MC1-251 - Pholades avec faune associée clairsemée sur de la craie très tendre ou de l'argile du circalittoral en Atlantique

Piddocks with a sparse associated fauna in Atlantic circalittoral very soft chalk or clay

Classification des habitats EUNIS 2022

Descriptif de l'habitat

This biotope occurs on circalittoral soft rock, such as soft chalk or clay, most often in moderately exposed tide-swept conditions. As soft chalk and firm clay are often too soft for sessile filter-feeding animals to attach and thrive in large numbers, an extremely impoverished epifauna results on upward-facing surfaces, although vertical faces may be somewhat richer. The rock is sufficiently soft to be bored by bivalves. Species vary with location, but Pholas dactylus is the most widespread borer and may be abundant. Other species present may include the sponges Dysidea fragilis and Suberites carnosus and the polychaete Bispira volutacornis. Foliose red algae may be present on the harder, more stable areas of rock. Mobile fauna often include the crabs Necora puber and Cancer pagurus.
Situation: Subtidal chalk reefs or clay outcrops, mostly known from south-east England.

Bibliographie

European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity 2022. EUNIS marine habitat classification 2022 including crosswalks. Table Excel. (Source)