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JNCC Report No: 585
Conceptual Ecological Modelling of Shallow Sublittoral Sand Habitats to Inform Indicator Selection
Coates, D.A., Alexander, D., Herbert, R.J.H. & Crowley, S.J.
June 2016
© JNCC, Peterborough 2016
0963-8901
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List of Appendices Appendix 1. List of Species Included in Project Scope Appendix 2. List of Keywords used as Literature Review Search Terms Appendix 3. Species/Biotope/Model Matrix Appendix 4. General Control Model – Shallow Sublittoral Sand Habitats Appendix 5. Sub-model 1. Suspension and Deposit Feeding Infauna Appendix 6. Sub-model 2. Small Mobile Fauna or Tube/Burrow Dwelling Crustaceans Appendix 7. Sub-model 3. Mobile Epifauna, Predators and Scavengers Appendix 8. Sub-model 4. Attached Epifauna and Macroalgae Appendix 9. Confidence model 1. Suspension and Deposit Feeding Infauna Appendix 10. Confidence model 2. Small Mobile Fauna or Tube/Burrow Dwelling
Crustaceans Appendix 11. Confidence model 3. Mobile Epifauna, Predators and Scavengers Appendix 12. Confidence model 4. Attached Epifauna and Macroalgae Appendix 13. Description of Identified Anthropogenic Pressures Appendix 14. Sublittoral Sand CEM Literature Review and Ancillary Information In addition to the appendices listed, a spreadsheet containing ancillary electronic information supporting the literature review also accompanies this report, as referred to within the main report sections.
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1
JNCC Report No. 585: Development of Conceptual Ecological Models – Shallow Sublittoral Sand Habitats
Appendix 1 – List of species included in project scope Please see accompanying spreadsheet for full species list and details of how this list was refined. Acrocnida brachiata Abra alba Alcyonidium diaphanum Ammodytes tobianus Ampelisca brevicornis Aonides paucibranchiata Arenicola marina Aricidea cerrutii Asterias rubens Astropecten irregularis Bathyporeia elegans Carcinus maenas Cerianthus lloydii Chaetozone setosa Chamelea gallina Crassicorophium crassicorne Diastylis rathkei Echinocardium cordatum Echinocyamus pusillus Ensis ensis Eudorellopsis deformis Eurydice pulchra Flustra foliacea Gastrosaccus spinifer Glycera lapidum Goniada maculata Hydrallmania falcata Kurtiella bidentata Lanice conchilega Liocarcinus depurator Lumbrineris latreilli Magelona mirabilis Moerella pygmaea Nephtys cirrosa Nucula nitidosa Ophelia borealis Ophiura ophiura Owenia fusiformis Pagurus bernhardus Parexogone hebes Phaxas pellucidus Philine quadripartita Pholoe inornata Polydora ciliata Sabella pavonina
Saccharina latissima Scoloplos armiger Sertularia cupressina Sphaerosyllis bulbosa Spio filicornis Spiophanes bombyx Spisula subtruncata Tellina fabula Thracia phaseolina Travisia forbesii Urothoe elegans Urticina felina
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1
JNCC Report No. 585: Development of Conceptual Ecological Models – Shallow Sublittoral Sand Habitats
Appendix 2 – List of keywords used as search terms Amphipod Annelida Annual variation Anoxia Bacteria Benthic Biodeposition Bioengineering Biogeochemical process Bioirrigation Biological driver Biotope Bioturbation Bioturbation Bivalve Brittlestar Burrowing Circalittoral Climate Climate variation Crustacea Currents Currents Deposit feeder Depth Depth range Diatoms Dissolved oxygen Echinodermata Ecology Ecosystem functioning Ecosystem process Ecosystem service Environmental driver Environmental position Epifauna Feeding behaviour Feeding Habits Feeding method Filter feeding Fine sands Food resource Food web Functional group Geology Growth form Habitat provision Habitat stability
Holothuroidea Hydrodynamic flow Hypoxia Infauna Infralittoral Interstitial Lifespan Light attenuation Macrofauna Marine Microbial activity Mobility Muddy sand Natural variability Nitrogen flux Nutrient cycling Nutrient provision Ocean acidification Organic Carbon Organic matter Physical driver Physiographic Phytoplankton Polychaete POM Predator Prey Primary production Response Salinity Sand Sand bank Sand ripples Sand waves Seabed energy Seabed mobility Seasonal variability Secondary production Sediment Sediment dynamics Sediment resuspension Sediment stability Sediment transport Sparse fauna Species trait Species trait Sublittoral Substratum
Subtidal Suspension feeder Suspension feeding Temperature Temporal variability Tidal stress Tolerance Trophic level Troughs Tube dwelling Turbidity Variability Water chemistry Water composition Water flow Wave energy In addition to the search words used above, each of the selected species names were also searched for individually.
