - Data deficient

Limiting Nutrients - Data deficient

Other preferences - None found

Additional information

Modiolus modiolus is a boreal species reaching its southern limit in British waters and it may be susceptible to long term increases in summer water temperatures (Holt et al., 1998). Little information on temperature tolerance in Modiolus modiolus was found, however, its upper lethal temperature is lower than that for Mytilus edulis (Bayne, 1976) by about 4 °C (Henderson, 1929; cited in Davenport & Kjrsvik, 1982). Extensive beds are most common on northern or western coasts but absent south of the Severn and Humber estuaries Modiolus modiolus beds are found in a variety of turbid and clear water environments (Holt et al., 1998).

This review can be cited as follows:

Tyler-Walters, H. 2006. Modiolus modiolus beds with hydroids and red seaweeds on tide-swept circalittoral mixed substrata. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 19/06/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitatpreferences.php?habitatid=137&code=2004>