Distribution data supplied by the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS). To interrogate UK data visit the NBN Atlas.Map Help
Researched by | Angus Jackson | Refereed by | Prof. Steve J. Hawkins |
Authority | (Linnaeus, 1767) | ||
Other common names | - | Synonyms | - |
A frequently gregarious segmented worm that builds tubes from sand or shell fragments. Found intertidally (although occasionally subtidally) in exposed areas. Tubes often densely aggregated forming a honey comb pattern. May form large reefs up to several metres across and a metre deep.
At low densities tubes are attached to the substratum along the entire length but at greater densities competition for space results in the tubes overlapping and may cause the tubes to be built outwards, away from the substrate. Tube colour varies according to the colour of sand grains
- none -
Phylum | Annelida | Segmented worms e.g. ragworms, tubeworms, fanworms and spoon worms |
Class | Polychaeta | Bristleworms, e.g. ragworms, scaleworms, paddleworms, fanworms, tubeworms and spoon worms |
Family | Sabellariidae | |
Genus | Sabellaria | |
Authority | (Linnaeus, 1767) | |
Recent Synonyms |
Typical abundance | High density | ||
Male size range | 3 -4cm | ||
Male size at maturity | |||
Female size range | Small-medium(3-10cm) | ||
Female size at maturity | |||
Growth form | Tubicolous | ||
Growth rate | 12cm/year | ||
Body flexibility | |||
Mobility | |||
Characteristic feeding method | Active suspension feeder | ||
Diet/food source | |||
Typically feeds on | Seston | ||
Sociability | |||
Environmental position | Epifaunal | ||
Dependency | Independent. | ||
Supports | Substratum a variety of associated fauna and flora depending on form and age of colony: particularly mussels, barnacles and ephemeral algae | ||
Is the species harmful? | No |
Size refers to individual worms. It is typically gregarious forming colonies of sheets, hummocks or reefs. In Cornwall, their tubes are up to 20 cm in length and around 5 mm in diameter at the external opening. Each tube has an additional porch over the opening. In northern France, the tubes were reported to grow in length at 12 cm/year.
This species appears to be favoured by elevated winter temperatures associated with cooling water discharges (Bamber & Irving, 1997) but growth is inhibited below 5 C
Communities associated with Sabellaria alveolata are not particularly remarkable being species poor on young dense reef and up to 38 species on older reefs. Honeycomb worm aggregations that bind together mobile cobbles increase heterogeneity.
Physiographic preferences | Open coast |
Biological zone preferences | Lower eulittoral, Mid eulittoral, Sublittoral fringe, Upper infralittoral |
Substratum / habitat preferences | Bedrock, Cobbles, Large to very large boulders, Pebbles, Small boulders |
Tidal strength preferences | Moderately Strong 1 to 3 knots (0.5-1.5 m/sec.), Strong 3 to 6 knots (1.5-3 m/sec.) |
Wave exposure preferences | Exposed, Moderately exposed, Very exposed |
Salinity preferences | Full (30-40 psu) |
Depth range | MTL - 10 metres |
Other preferences | No text entered |
Migration Pattern | Non-migratory / resident |
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.Reproductive type | Gonochoristic (dioecious) | |
Reproductive frequency | Annual episodic | |
Fecundity (number of eggs) | 100,000-1,000,000 | |
Generation time | Insufficient information | |
Age at maturity | In good conditions worms mature within the first year. | |
Season | July - July | |
Life span | 2-5 years |
Larval/propagule type | - |
Larval/juvenile development | Planktotrophic |
Duration of larval stage | 1-6 months |
Larval dispersal potential | Greater than 10 km |
Larval settlement period | Insufficient information |
Spawning occurs each July but actual recruitment levels vary considerably from year to year. Larvae spend between 6 weeks and 6 months in the plankton.
The MarLIN sensitivity assessment approach used below has been superseded by the MarESA (Marine Evidence-based Sensitivity Assessment) approach (see menu). The MarLIN approach was used for assessments from 1999-2010. The MarESA approach reflects the recent conservation imperatives and terminology and is used for sensitivity assessments from 2014 onwards.