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Model
Major functional group Predatory Gastropods Macroalgae
Sub functional group
Cra
wle
rs
Oph
iurid
s
Tube
bui
ldin
g Am
phip
ods
Isop
ods
Mys
ids
Pisc
es
Pred
ator
y G
astro
pods
Kelp
Species
Abra
alb
a
Cha
mel
ea g
allin
a
Ensi
s en
sis
Tellin
a fa
bula
Moe
rella
pyg
mae
a
Kurti
ella
bid
enta
ta
Nuc
ula
nitid
osa
Phax
as p
ellu
cidu
s
Spis
ula
subt
runc
ata
Thra
cia
phas
eolin
a
Aoni
des
pauc
ibra
nchi
ata
Aren
icol
a m
arin
a
Cha
etoz
one
seto
sa
Mag
elon
a m
irabi
lis
Oph
elia
bor
ealis
Scol
oplo
s ar
mig
er
Trav
isia
forb
esii
Lani
ce c
onch
ilega
Ow
enia
fusi
form
is
Poly
dora
cilia
ta
Spio
filic
orni
s
Spio
phan
es b
omby
x
Sabe
lla p
avon
ina
Aric
idea
cer
rutii
Acro
cnid
a br
achi
ata
Echi
noca
rdiu
m c
orda
tum
Echi
nocy
amus
pus
illus
Bath
ypor
eia
eleg
ans
Cra
ssic
orop
hium
cra
ssic
orne
Uro
thoe
ele
gans
Ampe
lisca
bre
vico
rnis
Dia
styl
is ra
thke
i
Eudo
rello
psis
def
orm
is
Eury
dice
pul
chra
Gas
trosa
ccus
spi
nife
r
Car
cinu
s m
aena
s
Lioc
arci
nus
depu
rato
r
Pagu
rus
bern
hard
us
Astro
pect
en ir
regu
laris
Aste
rias
rube
ns
Oph
iura
oph
iura
Amm
odyt
es to
bian
us
Gly
cera
lapi
dum
Gon
iada
mac
ulat
a
Lum
brin
eris
latre
illi
Nep
htys
cirr
osa
Spha
eros
yllis
bul
bosa
Para
exeg
one
hebe
s
Phol
oe in
orna
ta
Philin
e qu
adrip
artit
a
Hyd
rallm
ania
falc
ata
Sertu
laria
cup
ress
ina
Flus
tra fo
liace
a
Alcy
onid
ium
dia
phan
um
Urti
cina
felin
a
Cer
iant
hus
lloyd
ii
Sacc
harin
a la
tissi
ma
A5.23 - Infralittoral find sandA5.231 - Infralittoral mobile clean sand with sparse faunaA5.232 - Sertularia cupressina and Hydrallmania falcata on tide-swept sublittoral sand with cobbles or pebblesA5.233 - Nephtys cirrosa and Bathyporeia spp. in infralittoral sand
A5.234 - Semi-permanent tube-building amphipods and polychaetes in sublittoral sand
A5.24 - Infralittoral muddy sandA5.241 - Echinocardium cordatum and Ensis spp. in lower shore and shallow sublittoral slightly muddy fine sandA5.242 - Fabulina fabula and Magelona mirabilis with venerid bivalves and amphipods in infralittoral compacted fine muddy sandA5.243 - Arenicola marina in infralittoral fine sand or muddy sandA5.244 - Spisula subtruncata and Nephtys hombergii in shallow muddy sandA5.25 - Circalittoral fine sandA5.251 - Echinocyamus pusillus, Ophelia borealis and Abra prismatica in circalittoral fine sandA5.252 - Abra prismatica, Bathyporeia elegans and polychaetes in circalittoral fine sandA5.26 - Circalittoral muddy sandA5.261 - Abra alba and Nucula nitidosa in circalittoral muddy sand or slightly mixed sedimentA5.262 - Amphiura brachiata with Astropecten irregularis and other echinoderms in circalittoral muddy sand
Burr
owin
g Bi
valv
es
Bivalves Polcyhaetes Amphipods Small Mobile Crustaceans
Soft-bodied or flexible
epifaunal species
Bryo
zoan
s
Anem
ones
Submodel 2. Small Mobile Fauna and Tube/Burrow Dwelling Crustaceans
Burr
ow d
wel
ling
Tube
bui
ldin
g
Erect, shorter
lived epifau
na
Hyd
rozo
ans
Echinoderms
Cum
acea
ns
Cru
stac
eans
Submodel 3. Mobile Epifauna, Predators and ScavengersSubmodel 1. Suspension and Deposit Feeding Infauna
Echi
node
rms
Submodel 4. Temporary or Permanentely Attached Epifauna and
Macroalgae
Subs
urfa
ce d
wel
ling
Echi
noid
s
Mobile Epifauna, Predators and Scavengers
Cra
wle
rs
Predatory Polychaetes
Burr
ow d
wel
ling
Amph
ipod
s
Burr
ow d
wel
ling
