|Basic Information||Biotope classification||Ecology||Habitat preferences and distribution||Species composition||Sensitivity||Importance|
Image Keith Hiscock - A well developed overhang community with pendulous polyclinid tunicates. Image width ca 1 m.
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LR.LR.Ov recorded () and expected () distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)
To assess the sensitivity of the biotope, the sensitivity of component species is reviewed. Those species that are considered to be particularly indicative of the sensitivity of the biotope, and for which research has been undertaken in detail are shown below (see selection criteria). The biology of other component species of the biotope is also taken into account wherever information is known to the researcher.
|Community Importance||Species name||Common Name|
|Important characterizing||Morchellium argus||A compound ascidian|
|Important structural||Botryllus schlosseri||Star ascidian|
|Important structural||Umbonula littoralis||An encrusting bryozoan|
Overhang and cave communities are colonised especially by encrusting animal species. The species identified as indicative of sensitivity are characteristic species and represent species that, if lost from the biotope, it would no longer be that biotope.
In undertaking this assessment of sensitivity, account is taken of knowledge of the biology of all characterizing species in the biotope. However, 'indicative species' are particularly important in undertaking the assessment because they have been subject to detailed research.
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This review can be cited as follows:
Hiscock, K. 2002. Overhangs and caves. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 05/03/2015]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitatreproduction.php?habitatid=242&code=1997>