Biodiversity & Conservation

Foliose red seaweeds on exposed or moderately exposed lower infralittoral rock

IR.EIR.KFaR.FoR

EIR.FoR

Image Rohan Holt - Foliose red seaweeds on exposed or moderately exposed lower infralittoral rock. Image width ca XX m.
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Distribution map

IR.EIR.KFaR.FoR recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

  • EC_Habitats

Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland

Present on most coasts of the British Isles with areas where it is not recorded or known to be present from the south east coast of Britain and the east coast of Ireland.

Habitat preferences

Temperature range preferences -

Water clarity preferences - Very high clarity / Very low turbidity
High clarity / Low turbidity
Medium clarity / Medium turbidity

Limiting Nutrients - Nitrogen (nitrates)

Other preferences - Wave exposure

Additional information

  • Nitrogen is the primary resource that limits seaweed growth and consequently variations in seaweed growth should parallel variations in nitrogen supply (Lobban & Harrison, 1997).
  • in wave exposed situations the sea urchin, Echinus esculentus, may experience difficulty maintaining contact with the rock whilst grazing in shallow waters owing to turbulence caused by wave action. Such disturbance may favour the development of this algal dominated biotope.

This review can be cited as follows:

Budd, G.C. 2002. Foliose red seaweeds on exposed or moderately exposed lower infralittoral 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/habitatpreferences.php?habitatid=65&code=1997>