MB5-541 - Association à Ruppia spiralis (anciennement Ruppia cirrhosa) et/ou Ruppia maritima sur sable

Association with Ruppia cirrhosa and/or Ruppia maritima on sand

Classification des habitats EUNIS 2022

Descriptif de l'habitat

Submerged beds of Ruppia maritima or Ruppia cirrhosa and of Chara spp. of sea inlets, estuaries, permanent pools of sand flats, and coastal lagoons of the Mediterranean. Ruppia are phanerogams which live submerged on sandy or muddy bottoms. This genus is cosmopolitan and the Ruppia cirrhosa and Ruppia maritima species are present throughout Europe and the Mediterranean.
Ruppia maritima is more frequent in temporary peripheral environments, in shallow water presenting low salinity (basically from 5 to 20, never more than 30). It is accompanied by Zannichellia palustris and Chara aspera. In areas with the highest salinity, R. maritima is accompanied by Althenia filiformis and R. cirrhosa appears. The fauna has affinities with freshwater fauna, and is dominated by insects (Heteroptera, Odonata, Diptera).
Ruppia cirrhosa is found in permanent or semi-permanent (short drying up) environments, subject to conditions of variable salinity, basically between 5 and 35, but withstanding oversalty environments. According to the salinity, R. cirrhosa may be accompanied by R. maritima, Stuckenia pectinata and/or Zostera noltei (and Cymodocea nodosa). The accompanying fauna is that of the euryhaline and eurythermal brackish environments.

Bibliography

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