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MarLIN Marine Information Network Information on the species and habitats around the coasts and sea of the British Isles Mediomastus fragilis, Lumbrineris spp. and venerid bivalves in circalittoral coarse sand or gravel MarLIN – Marine Life Information Network Marine Evidence–based Sensitivity Assessment (MarESA) Review Dr Heidi Tillin 2016-06-01 A report from: The Marine Life Information Network, Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Please note. This MarESA report is a dated version of the online review. Please refer to the website for the most up-to-date version [https://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitats/detail/382]. All terms and the MarESA methodology are outlined on the website (https://www.marlin.ac.uk) This review can be cited as: Tillin, H.M. 2016. [Mediomastus fragilis], [Lumbrineris] spp. and venerid bivalves in circalittoral coarse sand or gravel. In Tyler-Walters H. and Hiscock K. (eds) Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Reviews, [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.17031/marlinhab.382.1 The information (TEXT ONLY) provided by the Marine Life Information Network (MarLIN) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales License. Note that images and other media featured on this page are each governed by their own terms and conditions and they may or may not be available for reuse. Permissions beyond the scope of this license are available here. Based on a work at www.marlin.ac.uk (page left blank) Mediomastus fragilis, Lumbrineris spp. and venerid bivalves in circalittoral coarse sand or gravel - Marine Life Date: 2016-06-01 Information Network Mediomastus fragilis, Lumbrineris spp. and venerid bivalves in circalittoral coarse sand or gravel Photographer: Keith Hiscock Copyright: Dr Keith Hiscock 17-09-2018 Biotope distribution data provided by EMODnet Seabed Habitats (www.emodnet-seabedhabitats.eu) Researched by Dr Heidi Tillin Refereed by Admin Summary UK and Ireland classification Mediomastus fragilis, Lumbrineris spp. and venerid EUNIS 2008 A5.142 bivalves in circalittoral coarse sand or gravel Mediomastus fragilis, Lumbrineris spp. and venerid JNCC 2015 SS.SCS.CCS.MedLumVen bivalves in circalittoral coarse sand or gravel Mediomastus fragilis, Lumbrineris spp. and venerid JNCC 2004 SS.SCS.CCS.MedLumVen bivalves in circalittoral coarse sand or gravel 1997 Biotope Description Circalittoral gravels, coarse to medium sands, and shell gravels, sometimes with a small amount of silt and generally in relatively deep water (generally over 15-20 m), may be characterized by polychaetes such as Mediomastus fragilis, Lumbrineris spp., Glycera lapidum with the pea urchin https://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitats/detail/382 3 Mediomastus fragilis, Lumbrineris spp. and venerid bivalves in circalittoral coarse sand or gravel - Marine Life Date: 2016-06-01 Information Network Echinocyamus pusillus. Other taxa may include Nemertea spp., Protodorvillea kefersteini, Owenia fusiformis, Spiophanes bombyx and Amphipholis squamata along with amphipods such as Ampelisca spinipes. This biotope may also be characterized by the presence of conspicuous venerid bivalves, particularly Timoclea ovata. Other robust bivalve species such as Moerella spp., Glycymeris glycymeris and Astarte sulcata may also be found in this biotope. Spatangus purpureus may be present especially where the interstices of the gravel are filled by finer particles, in which case, Gari tellinella may also be prevalent (Glemarec, 1973). Venerid bivalves are often under-sampled in benthic grab surveys and as such may not be conspicuous in many infaunal datasets. Such communities in gravelly sediments may be relatively species-rich and they may also contain epifauna such as Hydroides norvegicus and Spirobranchus lamarcki. In sand wave areas this biotope may also contain elements of the FfabMag biotope, particularly Magelona species. This biotope has previously been described as the 'Deep Venus Community' and the 'Boreal Off-Shore Gravel Association' by other workers (Ford, 1923; Jones, 1950) and may also be part of the Venus community described by Thorson (1957) and in the infralittoral etage described by Glemarec (1973). SCS.MedLumVen may be quite variable over time and in fact may be closer to a biotope complex in which a number of biotopes or sub-biotopes may yet be defined. For example, Ford (1923) describes a 'Series A' and a 'Series B' characterized by Echinocardium cordatum-Chamelea gallina and Spatangus purpurea-Clausinella fasciata. Furthermore, mosaics of cobble and lag gravel often contain ridges of coarse gravelly sand and these localised patches are also characterized by robust veneriid and similar bivalves including