Biodiversity & Conservation

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

This biotope is reported to occur in shallow tide-swept conditions and also in reduced salinity tide-swept conditions (may be 2 biotopes?). Some descriptions indicate a wide variety of epifaunal colonizers on the mussel valves, including seaweeds, hydroids and bryozoans. Predatory starfish Asterias rubens also occur in this biotope. This biotope generally appears to lack large kelp plants, although transitional examples containing mussels and kelps plants may also occur. [Further data and analysis required for this biotope]. (Information taken from the Marine Biotope Classification for Britain and Ireland, Version 97.06: Connor et al., 1997a, b).

This biotope appears to be distinguished from other biotopes by occurring on rock and in strong currents suggesting that it is a feature of the tidal rapids at the entrance to lagoonal habitats.