Distribution data supplied by the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS). To interrogate UK data visit the NBN Atlas.Map Help
Researched by | Angus Jackson | Refereed by | Dr Ib Svane |
Authority | Carlgren, 1891 | ||
Other common names | - | Synonyms | - |
- none -
Phylum | Cnidaria | Sea anemones, corals, sea firs & jellyfish |
Class | Anthozoa | Sea anemones, soft & cup corals, sea pens & sea pansies |
Order | Actiniaria | |
Family | Gonactiniidae | |
Genus | Protanthea | |
Authority | Carlgren, 1891 | |
Recent Synonyms |
Typical abundance | Moderate density | ||
Male size range | Up to 2cm | ||
Male size at maturity | |||
Female size range | Small(1-2cm) | ||
Female size at maturity | |||
Growth form | Cylindrical | ||
Growth rate | Data deficient | ||
Body flexibility | |||
Mobility | |||
Characteristic feeding method | Non-feeding, Passive suspension feeder | ||
Diet/food source | |||
Typically feeds on | Data deficient | ||
Sociability | |||
Environmental position | Epifaunal | ||
Dependency | No information found. | ||
Supports | No information | ||
Is the species harmful? | Data deficient |
Physiographic preferences | Offshore seabed, Strait / sound, Sea loch / Sea lough |
Biological zone preferences | Lower circalittoral, Lower infralittoral, Upper circalittoral |
Substratum / habitat preferences | Bedrock, Biogenic reef, Large to very large boulders, Small boulders |
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), Variable (18-40 psu) |
Depth range | 9 -500 m deep |
Other preferences | No text entered |
Migration Pattern | Non-migratory / resident |
Reproductive type | Gonochoristic (dioecious) | |
Reproductive frequency | Annual episodic | |
Fecundity (number of eggs) | No information | |
Generation time | Insufficient information | |
Age at maturity | Insufficient information | |
Season | September - October | |
Life span | Insufficient information |
Larval/propagule type | - |
Larval/juvenile development | Oviparous |
Duration of larval stage | 11-30 days |
Larval dispersal potential | Greater than 10 km |
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The MarLIN sensitivity assessment approach used below has been superseded by the MarESA (Marine Evidence-based Sensitivity Assessment) approach (see menu).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 | Moderate | Moderate | High | |
The species is attached to the substratum so substratum loss will mean loss of the population. Although capable of active movement, this is not over long distances making adult immigration highly unlikely. No information is available about growth rate, longevity or fecundity. Larvae remain in the plankton for up to three weeks and so potentially have considerable dispersal potential. | ||||
High | Moderate | Moderate | Low | |
The species is delicate and soft bodied. Smothering with 5 cm of sediment is likely to cause physical damage to the anemone as well as restricting respiration and preventing feeding. Although capable of active movement, this is not over long distances making adult immigration highly unlikely. No information is available about growth rate, longevity or fecundity. Larvae remain in the plankton for up to three weeks and so potentially have considerable dispersal potential. | ||||
Low | Very high | Very Low | Low | |
Increased siltation may clog the anemone's tentacles and interfere with feeding. Clearing the sediment will require increased energetic expenditure. Loss of condition may result. It may take a few weeks or months for condition to be regained once energy expenditure returns to normal. | ||||
No information | ||||
High | Moderate | Moderate | Low | |
The anemone is small and soft bodied, existing entirely sub-tidally. On removal from the water the animals turn into shapeless blobs of tissue. Exposure to desiccating influences is highly likely to cause death. Although capable of active movement, this is not over long distances making adult immigration highly unlikely. No information is available about growth rate, longevity or fecundity. Larvae remain in the plankton for up to three weeks and so potentially have considerable dispersal potential. | ||||
High | Moderate | Moderate | Low | |
The anemone is small and soft bodied, existing entirely sub-tidally. On removal from the water the animals turn into shapeless blobs of jelly. Emergence is highly likely to cause death. Although capable of active movement, this is not over long distances making adult immigration highly unlikely. No information is available about growth rate, longevity or fecundity. Larvae remain in the plankton for up to three weeks and so potentially have considerable dispersal potential. | ||||
No information | ||||
Intermediate | High | Low | Low | |
Decreases in water flow are unlikely to have any effect but increases in flow rate above weak may prevent the animals from maintaining posture and interfere with feeding. Increased flow rates may also sweep individuals off the substratum. Although capable of active movement, this is not over long distances making adult immigration highly unlikely. No information is available about growth rate, longevity or fecundity. Larvae remain in the plankton for up to three weeks and so potentially have considerable dispersal potential. No information is available about asexual reproduction. | ||||
No information | ||||
High | Moderate | Moderate | Very low | |
No information is available about the temperature preferences of Protanthea simplex. However, the species reaches its southern-most geographical distribution in coastal waters on the west coast of Scotland. Long-term chronic increases in temperature may cause the distribution range of shallow water populations to retreat northwards. Although capable of active movement, this is not over long distances making adult immigration highly unlikely. No information is available about growth rate, longevity or fecundity. Larvae remain in the plankton for up to three weeks and so potentially have considerable dispersal potential. | ||||
No information | ||||