Intolerance | Recoverability | Sensitivity | Evidence/Confidence | |
High | Moderate | Moderate | Low | |
The species is fixed to the substratum so substratum removal will cause mortality. Variability in recruitment (dependent on suitable environmental conditions) means that recovery could take several years. | ||||
Low | Immediate | Not sensitive | High | |
Tolerant to burial under sand for up to several weeks. Feeding and growth will be curtailed. Depending on timing this may interfere with reproduction. Recoverability is almost immediate (Wilson, 1971). | ||||
Low | Very high | Very Low | Low | |
Tube growth is dependent on the presence of suspended particles hence a reduction in siltation may hinder tube construction. An increase in siltation may facilitate tube building but clog up feeding apparatus. Recovery occurs when the population is able to recommence feeding and growing. | ||||
No information | ||||
Intermediate | High | Low | Low | |
Species is typically intertidal and so is regularly exposed to drying influences. When exposed to the air the worm retracts into its tube and closes the operculum over the entrance reducing evaporation. Changes in desiccation for the period of a year may cause some of the population to die. Variability in recruitment (dependent on suitable environmental conditions) means that recovery could take a few years. The presence of some remaining adults will assist in larval settlement as this is the preferred substratum (Wilson 1929). | ||||
Intermediate | High | Low | Low | |
A reduction in the amount of time spent under water could cause a proportion of a colony to die due to restricted feeding. The species also occurs subtidally so a decrease in emergence time will have no effect. Variability in recruitment (dependent on suitable environmental conditions) means that recovery could take a few years. The presence of some remaining adults will assist in larval settlement as this is the preferred substratum (Wilson 1929). | ||||
No information | ||||
Intermediate | High | Low | Low | |
The species inhabits areas with high water flow so an increase in rate is likely to have little effect. A reduction of water flow by two categories is likely to cause exposure to conditions outside the normal range for the species. This may be sufficient to reduce availability of suspended particles, hindering growth and repair and feeding. Variability in recruitment (dependent on suitable environmental conditions) means that recovery could take a few years. The presence of some remaining adults will assist in larval settlement as this is the preferred substratum (Wilson 1929). | ||||
No information | ||||
Intermediate | High | Low | Low | |
The species is typically intertidal. Intolerance assessment is in relation to short term acute temperature change. Growth inhibited below 5 degrees C. Damaged or killed by frost. Long term slight increase in temperature is unlikely to have any effect on British populations as global distribution extends South to Morocco. Long term slight decrease in temperature may reduce viability of populations. Variability in recruitment (dependent on suitable environmental conditions) means that recovery could take a few years. The presence of some remaining adults will assist in larval settlement as this is the preferred substratum (Wilson 1929). | ||||
No information | ||||
Tolerant | Not relevant | Not sensitive | Low | |
No reliance on visual sense for feeding, reproducing etc. | ||||
No information | ||||
Intermediate | High | Low | Low | |
Requires sufficient water action to suspend coarse sand particles in order to build tubes and so is found in quite exposed areas. Most colonies die through eventual break up by wave action. Increased exposure will result in potentially shorter colony life. Reduced exposure may mean the population exists outside of its preferred conditions with insufficient water action to provide sand particles or food. Variability in recruitment (dependent on suitable environmental conditions) means that recovery could take a few years. The presence of some remaining adults will assist in larval settlement as this is the preferred substratum (Wilson 1929). | ||||
No information | ||||
Tolerant | Not relevant | Not sensitive | High | |
The species is unlikely to respond to noise vibrations | ||||
Tolerant | Not relevant | Not sensitive | High | |
Most polychaetes have photoreceptors but the species is probably unable to resolve moving objects. The worms may retract into tube on disturbance. Whether this is through light detection or mechanical stimulus is uncertain. | ||||
