Biodiversity & Conservation

Polydora ciliata in variable salinity infralittoral firm mud or clay

SS.SMu.SMuVS.PolCvol

<i>%Polydora ciliata%</i> in variable salinity infralittoral firm mud or clay
Distribution map

SS.SMu.SMuVS.PolCvol recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

  • EC_Habitats

For a list of 2004 characterising species please see the JNCC website.

Species indicative of sensitivity

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.

Community Importance Species name Common Name
Key functional Polydora ciliata A bristle worm

Explanation

Polydora ciliata is used to assess the sensitivity of the biotope. There has been some confusion in the identification of Polydora species and it has been suggested that some other species such as Polydora ligni, Polydora websteri, Polydora cirrosa and Polydora nuchalis may only be varieties of Polydora ciliata (Mustaquim, 1986). Since no or very few other species are present in the biotope the sensitivity of Polydora ciliata is representative of the sensitivity of the whole biotope.

Additional information

None

This review can be cited as follows:

Hill, J.M. 2002. Polydora ciliata in variable salinity infralittoral firm mud or clay. 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/habitatreproduction.php?habitatid=193&code=2004>