Biodiversity & Conservation

To assess the sensitivity of the biotope, the sensitivity of component species is reviewed. Those species that are considered to be particularly indicative of the sensitivity of the biotope, and for which research has been undertaken in detail are shown below (see selection criteria). The biology of other component species of the biotope is also taken into account wherever information is known to the researcher.

• Limaria hians
• Kirchenpauria pinnata
• Nemertesia antennina
• Nemertesia ramosa
• Plumularia setacea
• Hyas araneus
• Crossaster papposus
• Ophiocomina nigra
• Ophiothrix fragilis

Loss of the Limaria hians bed would result in the loss of the associated community and destabilization of the sediment (see Minchin, 1995). The gaping file shell carpet supports a diverse assemblage of epifaunal and interstitial species that would be lost, together with the Limaria hians. Therefore, Limaria hians has been considered to be the key structural species in this review.

The other species in the community are widespread and characteristic of the wave sheltered but tide swept situations, in which the Limaria hians beds are found. Therefore, the dominant associated species vary with location and have little significant association with the bed itself. Reference has been made to Nemertesia ramosa to represent hydroids, Bugula species to represent bryozoans, Ciona intestinalis and Clavelina lepadiformis to represent ascidians, and Alcyonium digitatum to represent anthozoans, and Echinus esculentus and Asterias rubens to represent echinoderms occurring within the biotope.

Beds of Limaria hians provide stable substrata in otherwise sedimentary habitats and support a diverse epifauna and infauna (Hall-Spencer & Moore, 2000b). The MNCR recorded 324 species within this biotope, although not all species were present in all records of the biotope. Hall-Spencer & Moore (2000b) reported 19 species of macroflora and 265 species of invertebrate macrofauna in only six Limaria hians nests from one site in Loch Fyne, Scotland.