Description of biotope or habitat type
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Lophelia reefs
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | Extremely sheltered |
| Tidal streams | Moderately strong (1-3 kn), Weak (>1 kn) |
| Substratum | Fine silt, rock and other hard substrata |
| Zone | Circalittoral - lower |
| Depth Band | 50-100 m, 100-200 m |
| Other Features |
Biotope origin
| Derived using data from | Video |
| Faunal group | Epifauna |
Download comparative physical and biological data. The comparative tables enable a rapid comparison of the species composition and principal physical characteristics between a given set of biotopes.
- Records used to define the biotope (core records)
- Other records assigned to this biotope, marked as 'certain'
- Other records assigned to this biotope, marked as 'uncertain'
- Predicted extent of the level 3 (for sublittoral rock & deep sea) or 4 (for sublittoral sediment) habitat
Point data based on records in the UK Marine Recorder Snapshot. Predicted habitat extent is from UKSeaMap.
Description
Reefs of the coral Lophelia pertusa, typically supporting a range of other biota. Lophelia reefs are generally found in areas of elevated current. The coral provides a three dimensional structure and a variety of microhabitats that provide shelter and a surface of attachment for other species. Boring sponges, anemones, bryozoans, gorgonians including Paragorgia arborea, Paramuricea placomus, Primnoa resedaeformis, polychaetes, barnacles, squat lobsters (Munida sarsi) and bivalves have all been recorded within and among the corals (Wilson, 1979; Mortensen et al. , 1995) Other hard corals such as Madrepora oculata and Solenosmilia variabilis may also be present. Mobile species present include the redfish (Sebastes viviparous and Sebastes marinus), Ling (Molva molva) and tusk (Brosme brosme) (Husebo et al. , 2002).
Note: Although Lophelia pertusa (Linnaeus, 1758) is accepted as Desmophyllum pertusum (Linnaeus, 1758) in WoRMS, the molecular evidence is uncertain at present (2021) to grant a change in its taxonomic nomenclature. This will be revised once further evidence becomes available.
Situation
In British waters Lophelia reefs have been found on fine silt sediment and rock on the continental slope, on rock on the continental shelf, and on other hard structures such as the legs of oil platforms.
Temporal variation
No temporal data available.
Characterising species
| Taxon | Typical abundance - SACFOR scale | % of core records where taxon was recorded |
|---|---|---|
| Lophelia pertusa | Abundant | 81-100% |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
Not applicable or unknown.
Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code | Habitat name |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 (15.03) | SS.SBR.Crl.Lop | Lophelia reefs |
| 2004 (04.05) | SS.SBR.Crl.Lop | Lophelia reefs |
| 1997 (97.06) | SS.COR.COR.Lop | Lophelia reefs |