Intermediate | High | Low | Moderate | |
Abrasion through trampling can affect this species but it is surprisingly tolerant (Cunningham et al., 1984). The main cause of colony destruction is through wave action. Variability in recruitment (dependent on suitable environmental conditions) means that recovery could take a few years. The presence of some remaining adults will assist in larval settlement, as this is the preferred substratum (Wilson 1929). Variability in recruitment (dependent on suitable environmental conditions) means that recovery could take several years. | ||||
High | Moderate | Moderate | High | |
Worms are not able to rebuild tubes if removed from them (Wilson 1929). |
Intolerance | Recoverability | Sensitivity | Evidence/Confidence | |
No information | No information | No information | Not relevant | |
Although the larvae are potentially very intolerant of some oil dispersants it is unlikely that Sabellaria alveolata has any special intolerance to chemicals (Holt et al., 1998). | ||||
No information | No information | No information | Not relevant | |
Insufficient information | ||||
No information | No information | No information | Not relevant | |
Insufficient information | ||||
No information | No information | No information | Not relevant | |
Insufficient information | ||||
No information | No information | No information | Not relevant | |
Insufficient information | ||||
Intermediate | High | Low | Low | |
Species only occurs in fully marine environment, however, as it frequently occurs in the intertidal, it must be able to tolerate some reduced salinity caused by precipitation run off. Variability in recruitment (dependent on suitable environmental conditions) means that recovery could take a few years. The presence of some remaining adults will assist in larval settlement as this is the preferred substratum (Wilson 1929). | ||||
No information | ||||
Intermediate | High | Low | Very low | |
Cole et al. (1999) suggest possible adverse effects on marine species below 4 mg/l and probable adverse effects below 2 mg/l. There is no information about Sabellaria alveolata tolerance to changes in oxygenation. Variability in recruitment (dependent on suitable environmental conditions) means that recovery could take a few years. The presence of some remaining adults will assist in larval settlement as this is the preferred substratum (Wilson 1929). |
Intolerance | Recoverability | Sensitivity | Evidence/Confidence | |
No information | No information | No information | Not relevant | |
Insufficient information | ||||
No information | No information | No information | Not relevant | |
Insufficient information | ||||
Intermediate | High | Low | Low | |
Extraction by bait digging is a possibility. Automatically assessed as intermediate assuming 50 percent removal. Variability in recruitment (dependent on suitable environmental conditions) means that recovery could take a few years. The presence of some remaining adults will assist in larval settlement as this is the preferred substratum (Wilson 1929). | ||||
Intermediate | High | Low | Low | |
Bait collection occurs in Portugal for crabs etc. living in the gaps between worm tubes. |
National (GB) importance | Not rare/scarce | Global red list (IUCN) category | - |
Native | - | ||
Origin | - | Date Arrived | - |
Bamber, R.N. & Irving, P.W., 1997. The differential growth of Sabellaria alveolata (L.) reefs at a power station outfall. Polychaete Research, 17, 9-14.
Campbell, A., 1994. Seashores and shallow seas of Britain and Europe. London: Hamlyn.
Cunningham, P.N., Hawkins, S.J., Jones, H.D. & Burrows, M.T., 1984. The geographical distribution of Sabellaria alveolata (L.) in England, Wales and Scotland, with investigations into the community structure of and the effects of trampling on Sabellaria alveolata colonies. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough, Contract Report no. HF3/11/22., University of Manchester, Department of Zoology.
Gruet, Y. & Lassus, P., 1983. Contribution a l'etude de la biologie reproductive d'une population naturelle de l'Annelide Polychete, Sabellaria alveolata (Linnaeus). Annals of the Institute of Oceanography, Monaco, 59, 127 - 140.
Gruet, Y., 1985. Recherches sur l'é cologie des ré cifs d'hermelles édifiés par l'annélide polychète Sabellaria alveolata (Linné). Journal de Recherche Oceanographique, 10, 32-35.
Gruet, Y., 1986. Spatio-temporal changes of sabellarian reefs built by the sedentary polychaete Sabellaria alveolata (Linnaeus) Marine Ecology, Pubblicazioni della Stazione Zoologica di Napoli I, 7, 303-319.
