MB5-522 - Association with Halophila stipulacea

Classification des habitats EUNIS 2022

Descriptif de l'habitat

The facies characterised by the seagrass Halophila stipulacea lives on soft bottoms with fine sands that are fairly enriched by fine particles. Colonies of Halophila stipulacea have invaded the Mediterranean as a result of the opening of the Suez Canal; they have been reported from continental Greece, the Cyclades, Crete, Rhodes, Samos, the Maltese Islands. Its phytosociological name: the Giaccone 1968 association with Halophiletum stipulaceae. It can be associated with Cymodocea nodosa, Caulerpa prolifera and Caulerpa racemosa. The epiphytic flora has been described; it is very typical of the phanerogams, by and large fairly poor, probably related to the fairly frequent renewal of its leaves. The fauna is probably made up of species met with among the photophilous algae, found in most phanerogam meadows. The sediment fauna is the same as that of the biocenosis of well sorted fine sands.

Bibliography

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