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Biodiversity & Conservation
| Basic Information | Biotope classification | Ecology | Habitat preferences and distribution | Species composition | Sensitivity | Importance |
Overhangs and caves
LR.LR.Ov
Image Keith Hiscock - A well developed overhang community with pendulous polyclinid tunicates. Image width ca 1 m.
Image copyright information
LR.LR.Ov recorded (
) and expected (
) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)
Habitat sensitivity
Physical Factors
| Click factor name to view rationale | Intolerance | Recoverability | Sensitivity | Species Richness | Evidence / Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Substratum Loss | High | Moderate | Moderate | Major decline | Moderate |
| Smothering | High | High | Moderate | Decline | Low |
| Increase in suspended sediment | Low | High | Low | Minor decline | Very low |
| Decrease in suspended sediment | |||||
| Desiccation | Intermediate | High | Low | Minor decline | Low |
| Increase in emergence regime | Intermediate | High | Low | Minor decline | Low |
| Decrease in emergence regime | |||||
| Increase in water flow rate | Intermediate | High | Low | No change | Low |
| Decrease in water flow rate | |||||
| Increase in temperature | Intermediate | High | Low | Minor decline | Low |
| Decrease in temperature | |||||
| Increase in turbidity | Low | High | Low | No change | Moderate |
| Decrease in turbidity | |||||
| Increase in wave exposure | Intermediate | High | Low | Not relevant | Low |
| Decrease in wave exposure | |||||
| Noise | Tolerant | Not relevant | Not sensitive | Not relevant | Not relevant |
| Visual Presence | Tolerant | Not relevant | Not sensitive | Not relevant | Not relevant |
| Abrasion & physical disturbance | High | High | Moderate | Major decline | High |
| Displacement | High | High | Moderate | Major decline | Moderate |
Chemical Factors
| Click factor name to view rationale | Intolerance | Recoverability | Sensitivity | Species Richness | Evidence / Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synthetic compound contamination | Intermediate | Low | High | Minor decline | Low |
| Heavy metal contamination | Insufficient information | Not relevant | Insufficient information | Not relevant | Not relevant |
| Hydrocarbon contamination | Low | Moderate | Low | Minor decline | Low |
| Radionuclide contamination | Insufficient information | Not relevant | Insufficient information | Not relevant | Not relevant |
| Changes in nutrient levels | Tolerant | Not relevant | Not sensitive | No change | Low |
| Increase in salinity | Intermediate | High | Low | Decline | Low |
| Decrease in salinity | |||||
| Changes in oxygenation | High | High | Moderate | Decline | Low |
Biological Factors
| Click factor name to view rationale | Intolerance | Recoverability | Sensitivity | Species Richness | Evidence / Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction of microbial pathogens/parasites | Insufficient information | Not relevant | Insufficient information | Not relevant | Not relevant |
| Introduction of non-native species | Insufficient information | Not relevant | Insufficient information | Insufficient Information | Not relevant |
| Extraction of this species | Not relevant | Not relevant | Not relevant | Not relevant | Not relevant |
| Extraction of other species | Intermediate | High | Low | Minor decline | Very low |
Species used to indicate biotope intolerance
Physical factors
| Morchellium argus Important characterizing | Botryllus schlosseri Important structural | Umbonula littoralis Important structural | |
| Substratum Loss | High | High | High |
| Smothering | High | High | Intermediate |
| Increase in suspended sediment | Low | High | Intermediate |
| Decrease in suspended sediment | |||
| Desiccation | High | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| Increase in emergence regime | Intermediate | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| Decrease in emergence regime | |||
| Increase in water flow rate | Low | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| Decrease in water flow rate | |||
| Increase in temperature | Low | Low | Low |
| Decrease in temperature | Intermediate | ||
| Increase in turbidity | Low | Low | Low |
| Decrease in turbidity | |||
| Increase in wave exposure | Low | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| Decrease in wave exposure | |||
| Noise | Tolerant | Tolerant | Tolerant |
| Visual Presence | Tolerant | Tolerant | Tolerant |
| Abrasion & physical disturbance | Intermediate | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| Displacement | High | High | High |
Chemical factors
| Morchellium argus Important characterizing | Botryllus schlosseri Important structural | Umbonula littoralis Important structural |
|
| Synthetic compound contamination | Insufficient information | Insufficient information | Insufficient information |
| Heavy metal contamination | Insufficient information | Insufficient information | Insufficient information |
| Hydrocarbon contamination | Insufficient information | Insufficient information | Intermediate |
| Radionuclide contamination | Insufficient information | Insufficient information | Insufficient information |
| Changes in nutrient levels | Tolerant | Low | Insufficient information |
| Increase in salinity | Intermediate | Intermediate | High |
| Decrease in salinity | |||
| Changes in oxygenation | Insufficient information | Intermediate | Low |
Biological factors
| Morchellium argus Important characterizing | Botryllus schlosseri Important structural | Umbonula littoralis Important structural |
|
| Introduction of microbial pathogens/parasites | Insufficient information | Insufficient information | Insufficient information |
| Introduction of non-native species | Insufficient information | Tolerant* | Insufficient information |
| Extraction of this species | Intermediate | Not relevant | Not relevant |
| Extraction of other species | Intermediate | High | High |
Species used to indicate biotope recoverability
Physical factors
| Morchellium argus Important characterizing | Botryllus schlosseri Important structural | Umbonula littoralis Important structural | |
| Substratum Loss | High | High | High |
| Smothering | High | High | High |
| Increase in suspended sediment | High | High | High |
| Decrease in suspended sediment | |||
| Desiccation | High | High | High |
| Increase in emergence regime | High | High | High |
| Decrease in emergence regime | |||
| Increase in water flow rate | High | High | High |
| Decrease in water flow rate | |||
| Increase in temperature | Very high | Very high | High |
| Decrease in temperature | High | ||
| Increase in turbidity | High | Immediate | High |
| Decrease in turbidity | |||
| Increase in wave exposure | High | Moderate | High |
| Decrease in wave exposure | |||
| Noise | Not relevant | Not relevant | Not relevant |
| Visual Presence | Not relevant | Not relevant | Not relevant |
| Abrasion & physical disturbance | High | High | High |
| Displacement | High | Moderate | High |
Chemical factors
| Morchellium argus Important characterizing | Botryllus schlosseri Important structural | Umbonula littoralis Important structural |
|
| Synthetic compound contamination | Not relevant | Not relevant | Not relevant |
| Heavy metal contamination | Not relevant | Not relevant | Not relevant |
| Hydrocarbon contamination | Not relevant | Not relevant | High |
| Radionuclide contamination | Not relevant | Not relevant | Not relevant |
| Changes in nutrient levels | Not relevant | High | Not relevant |
| Increase in salinity | High | High | High |
| Decrease in salinity | |||
| Changes in oxygenation | Not relevant | High | High |
Biological factors
| Morchellium argus Important characterizing | Botryllus schlosseri Important structural | Umbonula littoralis Important structural |
|
| Introduction of microbial pathogens/parasites | Not relevant | High | Not relevant |
| Introduction of non-native species | Not relevant | Not relevant | Not relevant |
| Extraction of this species | High | Not relevant | Not relevant |
| Extraction of other species | High | Moderate | High |
This review can be cited as follows:
Hiscock, K. 2002. Overhangs and caves. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 22/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitatsensitivity.php?habitatid=242&code=1997>
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