Hayward, P., Nelson-Smith, T. & Shields, C. 1996. Collins pocket guide. Sea shore of Britain and northern Europe. London: HarperCollins.
Holt, T.J., Rees, E.I., Hawkins, S.J. & Seed, R., 1998. Biogenic reefs (Volume IX). An overview of dynamic and sensitivity characteristics for conservation management of marine SACs. Scottish Association for Marine Science (UK Marine SACs Project), 174 pp. Available from: http://ukmpa.marinebiodiversity.org/uk_sacs/pdfs/biogreef.pdf
Howson, C.M. & Picton, B.E., 1997. The species directory of the marine fauna and flora of the British Isles and surrounding seas. Belfast: Ulster Museum. [Ulster Museum publication, no. 276.]
JNCC (Joint Nature Conservation Committee), 1999. Marine Environment Resource Mapping And Information Database (MERMAID): Marine Nature Conservation Review Survey Database. [on-line] http://www.jncc.gov.uk/mermaid
Pawlik, J.R., 1968. Larval settlement and metamorphosis of gregarious sabellariid polychaetes, Sabellaria alveolata compared with Phragmatopoma californica. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 68, 101-124.
Picton, B.E. & Costello, M.J., 1998. BioMar biotope viewer: a guide to marine habitats, fauna and flora of Britain and Ireland. [CD-ROM] Environmental Sciences Unit, Trinity College, Dublin.
Smith, J.E. (ed.), 1968. 'Torrey Canyon'. Pollution and marine life. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Wilson, D.P., 1929. The larvae of the British sabellarians. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 16, 221-269.
Wilson, D.P., 1968. Some aspects of the development of the eggs and larvae of Sabellaria alveolata (L.). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 48, 367-86.
Wilson, D.P., 1969. The honey comb worm. Sea Frontiers, 15, 322-29.
Wilson, D.P., 1970a. Additional observations on larval growth and settlement of Sabellaria alveolata. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 50, 1-32.
Wilson, D.P., 1971. Sabellaria colonies at Duckpool, North Cornwall 1961 - 1970 Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 54, 509-580.
Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre, 2017. BRERC species records recorded over 15 years ago. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/h1ln5p accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-09-25.
Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre, 2017. BRERC species records within last 15 years. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/vntgox accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-09-25.
Centre for Environmental Data and Recording, 2018. Ulster Museum Marine Surveys of Northern Ireland Coastal Waters. Occurrence dataset https://www.nmni.com/CEDaR/CEDaR-Centre-for-Environmental-Data-and-Recording.aspx accessed via NBNAtlas.org on 2018-09-25.
Cofnod – North Wales Environmental Information Service, 2018. Miscellaneous records held on the Cofnod database. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/hcgqsi accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-09-25.
Fenwick, 2018. Aphotomarine. Occurrence dataset http://www.aphotomarine.com/index.html Accessed via NBNAtlas.org on 2018-10-01
Fife Nature Records Centre, 2018. St Andrews BioBlitz 2015. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/xtrbvy accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-09-27.
Fife Nature Records Centre, 2018. St Andrews BioBlitz 2016. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/146yiz accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-09-27.
Lancashire Environment Record Network, 2018. LERN Records. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/esxc9a accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-01.
Merseyside BioBank., 2018. Merseyside BioBank (unverified). Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/iou2ld accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-01.
National Trust, 2017. National Trust Species Records. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/opc6g1 accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-01.
NBN (National Biodiversity Network) Atlas. Available from: https://www.nbnatlas.org.
OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System), 2023. Global map of species distribution using gridded data. Available from: Ocean Biogeographic Information System. www.iobis.org. Accessed: 2023-03-24
South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre, 2018. SEWBReC Worms (South East Wales). Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/5vh0w8 accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-02.
South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre, 2018. Dr Mary Gillham Archive Project. Occurance dataset: http://www.sewbrec.org.uk/ accessed via NBNAtlas.org on 2018-10-02
This review can be cited as:
Last Updated: 29/04/2008