SW1A Ruppia maritima/cirrhosa saline community
Vegetation
This is typically a submerged community dominated by Ruppia maritima or Ruppia cirrhosa. There are no other constant or frequent vascular species and only a limited number of infrequent associates. These are comprised mainly of other aquatic species, particularly Potamogeton pectinatus and Zostera marina, or of emergent species, mainly Phragmites australis, Bolboschoenus maritimus and Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani. These swamp plants, however, offer only sparse cover. Charophytes (Chara species and Lamprothamnium papulosum) are occasionally found in this community.
Ecology
This is predominantly a community of lagoons and coastal saline lakes. Ruppia-dominated vegetation has also been observed in salt pans and on coastal mudflats, but little data have yet been collected to describe this aspect of the community.
Sub-communities
No sub-communities are currently described.
Similar communities
This is a very distinct community which should not cause too much confusion. There are some similarities with the FW2F Potamogeton pectinatus – Myriophyllum spicatum aquatic community, but in that assemblage Ruppia is infrequent and Potamogeton species tend to dominate. On mudflats (e.g. at Bull Island, Dublin) Ruppia expanses may merge into SM1A Salicornia agg. saltmarsh.
Conservation value
Most examples of this community occur in water bodies that qualify as EU HD Annex I priority habitat 1150 Lagoons*. Species/1 m2 = 1.1, n = 48.
Management
This community is typically unmanaged but is threatened by impacts which affect lagoons, including drainage for purposes of agricultural reclamation, natural siltation and eutrophication.