Distribution data supplied by the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS). To interrogate UK data visit the NBN Atlas.Map Help
Researched by | Olwen Ager | Refereed by | This information is not refereed |
Authority | (Pallas, 1766) | ||
Other common names | - | Synonyms | - |
A tall, narrow sea pen, which can exceed 2 metres in height. It has a calcareous white axis, square in section. The polyps are irregularly arranged along the axis or tend to form oblique rows. They are white or pale pink in colour.
Phylum | Cnidaria | Sea anemones, corals, sea firs & jellyfish |
Class | Anthozoa | Sea anemones, soft & cup corals, sea pens & sea pansies |
Order | Pennatulacea | |
Family | Funiculinidae | |
Genus | Funiculina | |
Authority | (Pallas, 1766) | |
Recent Synonyms |
Typical abundance | Moderate density | ||
Male size range | 1.5-2.1m | ||
Male size at maturity | |||
Female size range | Large(>50cm) | ||
Female size at maturity | |||
Growth form | Pinnate | ||
Growth rate | |||
Body flexibility | Low (10-45 degrees) | ||
Mobility | |||
Characteristic feeding method | Passive suspension feeder | ||
Diet/food source | |||
Typically feeds on | Plankton and organic particles | ||
Sociability | |||
Environmental position | Epibenthic | ||
Dependency | No information found. | ||
Supports | Substratum the brittlestar Asteronyx loveni and the isopod crustacean Astacilla longicornis . | ||
Is the species harmful? | No information |
Flexibility
Eno et al. (1996) found that the tall sea pen bends away from lobster creels dropped on of them in a passive response to the pressure wave travelling ahead of the pot. However, the axial rod of this sea pen is brittle, making the species vulnerable to physical disturbance (Greathead et al., 2007).
Associated species
The deep-water brittlestar, Asteronyx loveni, which has been recorded sporadically from the west coast of Scotland (Hughes, 1998b), is known to use its arms to cling to Funiculina quadrangularis (Fujita & Ohta, 1988).
Physiographic preferences | Open coast, Sea loch / Sea lough |
Biological zone preferences | Lower circalittoral, Upper circalittoral |
Substratum / habitat preferences | Mud, Muddy sand |
Tidal strength preferences | Very Weak (negligible), Weak < 1 knot (<0.5 m/sec.) |
Wave exposure preferences | Extremely sheltered, Sheltered, Ultra sheltered, Very sheltered |
Salinity preferences | Full (30-40 psu) |
Depth range | 20-2000m |
Other preferences | No text entered |
Migration Pattern | Non-migratory / resident |
Reproductive type | Gonochoristic (dioecious) | |
Reproductive frequency | No information | |
Fecundity (number of eggs) | No information | |
Generation time | See additional information | |
Age at maturity | see additional information | |
Season | Insufficient information | |
Life span | See additional information |
Larval/propagule type | - |
Larval/juvenile development | See additional information |
Duration of larval stage | No information |
Larval dispersal potential | No information |
Larval settlement period | Insufficient information |
The MarLIN sensitivity assessment approach used below has been superseded by the MarESA (Marine Evidence-based Sensitivity Assessment) approach (see menu). The MarLIN approach was used for assessments from 1999-2010. The MarESA approach reflects the recent conservation imperatives and terminology and is used for sensitivity assessments from 2014 onwards.