Tolerant | Not relevant | Not sensitive | Low | |
The species probably has very poor facility for visual perception and has no great requirement for light. The species may be found as deep as 400 m where light availability is very limited. Changes in light attenuation are not likely to have any effect. | ||||
No information | ||||
High | Moderate | Moderate | Low | |
The species typically inhabits sheltered waters so decreases in wave exposure are unlikely to have any effect. Increases above moderately exposed are likely to cause damage to the species, as well as interfering with posture and feeding. Deep water populations are unlikely to be affected by changes in wave exposure. | ||||
No information | ||||
Tolerant | Not relevant | Not sensitive | Very low | |
Protanthea simplex probably has limited facility for detection of noise vibrations. It is unlikely to be sensitive to noise. | ||||
Tolerant | Not relevant | Not sensitive | High | |
Protanthea simplex probably has limited facility for visual perception. It is unlikely to be sensitive to visual disturbance. | ||||
High | Moderate | Moderate | Low | |
The anemone is delicate and soft bodied. Abrasion is highly likely to cause death. Although capable of active movement, this is not over long distances making adult immigration highly unlikely. No information is available about growth rate, longevity or fecundity. Larvae remain in the plankton for up to three weeks and so potentially have considerable dispersal potential. | ||||
Low | Very high | Very Low | Low | |
Protanthea simplex only forms a temporary attachment with the substratum and is capable of active movement. Displacement may cause inconvenience for the animals and possibly slight damage to the body but is not likely to cause death. It may take a few weeks or months for regeneration and repair of damage to occur. |
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 | ||||
No information | No information | No information | Not relevant | |
Insufficient information | ||||
No information | No information | No information | Not relevant | |
Insufficient information | ||||
Intermediate | High | Low | Low | |
The species probably only inhabits fully saline waters but this is not certain. Longer term decreases in salinity may cause some of the population to die. Although capable of active movement, this is not over long distances making adult immigration highly unlikely. No information is available about growth rate, longevity or fecundity. Larvae remain in the plankton for up to three weeks and so potentially have considerable dispersal potential. No information is available about asexual reproduction. | ||||
No information | ||||
Intermediate | High | Low | Very low | |
Cole et al. (1999) suggest possible adverse effects on marine species below 4 mg/l and probable adverse effects below 2mg/l. There is no information about Protanthea simplex tolerance to changes in oxygenation. Although capable of active movement, this is not over long distances making adult immigration highly unlikely. No information is available about growth rate, longevity or fecundity. Larvae remain in the plankton for up to three weeks and so potentially have considerable dispersal potential. |
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 | ||||
Not relevant | Not relevant | Not relevant | Low | |
It is extremely unlikely that this species would be subject to extraction. | ||||
Intermediate | High | Low | Moderate | |
Some individual Protanthea simplex use other species such as Ascidia sp., Serpula sp., and Chaetopterus sp. as substrata. Removal of these species may also mean incidental removal of the anemone. It is unlikely that available habitat will be greatly reduced as Protanthea simplex also inhabits rock. Although capable of active movement, this is not over long distances making adult immigration highly unlikely. No information is available about growth rate, longevity or fecundity. Larvae remain in the plankton for up to three weeks and so potentially have considerable dispersal potential. |
- no data -
National (GB) importance | - | Global red list (IUCN) category | - |
Native | - | ||
Origin | - | Date Arrived | Not relevant |
Carlgren, O., 1893. Studien uber nordische Actinien. Kungliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Handlingar, 25, 148pp.
Carlgren, O., 1921. Actiniaria. Pt. 1. Danish Ingolf Expedition, Vol. V, No. 9., pp. 31. Copenhagen: Bianco Luno.
Carlgren, O., 1949. A survey of the Ptychodactiaria, Corallimorpharia and Actiniaria. Kungliga Svenska Vetenskapsakadamiens Handlingar, Series 4, 1, 16-110.
Chia, F-S., Lützen, J. & Svane, I., 1989. Sexual reproduction and larval morphology of the primitive anthozoan Gonactinia prolifera M. Sars. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 127, 13-24.
Howson, C.M. & Picton, B.E., 1997. The species directory of the marine fauna and flora of the British Isles and surrounding seas. Belfast: Ulster Museum. [Ulster Museum publication, no. 276.]
Manuel, R.L., 1988. British Anthozoa. Synopses of the British Fauna (New Series) (ed. D.M. Kermack & R.S.K. Barnes). The Linnean Society of London [Synopses of the British Fauna No. 18.]. DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/iroh.19810660505
McFarlane, I.D., 1985. Collapse behaviour in the primitive sea anemone Protanthea simplex. Marine Behaviour and Physiology, 11, 259-269.
Nyholm, K-G., 1959. On the development of the primitive actinian Protanthea simplex, Carlgren. Zoologiska Bidrag Fran Uppsala, Band 33 1958-1962, 69-78.
Svane, I. & Dolmer, P., 1995. Perception of light at settlement: a comparative study of two invertebrate larvae, a scyphozoan planula and a simple ascidian tadpole. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 187, 51-61.
Svane, I. & Groendahl, F., 1988. Epibioses of Gullmarsfjorden: an underwater stereophotographical transect analysis in comparison with the investigations of Gislen in 1926-29. Ophelia, 28, 95-110.
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: 2023-06-03
This review can be cited as:
Last Updated: 24/04/2008