Salicornia spp. pioneer saltmarshes

English name: Salicornia spp. pioneer saltmarshes

Description (English)

Mud, often consolidated with coarse sand or gravel, on the extreme upper shore with Salicornia spp. plants forming a pioneer saltmarsh community. This habitat typically occurs in very sheltered estuarine conditions. Usually a reduced marine fauna is present which may include the amphipod Corophium volutator, the ragworm Hediste (Nereis) diversicolor and often the mud snail Hydrobia ulvae. The fucoid alga Pelvetia canaliculata may be found on hard substrata, consolidated mud or lying unattached. This community is equivalent to saltmarsh community SM8 in the British National Vegetation Classification.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type code A2.5513
Bern Convention Included in a Resolution 4 habitat type at a higher level (A2.5)

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Not available

Other classifications

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
CORINE Land Cover 4.2.1. Salt marshes n/a
National Vegetation Classification (UK) SM8 Annual Salicornia salt-marsh community same
For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) LMU.Sm.NVC.SM8 Salicornia spp. source
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 A2.5513 Salicornia spp. pioneer saltmarshes same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 A2.6513 Salicornia spp. pioneer saltmarshes same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 A2.6513 Salicornia spp. pioneer saltmarshes same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 A2.6513 Salicornia spp. pioneer saltmarshes same
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