Intolerance | Recoverability | Sensitivity | Evidence/Confidence | |
High | Low | High | Moderate | |
As Funiculina quadrangularis lives in the substratum, substratum loss will lead to loss of the population. Therefore, intolerance has been recorded as high. A recoverability of low has been recorded, thus sensitivity is assessed as high (see additional information below). | ||||
Low | Immediate | Not sensitive | Moderate | |
Smothering would be expected to be caused by high levels of siltation. Funiculina quadrangularis is very tall and would protrude above the sediment, therefore an intolerance of low as been recorded. Recoverability would be expected to be immediate, therefore the species is assessed as not sensitive. | ||||
Low | Immediate | Not sensitive | Moderate | |
The effect of an increased deposit of fine silt is unclear but it is possible that feeding structures may become clogged (Jones et al., 2000). Kinnear et al. (1996) found that mud particles adhering to Funiculina quadrangularis were quickly removed due to large amounts of mucus produced. Also, an increase in suspended sediment may provide an increase in food availiabity for Funiculina quadrangularis. Therefore an intolerance of low has been recorded. Recovery on return to normal conditions is likely to be immediate, therefore the species is assessed as not sensitive. | ||||
Low | Immediate | No information | ||
The effects of a decrease in suspended sediment levels are unclear. It is possible that this factor may reduce the amount of particulate matter available as food for Funiculina quadrangularis, which may affect viability but is unlikely to be fatal at the level of the benchmark. Therefore an intolerance of low has been recorded. Recovery on return to normal conditions is likely to be immediate, therefore the species is assessed as not sensitive. | ||||
Not relevant | Not relevant | Not relevant | Not relevant | |
Funiculina quadrangularis is a sub-tidal species and is therefore likely to be highly intolerant of desiccation. However, the species is found in the circalittoral zone (below 20 m) where desiccation is unlikely to occur, so not relevant has been recorded. | ||||
Not relevant | Not relevant | Not relevant | Not relevant | |
Funiculina quadrangularis is a sub-tidal species and is therefore likely to be highly intolerant of emergence. However, the species is found in the circalittoral zone (below 20 m) where any emergence is highly unlikely to occur, so not relevant has been recorded. | ||||
Not relevant | Not relevant | Not relevant | Not relevant | |
Funiculina quadrangularis is a sub-tidal species and is therefore likely to be highly intolerant of emergence. However, the species is found in the circalittoral zone (below 20 m) where any emergence is highly unlikely to occur, so not relevant has been recorded. | ||||
High | Low | High | Moderate | |
Areas where Funiculina quadrangularis is found tend to be physically sheltered with low or very low water flow rates. No information was found about effects of increased water flow rate on Funiculina quadrangularis. However, experiments on another sea pen (Virgularia mirabilis) showed that, as water flow increased, the polyps faced away from the current to face downstream. Increasing current led to the stalk bending over and the pinnae becoming pushed together, which may result in feeding inhibition. Eventually the sea pen withdrew into the sediment (Hiscock, 1983). Furthermore, Funiculina quadrangularis is large with a short peduncle and increased flow may drag the sea pen out of the sediment. If feeding was inhibited, or if the sea pen was displaced for an excessive amount of time, survival and distribution of Funiculina quadrangularis may be affected (Hiscock, 1983). Therefore intolerance has been recorded as high. A recoverability of low has been recorded, resulting in a high sensitivity recording (see additional information below). | ||||
Intermediate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | |
Areas where Funiculina quadrangularis is found tend to be physically sheltered with low or very low water flow rates, however, as this sea pen is a suspension feeder a decrease in water flow rate may effect feeding. Therefore an intolerance of intermediate has been recorded. A recoverability of moderate has been recorded, hence sensitivity is moderate (see additional information below). | ||||
Intermediate | Moderate | Moderate | Low | |
No information was found of the upper or lower thermal limits of Funiculina quadrangularis. Funiculina quadrangularis occurs in thermally stable conditions, with annual temperature variation between 5 - 15°C (Jones et al., 2001). This species is subtidal where wide variations in temperature are not common, so may be intolerant of short term changes in temperature. Therefore intolerance has been recorded as intermediate. A recoverability of moderate has been recorded, and sensitivity is moderate (see additional information below). Also in the event of climate change, if larval dispersal is poor, colonization of suitable habitats at different latitudes is unlikely. | ||||
