Description of biotope or habitat type
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Capitella capitata and Thyasira spp. in organically-enriched offshore circalittoral mud and sandy mud
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | |
| Tidal streams | |
| Substratum | Mud and sandy mud. |
| Zone | Circalittoral |
| Depth Band | |
| Other Features |
Biotope origin
| Derived using data from | Day Grab |
| Faunal group | Infauna |
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
In circalittoral and deep offshore mud and sandy mud adjacent to oil or gas platforms, organic enrichment from drill cuttings leads to the development of communities dominated by the Capitella capitata, an opportunist especially associated with organically enriched and polluted sediments as described for SS.SMu.ISaMu.Cap (Warren 1977; Pearson & Rosenberg 1978). The bivalves Thyasira flexuosa or T. sarsi may also be found in moderate numbers at some sites. Other taxa may be present in low numbers in areas of less severe enrichment including Pholoe inornata, Lagis koreni, Philine scabra, Anaitides groenlandica, Mediomastus fragilis and Paramphinome jeffreysii.
Situation
No situation data available.
Temporal variation
No temporal data available.
Characterising species
Characterising species data not applicable.
Similar biotopes or habitat types
SS.SMu.ISaMu.Cap
SS.SMu.OMu.CapThy is closely related SS.SMu.ISaMu.Cap although the latter is found in shallower depths.
SS.SMu.OMu.CapThy.Odub
SS.SMu.OMu.CapThy.Odub is found in sandier sediment and in slightly less polluted areas but is slightly less diverse.Classification history of this biotope or habitat type
| Classification version | Code | Habitat name |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 (15.03) | SS.SMu.OMu.CapThy | Capitella capitata and Thyasira spp. in organically-enriched offshore circalittoral mud and sandy mud |
| 2004 (04.05) | SS.SMu.OMu.CapThy | Capitella capitata and Thyasira spp. in organically-enriched offshore circalittoral mud and sandy mud |