JNCC Report No. 585 Appendix 3. Species Biotope Model Matrix
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Shallow Sublittoral Sand
Depth Wave Exposure Water Currents Climate
Water Chemistry & Temperature
1. Regional to Global Drivers
3. Local Processes/Inputs at the Seabed
4. Habitat and Biological Assemblage
5. Output Processes
6. Local Ecosystem Functions
7. Regional to Global Ecosystem Functions
2. Water Column ProcessesSuspended Sediment
Light Attenuation
Sediment Type
Supply of Propagules
Export of Organic Matter Biodiversity EnhancementExport of Biodiversity
Nutrient Cycling
Secondary Production
Seabed Mobility
Geology
Primary Production
Recruitment
Sediment Stability
Sediment processing
Biogeochemical Cycling
Habitat Provision
Habitat modification
Biotope Stability
Propagule Supply
Dissolved Oxygen
Food Sources
Microbial activity
Suspension and deposit feeding
fauna
Benthic infauna
Small mobile fauna and tube/burrow
dwelling crustaceans
Temporary or permanently attached
Epifauna and Macroalgae
Mobile Epifauna, predators and scavengers
Grazing and predation
Food Resource
LegendDriver Relevance to
Infralittoral/CircalittoralLow Relevance Infralittoral
High Relevance Infralittoral
Low Relevance Circalittoral
High Relevance Circalittoral
Low natural variability
Moderate natural variability
High natural variability
Degree of Natural Variability
Feedback
PositiveInteractionNegativeInteraction
Driving Influence
Version 1.0
Please see accompanying report for model restrictions and
limitations
JNCC Report No. 585 Appendix 4. General Control Model - Shallow Sublittoral Sand Habitats
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Sub‐model 1. Suspension and deposit feeding infauna
Depth Wave Exposure Water Currents Climate
Water Chemistry & Temperature
1. Regional to Global Drivers
3. Local Processes/Inputs at the Seabed
4. Habitat and Biological Assemblage
5. Output Processes
6. Local Ecosystem Functions
7. Regional to Global Ecosystem Functions
2. Water Column ProcessesSuspended Sediment
Light Attenuation
Bivalves
Sublittoral Sand
Food Resource
Supply of Propagules
Export of Organic Matter Biodiversity EnhancementExport of Biodiversity
Nutrient Cycling
Secondary Production
Seabed Mobility
Geology
Primary Production
Recruitment
Sediment Stability
Biodeposition Bioengineering
Biogeochemical Cycling Habitat Provision
Bioturbation
Plankton
Food sources
Biotope Stability
Propagule Supply
Version 1.0 Please see accompanying report
for model restrictions and limitations
PositiveInteraction
NegativeInteraction
Feedback
Small
Medium
Large
Magnitude of Influence
Legend
Driver Relevance to Infralittoral/Circalittoral
Low Relevance Infralittoral
High Relevance Infralittoral
Low Relevance Circalittoral
High Relevance Circalittoral
Low natural variability
Moderate natural variability
High natural variability
Degree of Natural Variability
Driving Influence
Burrowing Bivalves, e.g. Abra alba, Ensis ensis, Kurtiella bidentata, Phaxas pellucidus
Dissolved Oxygen
POM Detritus
Microbial activity Enhancement
Polychaetes Echinoderms
Burrow dwelling, e.g. Arenicola marina, Magelona mirabilis, Scoloplos armiger
Tube building, e.g. Lanice conchilega, Owenia fusiformis, Spiophanes bombyx
Crawlers, e.g. Aricidea cerrutii
Ophiurids, e.g. Acrocnida brachiata
Subsurface dwelling, e.g. Echinocardium
cordatum, Echinocyamus pusillus
Bacteria & Fungi
Meio fauna
JNCC Report No. 585 Appendix 5.