Intermediate | Moderate | Moderate | Low | |
No information was found of the upper or lower thermal limits of Funiculina quadrangularis. Funiculina quadrangularis occurs in thermally stable conditions, with annual temperature variation between 5 - 15 (Jones et al., 2001). This species is subtidal where wide variations in temperature are not common, so may be intolerant of short term changes in temperature. Therefore intolerance has been recorded as intermediate. A recoverability of moderate has been recorded, and sensitivity is moderate (see additional information below). | ||||
No information | No information | Not sensitive | No information | |
No information could be found about the sensitivity of Funiculina quadrangularis to light. Another sea pen Virgularia mirabilis, was not found to be sensitive to light (Hoare & Wilson, 1977). | ||||
No information | No information | Moderate | No information | |
No information could be found about the intolerance of Funiculina quadrangularis to light. Another sea pen Virgularia mirabilis was found to be insensitive to light (Hoare & Wilson, 1977). | ||||
High | Low | High | Moderate | |
Funiculina quadrangularis is found in areas with little or no wave exposure. Virgularia mirabilis was found to be smaller and less common where wave exposure increased (Hoare & Wilson, 1977). It is likely that an increase in exposure ranking of 2 or more would kill Funiculina quadrangularis. Therefore, an intolerance of high has been recorded. A recoverability of low has been recorded, resulting in a high sensitivity assessment (see additional information below). | ||||
Not relevant | Not relevant | Not relevant | Not relevant | |
Funiculina quadrangularis is found in areas with little or no wave exposure so it is unlikely that a decrease in wave exposure would occur. Therefore, not relevant has been recorded. | ||||
Tolerant | Not relevant | Not sensitive | Very low | |
Funiculina quadrangularis probably has a very limited if any ability for detection of noise vibrations, therefore tolerant has been recorded, and the species is assessed as not sensitive. | ||||
Tolerant | Not relevant | Not sensitive | Very low | |
Funiculina quadrangularis probably has a very limited if any ability for visual perception, and is not known to be sensitive to light (Greathead et al., 2007). It is unlikely the sea pen will be sensitive to visual presence. Therefore tolerant has been recorded, and the species is assessed as not sensitive. | ||||
High | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | |
Sea pens project above the surface of the seabed and so are likely to be vulnerable to physical disturbance (Eno et al., 2001). Eno et al. (1996) dropped creels onto sea pens. They were seen to bend away in response to the pressure wave travelling ahead of the dropping creel, therefore reducing the chance the top of the sea pen would be struck causing fracture of the colony. Kinnear et al. (1996) conducted creel dragging experiments. The majority of Funiculina quadrangularis that were displaced from the sediment recovered after 72 hours. However, fishing gear such as a scallop dredge (see benchmark) or, more likely for this species, a Nephrops trawl, is likely to have a more severe impact. Sea pens are likely to be particularly vulnerable to damage from trawls, and have been reported as numerous in bycatch from otter trawls in the Bering sea (Brodeur 2001; Wilson et al., 2002). It is possible that the apparent absence of Funiculina quadrangularis from many open coast Nephrops grounds may be a consequence of its susceptibility to trawl damage (Connor, pers. comm. in Hughes, 1998a). For example when the sea pen Halipteris willemoesi becomes entangled in prawn trapping gear, 50% of sea pen colonies are damaged (Troffe et al., 2005). A damaged sea pen appeared to remain fully functional but if, as seems likely, the axis is broken, the sea pen will be unable to remain erect and will most likely die. Therefore, intolerance has been recorded as high. A recoverability of moderate has been recorded, resulting in a moderate sensitivity value (see additional information below). | ||||
Low | Immediate | Not sensitive | Moderate | |
Funiculina quadrangularis can not retract into the sediment so it is likely to be removed from the seabed by the action of fishing gear. Removal experiments by Kinnear et al. (1996) showed when a sea pen was displaced it could reburrow as long as its foot remains in contact with the mud. Therefore, intolerance has been recorded as low. Recovery would take less that 72 hrs, so recoverability is recorded as immediate, yielding a sensitivity value of not sensitive. |
Intolerance | Recoverability | Sensitivity | Evidence/Confidence | |
No information | No information | No information | Not relevant | |
Insufficient information. | ||||
