Biodiversity & Conservation

Barnacles and Patella spp. on exposed or moderately exposed, or vertical sheltered, eulittoral rock

LR.HLR.MusB.Cht

ELR.Bpat

Image Jon Davies - View of vertical bedrock shore. Image width ca XX cm.
Image copyright information

Distribution map

LR.HLR.MusB.Cht 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 structural Semibalanus balanoides An acorn barnacle
Key structural Patella vulgata Common limpet
Important functional Nucella lapillus Dog whelk

Explanation

The biotope is characterized by a dense covering of barnacles, represented by Semibalanus balanoides (although the chthamalid barnacles Chthamalus montagui and Chthamalus stellatus can be the dominant barnacle in the south-west), and the limpet Patella vulgata. The dog whelk, Nucella lapillus, is a predator of barnacles and has been included because the species may influence the abundance of barnacles on the shore.

Additional information

This review can be cited as follows:

Hill, J.M. 2001. Barnacles and Patella spp. on exposed or moderately exposed, or vertical sheltered, eulittoral 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/habitatreproduction.php?habitatid=199&code=2004>