Biodiversity & Conservation

Piddocks with a sparse associated fauna in upward-facing circalittoral very soft chalk or clay

CR.MCR.SfR.Pid

MCR.Pid

Image Roger Covey - Piddocks with a sparse associated fauna in upward-facing circalittoral very soft chalk or clay. Image width ca 30 cm.
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Distribution map

CR.MCR.SfR.Pid recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

  • EC_Habitats

Text page icon Habitat description

Map icon Distribution of biotope in Britain and Ireland Recorded in south-east England (Sussex and Thanet) and from Galway Bay, Ireland. Recently recorded off Mumbles Head in Swansea Bay (Jon Moore, pers comm.)
National importance Scarce

Text page icon Description of biotope

For a full description of this biotope including characterizing species, distribution, survey information and references visit JNCC

Horizontal plains of soft chalk and firm clay bored by bivalves. Species vary with location but Pholas dactylus, Barnea candida and Zirfaea crispata are recorded regularly. Found mainly in south-east England (Sussex and Thanet) although some Irish records exist. Other species present include Polydora ciliata and Crepidula fornicata. The rock surface is very friable or erodes very quickly and is, therefore, unsuitable for larger epifaunal species to settle and attach. (Information taken from the Marine Biotope Classification for Britain and Ireland, Version 97.06: Connor et al., 1997a, b).

Additional information icon Additional information

This review can be cited as follows:

Hill, J.M. 2008. Piddocks with a sparse associated fauna in upward-facing circalittoral very soft chalk or clay. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 18/06/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitatsbasicinfo.php?habitatid=152&code=2004>