No information | No information | No information | Not relevant | |
Insufficient information. | ||||
No information | No information | No information | Not relevant | |
Insufficient information. | ||||
Low | High | Low | Low | |
No information was found for Funiculina quadrangularis in relation to intolerance to radionuclides. However another species, Virgularia mirabilis, occurred in high density (10/m) at a sampling station immediately offshore from the Sellafield outfall pipeline in the Irish Sea (Hughes & Atkinson, 1997). Bottom sediments in this area contains particles of long half life radionuclides from liquid effluent, so intolerance has been recorded as low. Recovery is likely to be high, therefore the species is assessed as low sensitivity. | ||||
Intermediate | High | Low | Moderate | |
A low level of nutrient enrichment is likely to be beneficial to Funiculina quadrangularis. However, because the distribution of the species is limited to relatively small areas within semi-enclosed water bodies, organic encrichment is expected to have adverse effects (Hughes, 1998). Jones et al. (2000) found Funiculina quadrangularis absent from de-oxygenated areas which are characterised by nutrient enrichment resulting in a hypoxic bacterial community. Salmon farming has been identified as the greatest source of organic pollution in Scottish sea lochs (Hiscock et al., 2005). Therefore intolerance has been recorded as intermediate. Recovery is recorded as high, hence a low sensitivity value. | ||||
Not relevant | Not relevant | Not relevant | Not relevant | |
Funiculina quadrangularis is found in fully saline conditions and it is unlikely that it would be exposed to hypersaline conditions, therefore, not relevant has been recorded. | ||||
High | Low | Not relevant | ||
Funiculina quadrangularis is found only in fully saline conditions so it is likely that the sea pen would be intolerant of a decrease in salinity. Therefore an intolerance of high has been recorded. A recoverability of low has been recorded, hence sensitivity is high (see additional information below). | ||||
Intermediate | Moderate | Moderate | Low | |
Funiculina quadrangularis is found in sea lochs where stratification of the water column is likely to occur during warm temperatures so it may be able to tolerate some reduction in oxygenation. However, Jones et al. (2000) found the sea pen absent from de-oxygenated areas which are characterised by nutrient enrichment resulting in a hypoxic bacterial community. Therefore intolerance has been recorded as intermediate. A recoverability of moderate has been recorded, hence sensitivity is moderate (see additional information below). |
Intolerance | Recoverability | Sensitivity | Evidence/Confidence | |
No information | No information | No information | Not relevant | |
No information was found on diseases of Funiculina quadrangularis. | ||||
No information | No information | No information | Not relevant | |
Insufficient information | ||||
Not relevant | Not relevant | Not relevant | Not relevant | |
Funiculina quadrangularis is unlikely to be subject to extraction, therefore, this factor has been assessed as not relevant. This sea pen can not retract into the sea bed which may mean it can be extracted through dredging activity. | ||||
High | Low | High | Low | |
Trawling for the Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) in the open sea and more accessible sea lochs may have removed populations of Funiculina quadrangularis. Large quantities of Funiculina quadrangularis axis have been observed below Dunstaffnage pier, presumably discarded bycatch (Hiscock, pers comm.). Other species of sea pen have also been recorded as numerous bycatch in trawls from the Bering sea (Brodeur 2001; Wilson et al., 2002). It is likely that physical disturbance from demersal fishing activities poses the greatest threat to Funiculina quadrangularis, (Greathead et al., 2007), and due to the fragmented distribution and possibly limited larval dispersal, recovery if unlikely (Hughes, 1998a). In the isolated sea lochs where Funiculina quadrangularis is found, creeling for lobsters traditionally occurs. Studies indicate that this has a less damaging effect than trawling as the sea pen has the ability to right itself if hit by a creel pot (Eno et al., 1996). Nevertheless, due to its potential vulnerability to trawling, an intolerance of high has been recorded. A recoverability of low has been recorded, so sensitivity is high (see additional information below). |
UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority | |
Species of principal importance (England) |
National (GB) importance | Not rare/scarce | Global red list (IUCN) category | - |
Native | - | ||
Origin | - | Date Arrived | - |
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Brodeur, R.D., 2001. Habitat-specific distribution of Pacific Ocean perch (Sebastes alutus) in Pribilof Canyon, Bering Sea. Continental Shelf Research, 21, 207-224.