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Sub‐model 2. Small Mobile Fauna and Tube/Burrow Dwelling Crustaceans
Depth Wave Exposure Water Currents Climate
Water Chemistry & Temperature
1. Regional to Global Drivers
3. Local Processes/Inputs at the Seabed
4. Habitat and Biological Assemblage
5. Output Processes
6. Local Ecosystem Functions
7. Regional to Global Ecosystem Functions
2. Water Column Processes Suspended Sediment
Light Attenuation
Amphipods
Sublittoral Sand
Food Resource
Supply of Propagules
Export of Organic Matter Biodiversity EnhancementExport of Biodiversity
Nutrient Cycling
Secondary Production
Seabed Mobility
Geology
Primary Production
Recruitment
Sediment Stability
Biodeposition Bioengineering
Biogeochemical Cycling Habitat Provision
Bioturbation
Micro algae
Food sources
Biotope Stability
Propagule Supply
Version 1.0 Please see accompanying report
for model restrictions and limitations
PositiveInteraction
NegativeInteraction
Feedback
Small
Medium
Large
Magnitude of Influence
Legend
Driver Relevance to Infralittoral/Circalittoral
Low Relevance Infralittoral
High Relevance Infralittoral
Low Relevance Circalittoral
High Relevance Circalittoral
Low natural variability
Moderate natural variability
High natural variability
Degree of Natural Variability
Driving Influence
Dissolved Oxygen
DetritusSmall
Invertebrates
Microbial activity Enhancement
Tube building, e.g. Ampelisca brevicornis
Cumaceans, e.g. Diastylis rathkei,
Eudorellopsis deformis
Isopods, e.g. Eurydice pulchra
Mysids, e.g. Gastrosaccus spinifer
Burrow dwelling, e.g. Crassicorophium
crassicorne, Urothoe elegans
Small Mobile Crustaceans
POMMicro
organisms
JNCC Report No. 585 Appendix 6.
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Sub‐model 3. Mobile Epifauna, Predators and Scavengers
Depth Wave Exposure Water Currents Climate
Water Chemistry & Temperature
1. Regional to Global Drivers
3. Local Processes/Inputs at the Seabed
4. Habitat and Biological Assemblage
5. Output Processes
6. Local Ecosystem Functions
7. Regional to Global Ecosystem Functions
2. Water Column ProcessesSuspended Sediment
Light Attenuation
Mobile Epifauna, Predators and Scavengers
Sublittoral Sand
Food Resource
Supply of Propagules
Export of Organic Matter Biodiversity EnhancementExport of Biodiversity
Nutrient Cycling
Secondary Production
Seabed Mobility
Geology
Primary Production
Recruitment
Sediment Stability
Biodeposition Bioengineering
Biogeochemical Cycling Habitat Provision
Bioturbation
CarrionLiving Prey
Food sources
Biotope Stability
Propagule Supply
Version 1.0Please see accompanying report
for model restrictions and limitations
PositiveInteraction
NegativeInteraction
Feedback
Small
Medium
Large
Magnitude of Influence
Legend
Driver Relevance to Infralittoral/Circalittoral
Low Relevance Infralittoral
High Relevance Infralittoral
Low Relevance Circalittoral
High Relevance Circalittoral
Low natural variability
Moderate natural variability
High natural variability
Degree of Natural Variability
Driving Influence
Dissolved Oxygen
Phyto‐benthos
POM
Population Control
Echinoderms; Asterias rubens, Ophiura
ophiura, Astropecten irregularis
Pisces, e.g. Ammodytes tobianus
Burrow dwelling, e.g. Glycera lapidum, Nephtys cirrosa,
Lumbrineris latreilli
Crawlers, e.g. Paraexegone hebes, Pholoe inornata
Crustaceans, e.g. Carcinus maenas,
Pagurus bernhardus
Predatory Polychaetes
Plankton Detritus
Predatory Gastropods
Crawlers, e.g. Philine
quadripartita
JNCC Report No. 585 Appendix 7.
