Biodiversity & Conservation

Halichondria bowerbanki, Eudendrium arbusculum and Eucratea loricata on reduced salinity tide-swept circalittoral mixed substrata

CR.MCR.CFaVS.HbowEud

<i>%Halichondria bowerbanki%</i>, <i>%Eudendrium arbusculum%</i> and <i>%Eucratea loricata%</i> on reduced salinity tide-swept circalittoral mixed substrata
Distribution map

CR.MCR.CFaVS.HbowEud recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

  • EC_Habitats

Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland

Recorded only from Loch Etive in western Scotland where it occurs on rock in reduced salinity and strong tidal currents.

Habitat preferences

Temperature range preferences - Data deficient

Water clarity preferences - Data deficient

Limiting Nutrients - Data deficient

Other preferences - See additional information

Additional information

Loch Etive has the most estuarine character of all of the Scottish sea lochs because of the high freshwater input. Halichondria bowerbanki is typical of areas of reduced or variable salinity in harbours and estuaries. Others species that occur in ECR.HbowEud typically occur with Halichondria bowerbanki in other locations: for instance, Ascidiella scabra, Alcyonidium diaphanum and Metridium senile. It may therefore be a biogeographical factor rather than physical and chemical habitat that leads to the presence of the other two naming species (Eudendrium arbusculum and Eucratea loricata) and therefore the definition of a separate biotope.

This review can be cited as follows:

Hiscock, K. 2002. Halichondria bowerbanki, Eudendrium arbusculum and Eucratea loricata on reduced salinity 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 18/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitatpreferences.php?habitatid=45&code=2004>