Biodiversity & Conservation

Basic Information

Sabellaria spinulosa crusts on silty turbid circalittoral rock

CR.MCR.As.MolPol.Sab

Image Anon. - Sabellaria spinulosa crusts on silty turbid circalittoral rock. Image width ca 10 cm.
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CR.MCR.As.MolPol.Sab recorded () and expected () distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

Habitat description

Distribution of biotope in Britain and Ireland	The MERMAID database (JNCC, 1999) shows two records of MCR.Sspi from northeast England and Hiscock (1979) records a community that probably corresponds to this biotope from the Gower peninsula, Wales. The biotope most likely also occurs in the Solway Firth (K. Hiscock, own observations). The most recent (2003) version of the biotopes classification records the biotope (as CR.MCR.CSAB.Sspi) as recorded from the Lleyn Peninsula, Lundy Island (including the wreck of the MV Robert) and the north-east and south coast of England.
National importance	Not available

Distribution of biotope in Britain and Ireland

The MERMAID database (JNCC, 1999) shows two records of MCR.Sspi from northeast England and Hiscock (1979) records a community that probably corresponds to this biotope from the Gower peninsula, Wales. The biotope most likely also occurs in the Solway Firth (K. Hiscock, own observations). The most recent (2003) version of the biotopes classification records the biotope (as CR.MCR.CSAB.Sspi) as recorded from the Lleyn Peninsula, Lundy Island (including the wreck of the MV Robert) and the north-east and south coast of England.

National importance

Not available

Description of biotope

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

Bedrock in moderately exposed, slightly tide-swept conditions with high turbidity with an almost entire crust of Sabellaria spinulosa tubes; few other species present. Ciona celata, Alcyonium digitatum and Hypoglossum hypoglossoides present in NE England, very extensive Mytilus edulis in South Wales (Gower). The fauna attached to the Sabellaria crust in many cases seem to reflect the biotopes on nearby rock. (Information taken from the Marine Biotope Classification for Britain and Ireland, Version 97.06: Connor et al., 1997a, b).

Additional information

This review can be cited as follows:

Jackson, A. & Hiscock, K. 2006. Sabellaria spinulosa crusts on silty turbid circalittoral rock. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 24/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitatsbasicinfo.php?habitatid=348&code=1997>

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Sabellaria spinulosa crusts on silty turbid circalittoral rock

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CR.MCR.As.MolPol.Sab

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