Species composition and biodiversity
Muddy sand habitats tend to support a relatively poor diversity of species, which are
usually found in high abundances. Species present are predominately sessile tube-dwelling
polychaetes with bivalves also well represented (Atkins 1983). Some species characteristic
of subtidal areas may also occur.
Characterising species
| For LMS in the UK |
% Frequency |
Faithfulness |
Typical abundance |
| Eteone longa |
· · |
· · |
Common |
| Hediste diversicolor |
· |
· · |
Occasional |
| Nephtys hombergii |
· · |
· · |
Occasional |
| Scoloplos armiger |
· · · |
· · · |
Abundant |
| Pygospio elegans |
· · · |
· |
Common |
| Spio filicornis |
· |
· · · |
Frequent |
| Capitella capitata |
· · |
· · |
Frequent |
| Arenicola marina |
· · · |
· |
Common |
| Oligochaeta indet. |
· · |
· · |
Common |
| Bathyporeia pilosa |
· |
· · |
Common |
| Bathyporeia sarsi |
· · |
· · |
Frequent |
| Corophium arenarium |
· · |
· · |
Common |
| Corophium volutator |
· |
· · |
Common |
| Crangon crangon |
· · |
· · |
Common |
| Hydrobia ulvae |
· · |
· · |
Common |
| Cerastoderma edule |
· · · · |
· · |
Common |
| Macoma balthica |
· · · · |
· · |
Common |
Next Section
References
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