BIOTIC Species Information for Fucus ceranoides
Researched byNicola White Data supplied byMarLIN
Refereed byDr Graham Scott
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & IrelandAll coasts of Britain and Ireland
Global distributionSpitsbergen, Iceland, Norway, Heligoland, Netherlands, Ireland, Britain, N. France, Portugal and Azores.
Biogeographic rangeNot researched Depth rangeNot relevant
MigratoryNon-migratory / Resident   
Distribution Additional InformationThe species is commonly found in the upper reaches of estuaries. It appears to be physiologically adapted to living in reduced salinity and exhibits its maximum growth rate at 11 psu. It is thought to be absent from fully saline sites due to an inability to compete with the faster growing fucoids, such as %Fucus vesiculosus% and a physiological intolerance of fully saline conditions. In areas of estuaries where salinity varies between 11 and 25 psu, Fucus ceranoides and %Fucus vesiculosus% can be found living together.

Substratum preferencesBedrock
Large to very large boulders
Small boulders
Cobbles
Pebbles
Gravel / shingle
Physiographic preferencesEstuary
Strait / sound
Sealoch
Ria / Voe
Open coast
Biological zoneUpper Eulittoral
Mid Eulittoral
Wave exposureSheltered
Very Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flowStrong (3-6 kn)
Moderately Strong (1-3 kn)
Weak (<1 kn)
Very Weak (negligible)
SalinityReduced (18-30 psu)
Low (<18 psu)
Habitat Preferences Additional Information
Distribution References Suryono & Hardy, 1997, Lein, 1984, JNCC, 1999, Norton, 1985, Hardy & Guiry, 2003,
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