Biodiversity & Conservation

Polydora ciliata in variable salinity infralittoral firm mud or clay

SS.IMU.EstMu.PolVS

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

SS.IMU.EstMu.PolVS 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 Found in various estuaries along the east coast of Britain, Isle of Wight and the Bristol Channel.
National importance Not available

Text page icon Description of biotope

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

Variable salinity clay and firm mud characterized by a turf of the polychaete Polydora ciliata. Polydora ciliata also occurs in high densities elsewhere - see MCR.Pol. (May be a specific feature of the Humber Estuary in these conditions). This biotope occurs only in very firm mud and clay and possibly submerged relict saltmarsh with a high detrital content. It is characterized, and can be separated from other biotopes, by a combination of the sediment characteristics and the very high density of Polydora ciliata. (Information taken from the Marine Biotope Classification for Britain and Ireland, Version 97.06: Connor et al., 1997a, b).

Additional information icon Additional information

None entered

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 21/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitatsbasicinfo.php?habitatid=193&code=1997>