Biodiversity & Conservation

Grazed Laminaria hyperborea with coralline crusts on infralittoral rock

IR.MIR.GzK.LhypGz.Ft

MIR.LhypGz

Image Keith Hiscock - Grazed Laminaria hyperborea forest with coralline crusts on upper infralittoral rock (MIR.LhypGz.Ft). Image width ca 2 m.
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Distribution map

IR.MIR.GzK.LhypGz.Ft 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 Common around the coast of the Shetland Isles, but scarcer around the mainland with only a few records in the north of Britain.
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

Laminaria hyperborea forests and parks on bedrock and boulders, subject to intense grazing by Echinus esculentus, with rock surfaces dominated by encrusting algae (coralline or brown algae). Erect seaweeds are sparse or absent. (Information taken from the Marine Biotope Classification for Britain and Ireland, Version 97.06: Connor et al., 1997a, b).

Additional information icon Additional information

Survey results are most often referred to one of the sub-biotopes: MIR.LhypGz.Ft (Grazed Laminaria hyperborea forest with coralline crusts on upper infralittoral rock), or MIR.LhypGz.Pk (Grazed Laminaria hyperborea park with coralline crusts on lower infralittoral rock); both of which have been included in research here.

This review can be cited as follows:

Hiscock, K. 2002. Grazed Laminaria hyperborea with coralline crusts on infralittoral rock. 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/habitatsbasicinfo.php?habitatid=333&code=1997>