The Marine Life Information Network

 This biotope is characterized by the absence of species resulting from boulder scour and shade (JNCC, 2015), rather than the presence of typical species: changes in temperature will therefore not alter the biotope. Resistance to an increase in temperature is therefore assessed as 'High' and resilience as ‘High’ (by default) and this biotope is considered to be 'Not sensitive'.

This biotope is characterized by the absence of species through boulder scour and shade (JNCC, 2015), rather than the presence of typical species: changes in temperature are therefore unlikely to alter the biotope. Resistance to an decrease in temperature is therefore assessed as 'High' and resilience as ‘High’ (by default) and this biotope is considered to be 'Not sensitive'.

This biotope is characterized by the absence of species through boulder scour and shade (JNCC, 2015), rather than the presence of typical species: changes in salinity are therefore unlikely to alter the biotope. Resistance to an increase in salinity is therefore assessed as 'High' and resilience as ‘High’ (by default) and this biotope is considered to be 'Not sensitive'.

This biotope is characterized by the absence of species through boulder scour and shade (JNCC, 2015), rather than the presence of typical species: changes in salinity will therefore not alter the biotope. Resistance to an decrease in salinity is therefore assessed as 'High' and resilience as ‘High’ (by default) and this biotope is considered to be 'Not sensitive'.

This biotope is characterized by the absence of species through boulder scour and shade (JNCC, 2015), rather than the presence of typical species: changes in water flow at the pressure benchmark are not considered likely to alter the biotope. Resistance to an increase or decrease in water flow is therefore assessed as 'High' and resilience as ‘High’ (by default) and this biotope is considered to be 'Not sensitive'. Boulder scour is a key factor structuring this biotope (JNCC, 2015), a reduction in  flow and wave exposure exceeding the pressure benchmark may  decrease boulder movement and associated scour allowing more species to colonise the biotope. This change in biotope character could lead to reclassification to LR.FLR.CvOv.ScrFa or an algal dominated cave biotope where light penetration allows.

This biotope occurs across a range of shore heights and is characterized by the absence of species through boulder scour and shade (JNCC, 2015), rather than the presence of typical species: changes in emergence are, therefore, not considered to alter the biotope (unless the classification changes to sublittoral). Resistance is therefore assessed as 'High' and resilience as ‘High’ (by default) and this biotope is considered to be 'Not sensitive'.

This biotope is characterized by the absence of species through boulder scour and shade (JNCC, 2015), rather than the presence of typical species: changes in wave exposure at the pressure benchmark are not considered likely to alter the biotope. Resistance to an increase or decrease in wave exposure at the pressure benchmark is therefore assessed as 'High' and resilience as ‘High’ (by default) and this biotope is considered to be 'Not sensitive'. Boulder scour is a key factor structuring this biotope (JNCC, 2015), a reduction in  flow and wave exposure exceeding the pressure benchmark may  decrease boulder movement and associated scour allowing more species to colonise the biotope. This change in biotope character could lead to reclassification to LR.FLR.CvOv.ScrFa or an algal dominated cave biotope where light penetration allows.

This pressure is Not assessed but evidence is presented where available. As this biotope is characterized by the lack of species, exposure to contaminants will not result in significant impacts.

This pressure is Not assessed but evidence is presented where available. As this biotope is characterized by the lack of species, exposure to contaminants will not result in significant impacts.

This pressure is Not assessed but evidence is presented where available. As this biotope is characterized by the lack of species, exposure to contaminants will not result in significant impacts.

No evidence was found.

This pressure is Not assessed. As this biotope is characterized by the lack of species, exposure to contaminants will not result in significant impacts.

As this biotope is characterized by the lack of species, de-oxygenation will not result in significant impacts. Biotope resistance is therefore assessed as 'High', and resilience as 'High' (by default) and the biotope is considered to be 'Not sensitive'.

As this biotope is characterized by the lack of species, nutrient enrichment will not result in significant impacts. Biotope resistance is therefore assessed as 'High', and resilience as 'High' (by default) and the biotope is considered to be 'Not sensitive'.

As this biotope is characterized by the lack of species, organic enrichment will not result in significant impacts. Biotope resistance is therefore assessed as 'High', and resilience as 'High' (by default) and the biotope is considered to be 'Not sensitive'.

All marine habitats and benthic species are considered to have a resistance of ‘None’ to this pressure and to be unable to recover from a permanent loss of habitat (resilience is ‘Very Low’).  Sensitivity within the direct spatial footprint of this pressure is, therefore ‘High’.  Although no specific evidence is described confidence in this assessment is ‘High’, due to the incontrovertible nature of this pressure.

