BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Lithothamnion corallioides
All Taxonomy Biology Distribution Reproduction

Researched by	Angus Jackson	Data supplied by	MarLIN
Refereed by	Dr Christine Maggs
General Biology
Growth form	Algal gravel	Feeding method	Photoautotroph
Mobility/Movement	Not relevant See additional information	Environmental position	Epilithic
Typical food types	Not relevant	Habit	Bed forming
Bioturbator	Not relevant	Flexibility	None (< 10 degrees)
Fragility	Intermediate	Size	Small-medium(3-10cm)
Height		Growth Rate	1-2 mm/year
Adult dispersal potential	10-100m	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Gregarious
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
General Biology Additional Information	Mobility is recorded as not relevant here since maerl does not fall into the available categories. It does have a crustose permanently attached form but this has only been recorded at 2 sites in the British Isles. It is typically found as an unattached plant. Maerl has been found in densities of up to 22,000 thalli per square metre. The proportion of live to dead nodules varies considerably. As far as is known, maerl continues to grow throughout its life but fragmentation limits the size of the nodules. Individual plants may reach up to 5 cm across. Maerl beds are highly species rich with 150 macroalgal species and over five hundred faunal species (of which 120 are molluscs) recorded as living on or in maerl beds (Birkett et al., 1998(a)); see the maerl biotope £IGS.Phy.HEc£ for further information. As far as is known, the maerl does not host any commensal or parasitic species. However, a few algae are almost entirely restricted to maerl communities e.g. the red algae Gelidiella calcicola, Gelidium maggsiae and the crustose Cruoria cruoriaeformis (Birkett et al., 1998(a)).
Biology References	Irvine & Chamberlain, 1994, Adey & McKibbin, 1970, Donnan & Davies, 1996, Birkett et al., 1998, Potin et al., 1990, Grall & Glémarec, 1997, Birkett et al., 1998(a), Maggs & Guiry, 1987,