|Basic Information||Biotope classification||Ecology||Habitat preferences and distribution||Species composition||Sensitivity||Importance|
Image Keith Hiscock - A well developed overhang community with pendulous polyclinid tunicates. Image width ca 1 m.
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LR.LR.Ov recorded () and expected () distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)
Species living under overhangs are mainly active suspension feeders relying on water-borne food and are not generally interacting. However, overgrowth of one species by another may occur (cf. Turner, 1988) and some overhangs become dominated by one species especially Dendrodoa grossularia. A small number of species feed on the encrusting fauna including, for example, Archidoris pseudoargus on sponges, the cowrie Trivia monacha spp on compound ascidians, and the dog whelk Nucella lapillus on barnacles.
This review can be cited as follows:
Hiscock, K. 2002. Overhangs and caves. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 24/04/2014]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/habitatecology.php?habitatid=242&code=1997>