This biotope is characterized by the hard rock substratum and cave topgraphy. A change to a sedimentary substratum would significantly alter the character of the biotope. The biotope is therefore considered to have 'No' resistance to this pressure (based on a change to a sediment habitat), recovery is assessed as 'Very low', as the change at the pressure benchmark is permanent. Biotope sensitivity is, therefore assessed as 'High'. As this biotope is found in caves, a change in topography from a cave to an open rock surface would also result in the loss of the biotope.

Not relevant to biotopes occurring on bedrock.

The species characterizing this biotope are epifauna or epiflora occurring on rock and would be sensitive to the removal of the habitat. However, extraction of rock substratum is considered unlikely and this pressure is considered to be ‘Not relevant’ to hard substratum habitats.

This biotope is characterized by the absence of species through boulder scour and shade (JNCC, 2015), rather than the presence of typical species: abrasion will therefore not alter the biotope. Resistance to this pressure is therefore assessed as 'High' and resilience as ‘High’ (by default) and this biotope is considered to be 'Not sensitive'.

The species characterizing this biotope group are epifauna or epiflora occurring on rock which is resistant to sub-surface penetration.  The assessment for abrasion at the surface only is therefore considered to equally represent sensitivity to this pressure.

This biotope occurs in scoured habitats and it is likely, depending on local sediment supply, that the biotope is exposed to chronic or intermittent episodes of high-levels of suspended solids as local sediments are re-mobilized and transported. This biotope is characterized by the absence of species through boulder scour and shade (JNCC, 2015), rather than the presence of typical species: changes in suspended solids will therefore not alter the biotope. Resistance to an increase or decrease in suspended solids is therefore assessed as 'High' and resilience as ‘High’ (by default) and this biotope is considered to be 'Not sensitive'.

This biotope is characterized by the absence of species through boulder scour and shade (JNCC, 2015), rather than the presence of typical species: the addition of a single deposit of fine sediments which will be removed by scour will therefore not alter the biotope. Resistance to this pressure is therefore assessed as 'High' and resilience as ‘High’ (by default) and this biotope is considered to be 'Not sensitive'.

This biotope is characterized by the absence of species through boulder scour and shade (JNCC, 2015), rather than the presence of typical species: the addition of a single deposit of fine sediments which will be removed by scour will therefore not alter the biotope. Resistance to this pressure is therefore assessed as 'High' and resilience as ‘High’ (by default) and this biotope is considered to be 'Not sensitive'.

Not assessed.

Not relevant.

Not relevant.

Light penetration is a key factor structuring the cave biotope. Encrusting corallines and other shade-tolerant algae such as Ulva grow close to the entrance where light availability allows. Encrusting corallines can occur in deeper water than other algae where light penetration is limited. Samples of Lithophyllum impressum suspended from a raft and shaded (50-75% light reduction) continued to grow over two years (Dethier, 1994). An increase in light in the spectrum that supports photosynthesis may allow algae including Rhodochorton purpureum and Pilinia maritima which are found within caves (Connor et al., 2004) to colonise more surface area, altering the structure of the biotope. However, the presence of these species will be limited by the high levels of boulder scour (JNCC, 2015).

Sensitivity assessment.  An increase in light levels in the spectrum that supports photosynthesis may increase algal growth altering the character of the biotope. Some specialist cave species may colonize depending on the presence of source populations. However, the high levels of boulder scour experienced by this biotope are likely to limit establishment, the biotope is therefore considered to have ‘High’ resistance and ‘High’ resilience and is therefore considered to be 'Not sensitive'.

Not relevant.

Not relevant’ to seabed habitats.  NB. Collision by grounding vessels is addressed under surface abrasion.

Not relevant.

This biotope is not characterized by any typical species, those that are present, such as coralline crusts, limpets and littorinids are not translocated and this pressure is therefore considered 'Not relevant'.

The high levels of boulder scour in this biotope will limit establishment of all but the most highly scour resistant invasive non-indigenous species (INIS) and no direct evidence was found for effects of INIS on this biotope.  The low levels of light within this biotope, particularly the rear walls of caves, are considered to additionally inhibit invasive algal species.

Sensitivity assessment. Overall, there is no evidence of this biotope being adversely affected by non-native species and scouring of this biotope by boulders prevents establishment of native species and INIS. Resistance is therefore assessed as 'High', and resilience as 'High' (by default), and the biotope is considered to be 'Not sensitive'.

As this biotope is characterized by the absence of a biological assemblage apart from occasional and largely seasonal spatfalls, algal growth and adult grazers that migrate in and out of the biotope, this pressure is considered to be 'Not relevant'.

As this biotope is characterized by the absence of a biological assemblage apart from occasional and largely seasonal spatfalls, algal growth and adult grazers that migrate in and out of the biotope, this pressure is considered to be 'Not relevant'.

As this biotope is characterized by the absence of a biological assemblage apart from occasional and largely seasonal spatfalls, algal growth and adult grazers that migrate in and out of the biotope, this pressure is considered to be 'Not relevant'.