MB1-51E - Faciès à Cladocora caespitosa

Facies with Cladocora caespitosa

Classification des habitats EUNIS 2022

Descriptif de l'habitat

This facies is characterised by the abundance of the Mediterranean coral Cladocora caespitosa. It exists from very superficial water (in the little bowls in the vermetid platforms) to as much as about 50 meters down in both sheltered and rough biotopes. It can withstand slightly lower salinity, as in the northern Adriatic. It can also be found in both relatively warm (25°C) areas and those where the temperature of the water in the winter is under 10°C. It is met in the biocenosis of photophilous algae, the Posidonia meadow, the coralligenous, at the entrances to caves and in the detritic bottoms. It is a polymorphous species, able to develop on rock, on concretion-forming calcareous algae, on artificial substrata or unattached in the Posidonia meadow and sandy and muddy beds. The species does not exist beyond a certain threshold of light. Indirect and diffuse light is sufficient to ensure the existence of the zooxanthellates of this hermatypic scleractinian.

Bibliography

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