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Sub‐model 4. Attached Epifauna and Macroalgae
Depth Wave Exposure Water Currents Climate
Water Chemistry & Temperature
1. Regional to Global Drivers
3. Local Processes/Inputs at the Seabed
4. Habitat and Biological Assemblage
5. Output Processes
6. Local Ecosystem Functions
7. Regional to Global Ecosystem Functions
2. Water Column Processes Suspended Sediment
Light Attenuation
Erect, shorter lived Epifauna
Sublittoral Sand
Food Resource
Supply of Propagules
Export of Organic Matter Biodiversity EnhancementExport of Biodiversity
Nutrient Cycling
Secondary Production
Seabed Mobility
Geology
Primary Production
Recruitment
Sediment Stability
Biodeposition Bioengineering
Habitat Provision
POMPlankton
Food sources
Biotope Stability
Propagule Supply
Version 1.0Please see accompanying report
for model restrictions and limitations
PositiveInteraction
NegativeInteraction
Feedback
Small
Medium
Large
Magnitude of Influence
Legend
Driver Relevance to Infralittoral/Circalittoral
Low Relevance Infralittoral
High Relevance Infralittoral
Low Relevance Circalittoral
High Relevance Circalittoral
Low natural variability
Moderate natural variability
High natural variability
Degree of Natural Variability
Driving Influence
Dissolved Oxygen
Detritus Living Prey
Biogeochemical cycling
Bryozoans, e.g. Flustra foliacea, Alcyonidium
diaphanum
Anemones, e.g. Urticina felina, Cerianthus lloydii
Kelp, e.g. Saccharina latissima
Hydrozoans, e.g. Hydrallmania falcata, Sertularia cupressina
Soft‐bodied Epifauna Macroalgae
Grazing and predation
JNCC Report No. 585 Appendix 8.
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Sub‐model 1. Suspension and deposit feeding infauna ‐ CONFIDENCE
Depth Wave Exposure Water Currents Climate
Water Chemistry & Temperature
1. Regional to Global Drivers
3. Local Processes/Inputs at the Seabed
4. Habitat and Biological Assemblage
5. Output Processes
6. Local Ecosystem Functions
7. Regional to Global Ecosystem Functions
2. Water Column ProcessesSuspended Sediment
Light Attenuation
Bivalves
Sublittoral Sand
Food Resource
Supply of Propagules
Export of Organic Matter Biodiversity EnhancementExport of Biodiversity
Nutrient Cycling
Secondary Production
Seabed Mobility
Geology
Primary Production
Recruitment
Sediment Stability
Biodeposition Bioengineering
Biogeochemical Cycling Habitat Provision
Bioturbation
Plankton
Food sources
Biotope Stability
Propagule Supply
Burrowing Bivalves, e.g. Abra alba, Ensis ensis, Kurtiella bidentata, Phaxas pellucidus
Dissolved Oxygen
POM Detritus
Microbial activity Enhancement
Polychaetes Echinoderms
Burrow dwelling, e.g. Arenicola marina, Magelona mirabilis, Scoloplos armiger
Tube building, e.g. Lanice conchilega, Owenia fusiformis, Spiophanes bombyx
Crawlers, e.g. Aricidea cerrutii
Ophiurids, e.g. Acrocnida brachiata
Subsurface dwelling, e.g. Echinocardium
cordatum, Echinocyamus pusillus
Bacteria & Fungi
Meio fauna
Low confidence
Medium confidence
High confidence
Legend
Link informed by Literature Review
Link informed by Expert Opinion *
Version 1.0
Please see accompanying report for model restrictions and
limitations
* Links informed by Expert Opinion do not exceed the Medium Confidence level.
JNCC Report No. 585 Appendix 9.
