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Group 2
North East Atlantic Ocean
MA123
4

Correspondence with other classifications:

<Littoral rock and biogenic reef
DE
>02.01.01.01.01
>02.01.01.01.03
#§ 30 “Seegraswiesen und sonstige marine Makrophytenbestände”
IE
=LR.LLR.F
>LR.LLR.F.Fserr.FS
>LR.LLR.F.Asc.FS
#LR.FLR.Eph
#LR.HLR.FR
>LR.MLR.BF.Fser.R
>LR.HLR.FR.Him

General description

This habitat type encompasses littoral rock habitats dominated by seaweeds. The seaweed community varies depending on the wave exposure and tidal currents. In areas of high energy, the physical stresses caused by wave action often results in dwarf forms of the individual seaweeds. These are biotopes with a low species diversity and the relatively high number of species in the characterising species list are due to a variation in the species composition from site to site, not to high species richness on individual sites.

Characteristic species

Ascophyllum nodosum, Bifurcaria bifurcata, Ceramium sp., Chondrus crispus, Corallina officinalis, Enteromorpha spp., Fucus distichus, F. spiralis f. nana, F. spiralis, F. vesiculosus, F. serratus, Halopteris scoparia, Himanthalia elongata, Lithophyllum incrustans, Mastocarpus stellatus, Osmundea pinnatifida, Palmaria palmata, Pelvetia canaliculata, Porphyra purpurea.

Associated species

Ascidiella scabra, Barnea candida, Cladophora rupestris, Clava multicornis, Carcinus maenas, Chondrus crispus, Dendrodoa grossularia, Dynamena pumila, Ulva intestinalis, Elminius modestus, Grantia compressa, Gelidium pusillum, Halichondria panicea, Hymeniacidon perleve, Lomentaria articulata, Littorina littorea, Littorina fabalis, Littorina obtusata, Membranoptera alata, Mytilus edulis, Nucella lapillus, Paracentrotus lividus, Patella vulgata, Petricola pholadiformis, Polysiphonia lanosa, Rhodothamniella floridula, Semibalanus balanoides, Ulva lactuca. Many associated species are typically found in rock pools during low tide.

Human activities and anthropogenic pressures threatening the habitat

Physical loss or physical change, abrasion, disturbance, invasive species.

Best practices in nature restoration

Passive restoration measures that allow the biotope to recover, e.g. regulation/limitation of construction as well as measures to reduce and avoid contamination, pollution and abrasion.