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Marine Habitat Classification


Description of biotope or habitat type

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   Atlantic lower bathyal cold water coral reef (biogenic structure)


Physical habitat description

Salinity Full (30-35 ppt)
Wave exposure
Tidal streams
Substratum Biogenic substrate
Zone Atlantic lower bathyal
Depth Band 1300 - 2100 m
Other Features

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.

Distribution of habitat M.AtLB.Bi.CorRee Atlantic lower bathyal cold water coral reef (biogenic structure)

  • 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 formed by Scleractinian corals. In the Atlantic lower bathyal, the reef forming species is Solenosmilia variabilis. Cold water coral reefs are associated with a variety of other coral species, sponges, and a high diversity of other fauna. Coral reef attaches to hard substrate, but can be found on sediments where corals initially attach to pebbles and cobbles on the sediment and then the reef grows outwards.

Situation

No situation data available.

Temporal variation

No temporal variation data available.

Characterising species

Characterising species data not applicable.

Similar biotopes or habitat types

M.AtUB.Bi.CorRee
Coral reef occurring in the upper bathyal where the reef building species is Lophelia pertusa.


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