Sabellaria spinulosa is commonly known as the Ross worm (wikipedia, 2019) and is a small, tube-building polychaete worm that can be found in depths between 10 to 50m, sometimes more (OSPAR, 2010). It occours mostly as a solitary species or in small groups, encrusted in pebbles, shells, kelp holdfasts and bedrock; but in favourable conditiongs they may form dense aggregations, forming reefs up to 60cm height, extending over several hectares. Reefs can persist in an area for many years but individual clumps can form and disintegrate regularly (Jackson & Hiscock, 2003; Jones et al., 2000 in OSPAR, 2010).
"S.spinulosa reefs are often found in areas with quite high levels of natural sediment disturbance; in some areas of reef, individual clumps of Sabellaria may periodically break down and rebuild following storm events." (OSPAR, 2010)
"S.spinulosa reefs have been recorded from all European coasts except the Baltic Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat" "but are typically limited to areas with very high levels of suspended sediment " (OSPAR, 2010).
The biggest human related threats for the ross worms are "fishing, hunting, harvesting, extraction of sand, stone and gravel, constructions, coastal defence measures, aquaculture/mariculture, dumping of solid waste and dredged spoils, placement and operation of submarine cables and of pipelines." (OSPAR 2010)
Sources:
OSPAR Commission (2010). "Quality Satus Report 2010. Case Reports for the OSPAR List of Threatened and/or Declining Species and Habitats - Update". Retrieved from https://qsr2010.ospar.org/media/assessments/Species/p0010_supplements/CH10_04_Sabellaria_spinulosa.pdf, accessed on 2022-02-17
Wikipedia (2019). "Sabellaria spinulosa" Accessed on 2022-02-17.
Co-funded by the European Union.