Biodiversity & Conservation

Muddy sand shores

LS.LSa.MuSa

LMS.MS

Image Joint Nature Conservation Committee - View across a cockle strand (biotope LMS.Pcer). Image width foreground ca 10 m.
Image copyright information

Distribution map

LS.LSa.MuSa recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

  • EC_Habitats
  • UK_BAP
  • OSPAR

Habitat sensitivity

Physical Factors

Click factor name to view rationale Intolerance Recoverability Sensitivity Species Richness Evidence / Confidence
Substratum Loss High Moderate Moderate Major decline High
Smothering Intermediate High Low Decline Moderate
Increase in suspended sediment Low Very high Very low No change Moderate
Decrease in suspended sediment Low Very high Very low Minor decline Low
Desiccation Low Very high Very low No change Low
Increase in emergence regime High High Moderate Major decline High
Decrease in emergence regime Intermediate High Low Insufficient Information High
Increase in water flow rate High High Moderate Minor decline High
Decrease in water flow rate Low Very high Very low Not relevant Moderate
Increase in temperature Tolerant Not relevant Not sensitive No change Moderate
Decrease in temperature Intermediate High Low Decline Moderate
Increase in turbidity Tolerant Not relevant Not sensitive No change Not relevant
Decrease in turbidity Tolerant* Not relevant Not sensitive* No change Low
Increase in wave exposure High Low High Decline High
Decrease in wave exposure High Low High No change High
Noise Low Very high Very low No change High
Visual Presence Low Very high Very low No change High
Abrasion & physical disturbance Intermediate High Low Decline Moderate
Displacement Intermediate High Low Minor decline Very low

Chemical Factors

Click factor name to view rationale Intolerance Recoverability Sensitivity Species Richness Evidence / Confidence
Synthetic compound contamination High Low High Major decline Low
Heavy metal contamination High Low High Decline Low
Hydrocarbon contamination High Low High Major decline Low
Radionuclide contamination Insufficient information Insufficient information Insufficient information Insufficient Information Not relevant
Changes in nutrient levels High Moderate Moderate Major decline High
Increase in salinity Tolerant Not relevant Not sensitive No change Moderate
Decrease in salinity Low Very high Very low No change Low
Changes in oxygenation High Moderate Moderate Major decline Moderate

Biological Factors

Click factor name to view rationale Intolerance Recoverability Sensitivity Species Richness Evidence / Confidence
Introduction of microbial pathogens/parasites Not relevant Not relevant Not relevant Not relevant Not relevant
Introduction of non-native species Intermediate Very low / none High Minor decline Not relevant
Extraction of this species Intermediate High Low Minor decline Low
Extraction of other species Intermediate Moderate Moderate Minor decline Low

This review can be cited as follows:

Tyler-Walters, H. & Marshall, C. 2006. Muddy sand shores. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 20/06/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitatsensitivity.php?habitatid=21&code=2004>