Fucales and other algae on Black sea sheltered upper infralittoral rock, well illuminated

Present in shallow sheltered waters, such as semi-enclosed bays on rocky substrates. Reported at depths from 1 to 14m although known to occur in deeper waters in the pre-eutrophication period in the early 1980s. TheCystoseirabelt, in this habitat dominated by C.barbata, provides an ideal substrate and habitat for numerous photophilic and sciaphilic algal species, especially Rhodophyta.C. barbatais typically the dominant canopy-forming species in this sheltered environment, with C. crinita being more common in exposed situations. Other species present include the algaeUlva rigida, Polysiphonia subulifera, Cladophorasp., Gelidium spinosumand occasionally present C.crinita and Ceramium virgatum. The bivalves Mytilus galloprovincialis and Mytilaster lineatusare also very abundant in this habitat and often colonize all the substrate available between the C. barbataplants, or attach to the main axis of the plants.

Código Eunis 2021: MB14A