Biodiversity & Conservation

Underboulder communities

LR.MLR.BF.Fser.Bo

MLR.Fser.Fser.Bo

Image Keith Hiscock - Underboulder community dominated by sponges from a rock pool habitat. Wembury, South Devon. Image width ca 1 m.
Image copyright information

  • #
  • #
  • #
  • #
Distribution map

LR.MLR.BF.Fser.Bo recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

  • EC_Habitats
  • UK_BAP

Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland

All around Britain but known to be particularly well developed along the coast of Northumberland, in the Plymouth area, in the Isles of Scilly, in the Menai Strait (North Wales) and in tidal rapids at the entrances of sea lochs, Hebridean obs and (in Ireland) loughs.

Habitat preferences

Temperature range preferences - No preferences noted.

Water clarity preferences - No preference

Limiting Nutrients - No preference

Other preferences - Flowing water

Additional information

The richest underboulder communities develop in wave sheltered locations on stable boulders where the downward facing surfaces are clear of sediment and there is flowing water present e.g. Strangford Lough, Menai Strait and Linne Mhuirich.

This review can be cited as follows:

Hiscock, K. 2005. Underboulder communities. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 26/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitatpreferences.php?habitatid=371&code=2004>