BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Sabellaria alveolata
All Taxonomy Biology Distribution Reproduction

Researched by	Angus Jackson	Data supplied by	MarLIN
Refereed by	Prof. S. J. Hawkins
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	In Britain, most abundant on the south and west coasts with isolated records from the south east and east coasts. The northern limit is the Outer Hebrides. It is also found on south, west and north coasts of Ireland.
Global distribution	Mediterranean, north Atlantic south to Morocco. The British Isles form the northern limits of the distribution in the north east Atlantic
Biogeographic range	Not researched	Depth range	MTL - 10 metres
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information	The honeycomb worm appears to be absent from many exposed peninsulas, probably due to the effects of water movement on recruitment.

Substratum preferences	Bedrock Large to very large boulders Small boulders Cobbles Pebbles	Physiographic preferences	Open coast
Biological zone	Mid Eulittoral Lower Eulittoral Sublittoral Fringe Upper Infralittoral	Wave exposure	Very Exposed Exposed Moderately Exposed
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Strong (3-6 kn) Moderately Strong (1-3 kn)	Salinity	Full (30-40 psu)
Habitat Preferences Additional Information	Although a hard substratum is required for attachment, there needs to be adequate sand or small shell particles from which to construct the tubes. It is typically found in the low intertidal but occasionally found subtidally (e.g. in the Severn estuary). It typically colonizes bedrock or large boulders but in some sites binds together small cobbles in a complex with mussels. It has a strong settlement preference for adult tubes or sites currently or previously used by the species.
Distribution References	Cunningham et al., 1984, Campbell, 1994, Hayward et al., 1996, Holt et al., 1998, NBN, 2002, JNCC, 1999, Picton & Costello, 1998,