-
Sub‐model 2. Small Mobile Fauna and Tube/Burrow Dwelling Crustaceans
Depth Wave Exposure Water Currents Climate
Water Chemistry & Temperature
1. Regional to Global Drivers
3. Local Processes/Inputs at the Seabed
4. Habitat and Biological Assemblage
5. Output Processes
6. Local Ecosystem Functions
7. Regional to Global Ecosystem Functions
2. Water Column ProcessesSuspended Sediment
Light Attenuation
Amphipods
Sublittoral Sand
Food Resource
Supply of Propagules
Export of Organic Matter Biodiversity EnhancementExport of Biodiversity
Nutrient Cycling
Secondary Production
Seabed Mobility
Geology
Primary Production
Recruitment
Sediment Stability
Biodeposition Bioengineering
Biogeochemical Cycling Habitat Provision
Bioturbation
Micro algae
Food sources
Biotope Stability
Propagule Supply
Dissolved Oxygen
Detritus Small Invertebrates
Microbial activity Enhancement
Tube building, e.g. Ampelisca brevicornis
Cumaceans, e.g. Diastylis rathkei,
Eudorellopsis deformis
Isopods, e.g. Eurydice pulchra
Mysids, e.g. Gastrosaccus spinifer
Burrow dwelling, e.g. Crassicorophium
crassicorne, Urothoe elegans
Small Mobile Crustaceans
POMMicro
organisms
Low confidence
Medium confidence
High confidence
Legend
Link informed by Literature Review
Link informed by Expert Opinion *
Version 1.0
Please see accompanying report for model restrictions and
limitations
* Links informed by Expert Opinion do not exceed the Medium Confidence level.
JNCC Report No. 585 Appendix 10.
-
Sub‐model 3. Mobile Epifauna, Predators and Scavengers
Depth Wave Exposure Water Currents Climate
Water Chemistry & Temperature
1. Regional to Global Drivers
3. Local Processes/Inputs at the Seabed
4. Habitat and Biological Assemblage
5. Output Processes
6. Local Ecosystem Functions
7. Regional to Global Ecosystem Functions
2. Water Column ProcessesSuspended Sediment
Light Attenuation
Mobile Epifauna, Predators and ScavengersSublittoral Sand
Food Resource
Supply of Propagules
Export of Organic Matter Biodiversity EnhancementExport of Biodiversity
Nutrient Cycling
Secondary Production
Seabed Mobility
Geology
Primary Production
Recruitment
Sediment Stability
Biodeposition Bioengineering
Biogeochemical Cycling Habitat Provision
Bioturbation
CarrionLiving Prey
Food sources
Biotope Stability
Propagule Supply
Dissolved Oxygen
Phyto‐benthos POM
Population Control
Echinoderms; Asterias rubens, Ophiura
ophiura, Astropecten irregularis
Pisces, e.g. Ammodytes tobianus
Burrow dwelling, e.g. Glycera lapidum, Nephtys cirrosa,
Lumbrineris latreilli
Crawlers, e.g. Paraexegone hebes, Pholoe inornata
Crustaceans, e.g. Carcinus maenas,
Pagurus bernhardus
Predatory Polychaetes
Plankton Detritus
Low confidence
Medium confidence
High confidence
Legend
Link informed by Literature Review
Link informed by Expert Opinion *
Version 1.0
Please see accompanying report for model restrictions and
limitations
* Links informed by Expert Opinion do not exceed the Medium Confidence level.
Predatory Gastropods
Crawlers, e.g. Philine
quadripartita
JNCC Report No. 585 Appendix 11.
-
Sub‐model 4. Attached Epifauna and Macroalgae ‐ CONFIDENCE
Depth Wave Exposure Water Currents Climate
Water Chemistry & Temperature
1. Regional to Global Drivers
3. Local Processes/Inputs at the Seabed
4. Habitat and Biological Assemblage
5. Output Processes
6. Local Ecosystem Functions
7. Regional to Global Ecosystem Functions
2. Water Column ProcessesSuspended Sediment
Light Attenuation
Erect, shorter lived Epifauna
Sublittoral Sand
Food Resource
Supply of Propagules
Export of Organic Matter Biodiversity EnhancementExport of Biodiversity
Nutrient Cycling
Secondary Production
Seabed Mobility
Geology
Primary Production
Recruitment
Sediment Stability
Biodeposition Bioengineering
Habitat Provision
POMPlankton
Food sources
Biotope Stability
Propagule Supply
Dissolved Oxygen
Detritus Living Prey
Biogeochemical cycling
Bryozoans, e.g. Flustra foliacea, Alcyonidium
diaphanum
Anemones, e.g. Urticina felina, Cerianthus lloydii
Kelp, e.g. Saccharina latissima
Hydrozoans, e.g. Hydrallmania falcata, Sertularia cupressina
Soft‐bodied Epifauna Macroalgae
Low confidence
Medium confidence
High confidence
Legend
Link informed by Literature Review
Link informed by Expert Opinion *
Version 1.0
Please see accompanying report for model restrictions and
limitations
* Links informed by Expert Opinion do not exceed the Medium Confidence level.
