Identity:

Mud, often consolidated with coarse sand or gravel, on the extreme upper shore with Salicornia spp. plants forming a pioneer saltmarsh community. This habitat typically occurs in very sheltered estuarine conditions. Usually a reduced marine fauna is present which may include the amphipod Corophium volutator, the ragworm Hediste (Nereis) diversicolor and often the mud snail Hydrobia ulvae. The fucoid alga Pelvetia canaliculata may be found on hard substrata, consolidated mud or lying unattached. This community is equivalent to saltmarsh community SM8 in the British National Vegetation Classification.