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  4. MC1-2221 - Ophiures sur encroûtements de corallines , Parasmittina trispinosa et Caryophyllia smithii sur roche du circalittoral exposée aux vagues en Atlantique
  5. Description
MC1-2221 - Ophiures sur encroûtements de corallines , Parasmittina trispinosa et Caryophyllia smithii sur roche du circalittoral exposée aux vagues en Atlantique

Brittlestars overlying coralline crusts , Parasmittina trispinosa and Caryophyllia smithii on wave-exposed Atlantic circalittoral rock

MC1-2222 - Communautés à Caryophyllia smithii et éponges avec Pentapora fascialis, Porella compressa et espèces encroûtantes sur roche du circalittoral exposée aux vagues en Atlantique

Classification des habitats EUNIS 2022

Descriptif de l'habitat

This variant is typically found on the upper faces of wave-exposed circalittoral bedrock or boulders subject to moderately strong to weak tidal streams, on open coasts. However, the depth at which the variant occurs means that wave action is not so severe on the seabed as to displace the dense mat of brittlestars that covers the seabed. Ophiothrix fragilis is usually the most dominant species in shallow water, with Ophiocomina nigra usually found amongst them, but sometimes becoming the dominant species in deeper water. Although brittlestar biotopes are typically species-poor, the underlying fauna in this variant is relatively diverse and resembles that of MC1-2222. Species such as the anemone Urticina felina, the cup coral Caryophyllia smithii, and the anemone Corynactis viridis may occasionally be present. There may also be sparse clumps of various hydroids including Halecium halecinum, Nemertesia antennina, Nemertesia ramosa, Sertularella gayi and Abietinaria abietina. Soft coral Alcyonium digitatum is occasionally present and there may be sparse specimens of the sponges Cliona celata and Polymastia boletiformis. In addition, various echinoderms such as Asterias rubens, Antedon bifida, Echinus esculentus, Henricia oculata, Marthasterias glacialis and Luidia ciliaris may be observed. The barnacle Balanus crenatus and the polychaete Pomatoceros triqueter may be seen attached to any available space on the bedrock and boulders not smothered by brittlestars. Bryozoan crusts such as Parasmittina trispinosa may also be present.
Situation: Wave-exposed seabed composed of bedrock ridges and/or boulder or cobble slope. Shallower than this biotope, the lower infralittoral kelp park is dominated by Laminaria hyperborea. A dense understorey may be present, containing Antedon spp., Phycodrys rubens and Plocamium cartilagineum.

Bibliography

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