Biodiversity & Conservation

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

Large clumps ('mini reefs') of the calcareous tubes of Serpula vermicularis, typically attached to stones on muddy sediment in very sheltered conditions in sea lochs. A rich associated biota attached to the calcareous tube may include the sponge Esperiopsis fucorum, thin encrusting sponges, the ascidians Ascidiella aspersa, Pyura microcosmus and Diplosoma listerianum and fine hydroids such as Halopteris catharina. In shallow water dense Phycodrys rubens may grow on the reefs. Reefs from Loch Creran have been recently studied (Moore, 1996; Poloczanska et al., 2004). The only other known site in UK for these reefs was Loch Sween, but living reefs are no longer found there (Hughes et al., 2008). Otherwise only known from Salt Lake, Clifden and Killary Harbour, Co. Galway, Ireland. (Information adapted from the Marine Biotope Classification for Britain and Ireland, Version 97.06: Connor et al., 1997a, b).