Biodiversity & Conservation

Laminaria saccharina, Chorda filum and dense red seaweeds on shallow unstable infralittoral boulders or cobbles

IR.MIR.SedK.LsacChoR

MIR.LsacChoR

Image Keith Hiscock - Saccharina latissima, Chorda filum and dense red seaweeds on shallow unstable infralittoral boulders or cobbles. Image width ca 1m in foreground.
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Distribution map

IR.MIR.SedK.LsacChoR 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 Probably widely occurring on shallow (<5 m) coarse sediments around Britain but records restricted to a few locations on the west coast from Cardigan Bay to Orkney.
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

Unstable boulders and cobbles in very shallow water may be seasonally disturbed which prevents a stable Laminaria hyperborea forest from developing. Seasonal movement of the substratum results in a community of the opportunistic kelp Laminaria saccharina, Chorda filum and Desmarestia spp. with encrusting algae and sediment-tolerant seaweeds. The shallowest areas of the Sarns in Cardigan Bay are typical examples of this biotope. (Information taken from the Marine Biotope Classification for Britain and Ireland, Version 97.06: Connor et al., 1997a, b). NB. Laminaria saccharina is now considered to be a synonym of Saccharina latissima.

Additional information icon Additional information

This review can be cited as follows:

Hiscock, K. 2001. Laminaria saccharina, Chorda filum and dense red seaweeds on shallow unstable infralittoral boulders or cobbles. 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=363&code=1997>