Biodiversity & Conservation

Fucus vesiculosus on mid eulittoral mixed substrata

LR.SLR.FX.FvesX

SLR.FvesX

Image Anon. - View along shore with sea wall in background. Image width ca 10 m (middle).
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Distribution map

LR.SLR.FX.FvesX recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

  • EC_Habitats

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
Important characterizing Fucus vesiculosus Bladder wrack
Important other Littorina littorea Common periwinkle
Important other Patella vulgata Common limpet
Important other Semibalanus balanoides An acorn barnacle

Explanation

Fucus vesiculosus has been assessed to be the most important characterizing species as, in its absence, or replacement by another fucoid species the SLR.FvesX biotope would not be recognized. Littorina littorea, Patella vulgataand Semibalanus balanoides are identified as important others, as they are frequently found in the biotope and their presence is important for the identity of the biotope, its functioning and recoverability. Infaunal species such as Hediste diversicolor and Arenicola marina are not considered to be species particularly indicative of the sensitivity of the SLR.FvesX biotope as, in their absence, the biotope would become impoverished but would still be recognized as Fucus vesiculosus on mid eulittoral mixed substrata.

Additional information

In the SLR.AscX and SLR.FserX biotopes, Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus serratus would be the important characterizing species respectively.

This review can be cited as follows:

Budd, G.C. 2002. Fucus vesiculosus on mid eulittoral mixed substrata. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 25/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitatreproduction.php?habitatid=329&code=1997>