Grazing and predation
JNCC Report No. 585 Appendix 12.
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Appendix 13 – Pressure descriptions List of anthropogenic pressures relevant to shallow sublittoral sand habitats. Pressures and descriptions are taken from the Intercessional Correspondence Group on Cumulative Effects (ICG-C).
Pressure theme Pressure Description
Benchmark (Tillin et al, 2010)
Biological pressures
Removal of non-target species
By-catch associated with all fishing activities. The physical effects of fishing gear on sea bed communities are addressed by the "abrasion" pressure type so this addresses the direct removal of individuals associated with fishing/ harvesting. Ecological consequences include food web dependencies, population dynamics of fish, marine mammals, turtles and sea birds (including survival threats in extreme cases, e.g. Harbour Porpoise in Central and Eastern Baltic).
Removal of features through pursuit of a target fishery at a commercial scale
Physical damage (Reversible Change)
Changes in suspended solids (water clarity)
Changes in water clarity from sediment & organic particulate matter concentrations. It is related to activities disturbing sediment and/or organic particulate matter and mobilising it into the water column. Could be 'natural' land run-off and riverine discharges or from anthropogenic activities such as all forms of dredging, disposal at sea, cable and pipeline burial, secondary effects of construction works, e.g. breakwaters. Particle size, hydrological energy (current speed & direction) and tidal excursion are all influencing factors on the spatial extent and temporal duration. This pressure also relates to changes in turbidity from suspended solids of organic origin (as such it excludes sediments - see the "changes in suspended sediment" pressure type). Salinity, turbulence, pH and temperature may result in flocculation of suspended organic matter. Anthropogenic sources mostly short lived and over relatively small spatial extents.
A change in one rank on the WFD (Water Framework Directive) scale e.g. from clear to turbid for one year
Physical damage (Reversible Change)
Abrasion/disturbance of the substrate on the surface of the seabed
The disturbance of sediments where there is limited or no loss of substrate from the system. This pressure is associated with activities such as anchoring, taking of sediment/geological cores, cone penetration tests, cable burial (ploughing or jetting), propeller wash from vessels, certain fishing activities, e.g. scallop dredging, beam trawling. Agitation dredging, where sediments are deliberately disturbed by and by gravity & hydraulic dredging where sediments are deliberately disturbed and moved by currents could also be associated with this pressure type. Compression of sediments, e.g. from the legs of a jack-up barge could also fit into this pressure type. Abrasion relates to the damage of the sea bed surface layers (typically up to 50cm depth). Activities associated with abrasion can cover relatively large spatial areas and include: fishing with towed demersal trawls (fish & shellfish); bio-prospecting such as harvesting of biogenic features such as maerl beds where, after extraction, conditions for recolonisation remain suitable or relatively localised activities including: seaweed harvesting, recreation, potting, aquaculture. Change from gravel to silt substrate would adversely affect herring spawning grounds.
Damage to seabed surface features
Physical damage (Reversible
Habitat structure changes -
Unlike the "physical change" pressure type where there is a permanent change in sea bed type (e.g. sand to gravel, sediment to a hard artificial substrate) the
Extraction of sediment to 30cm
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Change) removal of substratum (extraction)
"habitat structure change" pressure type relates to temporary and/or reversible change, e.g. from marine mineral extraction where a proportion of seabed sands or gravels are removed but a residual layer of seabed is similar to the pre-dredge structure and as such biological communities could re-colonise; navigation dredging to maintain channels where the silts or sands removed are replaced by non-anthropogenic mechanisms so the sediment typology is not changed.
