BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Molgula manhattensis
All Taxonomy Biology Distribution Reproduction

Researched by	Dr Keith Hiscock	Data supplied by	MarLIN
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Distributed all around Britain and Ireland but no records from the east basin of the Irish Sea.
Global distribution	In the north Atlantic, extending from the White Sea and North Cape to Portugal and, on the American coast from Maine to the Gulf of Mexico (Berrill 1950). Since the early 1970's at least, it has been present in the western Pacific (Tokioka & Kado 1972).
Biogeographic range	Not researched	Depth range	Littoral to 90 m
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information	Identifying the distribution of Molgula manhattensis is confused by taxonomic problems (see taxonomy page). Although indicated as a native species, the author of this review suggests that it is possible that Molgula manhattensis is an early 'import' from North America as it settles on the hull of ships and could have been transported on wooden sailing ships at a very early stage in north Atlantic crossings. Van Name (1945), quoted in Kott (1985), noted that Molgula manhattensis occurred in salinities equivalent to 20 to 36 psu.

Substratum preferences	Seagrass Bedrock Large to very large boulders Small boulders Cobbles	Physiographic preferences	Ria / Voe Estuary Enclosed coast / Embayment
Biological zone	Lower Infralittoral Upper Circalittoral Lower Circalittoral	Wave exposure	Exposed Moderately Exposed Sheltered Very Sheltered Extremely Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Moderately Strong (1-3 kn) Weak (<1 kn) Very Weak (negligible)	Salinity	Variable (18-40 psu) Full (30-40 psu)
Habitat Preferences Additional Information
Distribution References	Tokioka & Kado, 1972, Millar, 1970, Howson & Picton, 1997, Berril, 1950, Kott, 1985,