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  4. MC1-214 - Corynactis viridis et tapis mixte de crisiidés, Bugula, Scrupocellaria et Cellaria sur roche du circalittoral exposée modérément soumise aux courants de marée en Atlantique
  5. Description
MC1-214 - Corynactis viridis et tapis mixte de crisiidés, Bugula, Scrupocellaria et Cellaria sur roche du circalittoral exposée modérément soumise aux courants de marée en Atlantique

Corynactis viridis and a mixed turf of crisiids, Bugula, Scrupocellaria, and Cellaria on moderately tide-swept exposed Atlantic circalittoral rock
MC1-213 - Tapis de bryozoaires et éponges dressées sur roche du circalittoral soumise aux courants de marée en Atlantique
MC1-215 - Tapis mixte d'hydraires et grandes ascidies avec Swiftia pallida et Caryophyllia smithii sur roche du circalittoral faiblement soumise aux courants de marée en Atlantique

Classification des habitats EUNIS 2022

Descriptif de l'habitat

This biotope typically occurs on wave-exposed, vertical or steep, circalittoral bedrock or large boulders, usually subject to moderate or strong tidal streams. It is characterised by dense aggregations of the anemone Corynactis viridis and the cup coral Caryophyllia smithii intermixed with a short bryozoan turf of one or more Crisia spp., Scrupocellaria spp., Bugula spp. and Cellaria spp. Occasionally, this turf obscures the underlying C. virdis and C. smithii. Cushion and encrusting sponges, particularly Pachymatisma johnstonia, Cliona celata, Esperiopsis fucorum and Dysidea fragilis, are present in moderate amounts at many sites. The axinellid sponges Stelligera spp. and Raspailia spp. are less frequently recorded. Clumps of large hydroids such as Nemertesia antennina and Nemertesia ramosa as well as the soft coral Alcyonium digitatum and the bryozoan Alcyonidium diaphanum may be found covering the hard substratum. The anemones Actinothoe sphyrodeta and Sagartia elegans are typically present in low numbers, while the hard `coral' Pentapora foliacea is also occasionally observed. The most frequently recorded echinoderms are Marthasterias glacialis and Asterias rubens, although other species such as Echinus esculentus may also be seen. The rocky substratum may have a patchy covering of encrusting red seaweeds/algae. The crabs Necora puber and Cancer pagurus may be seen in crevices or under overhangs. This biotope is regularly recorded around south west England and Wales, often on vertical rock faces.
Situation: Due to its wave-exposed nature, kelp park and forest biotopes (units MB1-213 and MB1-211) are commonly found in the infralittoral zone shallower than this biotope, and feature species such as Laminaria hyperborea, Sacchoriza polyschides and Alaria esculenta.

Bibliography

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