Arcopagia crassa, Laevicardium crassum and others including Glycymeris glycymeris (E.I.S. Rees pers. comm.. 2002). This high porosity fine gravel or coarse sand may be a separate biotope (JNCC, 2015) Depth range 10-20 m, 20-30 m, 30-50 m, 50-100 m Additional information - Listed By - none - Further information sources Search on: JNCC https://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitats/detail/382 4 Mediomastus fragilis, Lumbrineris spp. and venerid bivalves in circalittoral coarse sand or gravel - Marine Life Date: 2016-06-01 Information Network Sensitivity review Sensitivity characteristics of the habitat and relevant characteristic species The biotope description and characterizing species are taken from JNCC (2015). This sedimentary biotope is characterized by circalittoral gravels, coarse to medium sands, and shell gravels, sometimes with a small amount of silt. The sediments and hydrodynamics are considered to be key physical factors structuring the biotope and their sensitivity is, therefore, considered for pressures that may lead to alterations. The key characterizing species are polychaetes such as Mediomastus fragilis, Lumbrineris spp., Glycera lapidum, Protodorvillea kefersteini, Owenia fusiformis and Spiophanes bombyx. Other taxa present include the echinoderms Echinocyamus pusillus, Spatangus purpureus and Amphipholis squamata along with amphipods such as Ampelisca spinipes. This biotope may also be characterized by the presence of conspicuous venerid bivalves, particularly Timoclea ovata and other robust bivalve species such as Moerella (now Tellina) spp., Glycymeris glycymeris and Astarte sulcata. The polychaetes are considered the key characterizing species and the sensitivity assessments focus on these, while evidence for the bivalves and other species are considered generally. The JNCC (2015) description notes that this biotope may be highly variable in terms of species composition (associated with sediment and hydrodynamics) and may contain elements of other biotopes such as SS.FfabMag, that are also assessed on this website. Resilience and recovery rates of habitat This biotope may recover from impacts via in-situ repair of damaged individualsAdults may also be transported in the water column following washout from sediments. Storm events may lead to the displacement of large numbers of individuals. Most bivalves will be able to reposition within the sediment and some, such as Glycymeris glycymeris, are also able to move and to relocate following displacement and disturbance (Thomas, 1975). For immobile species or where depopulation has occurred over a large area, recovery will depend on recolonization by pelagic larvae. A large number of species are recorded in the biotope and there may be large natural variation in species abundance over the course of a year or between years (see Dauvin, 1985 for Timoclea ovata). These variations may not alter the biotope classification where habitat parameters, such as sediment type, remain as described in the classification and many of the characteristic species groups are present. For many of the bivalve species studied, recruitment is sporadic and depends on a successful spat fall but recruitment by the characterizing polychaetes may be more reliable. However, due to the large number of pre- and post-recruitment factors such as food supply, predation, and competition, recruitment of venerid bivalves and other species is unpredictable (Olafsson et al., 1994). The life history characteristics of the characterizing polychaetes and other species were reviewed. The species that are present in the biotope can be broadly characterized as either opportunist species that rapidly colonize disturbed habitats and increase in abundance, or species that are larger and longer-lived and that may be more abundant in an established, mature assemblage. Species with opportunistic life strategies (small size, rapid maturation and short lifespan of 1-2 years with production of large numbers of small propagules), include the characterizing polychaetes Mediomastus fragilis and Spiophanes bombyx. These are likely to recolonize disturbed areas first, although the actual pattern will depend on recovery of the habitat, season of occurrence and other factors. The recovery of bivalves that recruit episodically and the establishment of a representative age-structured population for larger, longer-lived organisms may require longer than two years. In an area that had been subjected to intensive aggregate https://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitats/detail/382 5 Mediomastus fragilis, Lumbrineris spp. and venerid bivalves in circalittoral coarse sand or gravel - Marine Life Date: 2016-06-01 Information Network extraction for 30 years, abundances of juvenile and adults Nephtys cirrosa had