Physical damage (Reversible Change)
Siltation rate changes, including smothering (depth of vertical sediment overburden)
When the natural rates of siltation are altered (increased or decreased). Siltation (or sedimentation) is the settling out of silt/sediments suspended in the water column. Activities associated with this pressure type include mariculture, land claim, navigation dredging, disposal at sea, marine mineral extraction, cable and pipeline laying and various construction activities. It can result in short lived sediment concentration gradients and the accumulation of sediments on the sea floor. This accumulation of sediments is synonymous with "light" smothering, which relates to the depth of vertical overburden. “Light” smothering relates to the deposition of layers of sediment on the seabed. It is associated with activities such as sea disposal of dredged materials where sediments are deliberately deposited on the sea bed. For “light” smothering most benthic biota may be able to adapt, i.e. vertically migrate through the deposited sediment. “Heavy” smothering also relates to the deposition of layers of sediment on the seabed but is associated with activities such as sea disposal of dredged materials where sediments are deliberately deposited on the sea bed. This accumulation of sediments relates to the depth of vertical overburden where the sediment type of the existing and deposited sediment has similar physical characteristics because, although most species of marine biota are unable to adapt, e.g. sessile organisms unable to make their way to the surface, a similar biota could, with time, re-establish.
up to 30cm of fine material added to the seabed in a single event
Physical loss (Permanent Change)
Physical change (to another seabed type)
The permanent change of one marine habitat type to another marine habitat type, through the change in substatum, including to artificial (e.g. concrete). This therefore involves the permanent loss of one marine habitat type but has an equal creation of a different marine habitat type. Associated activities include the installation of infrastructure (e.g. surface of platforms or wind farm foundations, marinas, coastal defences, pipelines and cables), the placement of scour protection where soft sediment habitats are replaced by hard/coarse substrate habitats, removal of coarse substrate (marine mineral extraction) in those instances where surficial finer sediments are lost, capital dredging where the residual sedimentary habitat differs structurally from the pre-dredge state, creation of artificial reefs, mariculture i.e. mussel beds. Protection of pipes and cables using rock dumping and mattressing techniques. Placement of cuttings piles from oil & gas activities could fit this pressure type, however, there may be an additional pressures, e.g. "pollution and other chemical changes" theme. This pressure excludes
Permanent loss of existing saline habitat
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navigation dredging where the depth of sediment is changes locally but the sediment typology is not changed.
Pollution and other chemical changes
Nutrient enrichment
Increased levels of the elements nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon (and iron) in the marine environment compared to background concentrations. Nutrients can enter marine waters by natural processes (e.g. decomposition of detritus, riverine, direct and atmospheric inputs) or anthropogenic sources (e.g. waste water runoff, terrestrial/agricultural runoff, sewage discharges, aquaculture, atmospheric deposition). Nutrients can also enter marine regions from ‘upstream’ locations, e.g. via tidal currents to induce enrichment in the receiving area. Nutrient enrichment may lead to eutrophication (see also organic enrichment). Adverse environmental effects include deoxygenation, algal blooms, changes in community structure of benthos and macrophytes.
Compliance with WFD criteria for good status
Pollution and other chemical changes
Organic enrichment
Resulting from the degraded remains of dead biota & microbiota (land & sea); faecal matter from marine animals; flocculated colloidal organic matter and the degraded remains of: sewage material, domestic wastes, industrial wastes etc. Organic matter can enter marine waters from sewage discharges, aquaculture or terrestrial/agricultural runoff. Black carbon comes from the products of incomplete combustion (PIC) of fossil fuels and vegetation. Organic enrichment may lead to eutrophication (see also nutrient enrichment). Adverse environmental effects include deoxygenation, algal blooms, changes in community structure of benthos and macrophytes.
A deposit of 100gC/m2/yr
JNCC Report No. 585
JNCC Report No.585: Conceptual Ecological Modelling of Shallow Sublittoral Sand Habitats to InformIndicator SelectionList of AppendicesAppendix 1 – List of species included in project scopeAppendix 2 – List of keywords used as search termsAppendix 3. Species Biotope Model MatrixAppendix 4. General Control Model - Shallow Sublittoral Sand HabitatsAppendix 5. Sub-model 1. Suspension and deposit feeding infaunaAppendix 6. Sub-model 2. Small Mobile Fauna and Tube/Burrow Dwelling CrustaceansAppendix 7. Sub‐model 3. Mobile Epifauna, Predators and ScavengersAppendix 8. Sub‐model 4. Attached Epifauna and MacroalgaeAppendix 9. Sub‐model 1. Suspension and deposit feeding infauna ‐ CONFIDENCEAppendix 10. Sub‐model 2. Small Mobile Fauna and Tube/Burrow Dwelling CrustaceansAppendix 11. Sub‐model 3. Mobile Epifauna, Predators and ScavengersAppendix 12. Sub‐model 4. Attached Epifauna and Macroalgae ‐ CONFIDENCEAppendix 13 – Pressure descriptions