Davies, J., 1990. Sublittoral survey of Loch Sunart and Loch Teacus Joint Nature Conservation Committee Report, no. 1075.
Edwards, C.B. & Moore, C.G., 2008. Reproduction in the sea pen Pennatula phosphorea (Anthozoa: Pennatulacea) from the west coast of Scotland Marine Biology 155:303–314
Eno, N.C., Clark, R.A. & Sanderson, W.G. (ed.) 1997. Non-native marine species in British waters: a review and directory. Peterborough: Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
Eno, N.C., MacDonald, D. & Amos, S.C., 1996. A study on the effects of fish (Crustacea/Molluscs) traps on benthic habitats and species. Final report to the European Commission. Study Contract, no. 94/076.
Eno, N.C., MacDonald, D.S., Kinnear, J.A.M., Amos, C.S., Chapman, C.J., Clark, R.A., Bunker, F.S.P.D. & Munro, C., 2001. Effects of crustacean traps on benthic fauna ICES Journal of Marine Science, 58, 11-20. DOI https://doi.org/10.1006/jmsc.2000.0984
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Greathead, C.F., Donnan, D.W., Mair, J.M. & Saunders, G.R., 2007. The sea pens Virgularia mirabilis, Pennatula phosphorea and Funiculina quadrangularis: distribution and conservation issues in Scottish waters. Journal of the Marine Biological Association, 87, 1095-1103. DOI https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315407056238
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Hayward, P.J. & Ryland, J.S. (ed.) 1995b. Handbook of the marine fauna of North-West Europe. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hiscock, K., 1983. Water movement. In Sublittoral ecology. The ecology of shallow sublittoral benthos (ed. R. Earll & D.G. Erwin), pp. 58-96. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Hiscock, K., Sewell, J. & Oakley, J., 2005. Marine Health Check 2005. A report to guage the health of the UK’s sea-life. Godalming, WWF-UK.
Hoare, R. & Wilson, E.H., 1977. Observations on the behaviour and distribution of Virgularia mirabilis O.F. Müller (Coelenterata: Pennatulacea) in Holyhead harbour. In Proceedings of the Eleventh European Symposium on Marine Biology, University College, Galway, 5-11 October 1976. Biology of Benthic Organisms, (ed. B.F. Keegan, P.O. Ceidigh & P.J.S. Boaden, pp. 329-337. Oxford: Pergamon Press. Oxford: Pergamon Press.
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Hughes, D.J., 1998b. Subtidal brittlestar beds. An overview of dynamics and sensitivity characteristics for conservation management of marine SACs. Natura 2000 report prepared for Scottish Association of Marine Science (SAMS) for the UK Marine SACs Project., Scottish Association for Marine Science. (UK Marine SACs Project, Vol. 3). Available from: http://ukmpa.marinebiodiversity.org/uk_sacs/pdfs/britstar.pdf
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Wilson, M.T., Andrews, A.H., Brown, A.L. & Cordes, E.E., 2002. Axial rod growth and age estimation of the sea pen, Halipteris willemoesi Kölliker Hydrobiologia, 471, 133-142.
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NBN (National Biodiversity Network) Atlas. Available from: https://www.nbnatlas.org.
OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System), 2023. Global map of species distribution using gridded data. Available from: Ocean Biogeographic Information System. www.iobis.org. Accessed: 2023-06-05
This review can be cited as:
Last Updated: 17/02/2003