Biodiversity & Conservation

Fucus distichus and Fucus spiralis f. nana on extremely exposed upper shore rock

LR.ELR.FR.Fdis

ELR.Fdis

Image Sue Scott - View down shore showing upper shore bedrock with Fucus distichus and green algae. Image width ca XX cm.
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Distribution map

LR.ELR.FR.Fdis 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 This biotope is rare and is only found on the coasts of the far north and west of Scotland including Shetland, Orkney, the Outer Hebrides and St. Kilda.
National importance Rare

Text page icon Description of biotope

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

Extremely exposed gently or steeply sloping upper shore bedrock may support a mixture of Fucus distichus and Fucus spiralis f. nana, the latter often at the top of the zone. This biotope is rare and restricted to the far north and west coasts. This mixed band is generally found between the Verrucaria maura and Porphyra zone (LR.Ver.Por) above, and the Mytilus edulis and barnacle zone below (ELR.MytB). Although it may occur above a red algal zone (MLR.Mas), as recorded on Barra or above a Porphyra and sparse barnacle zone (LR.Ver.Por) as on St Kilda. (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. 2005. Fucus distichus and Fucus spiralis f. nana on extremely exposed upper shore rock. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 23/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitatsbasicinfo.php?habitatid=234&code=1997>