Description of biotope or habitat type
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Surface dwelling ophiuroid community on Atlantic upper bathyal sand
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | |
| Tidal streams | |
| Substratum | Sand |
| Zone | Atlantic upper bathyal |
| Depth Band | 200 - 600 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.
- 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
This broad community consisting of assemblages characterised by brittle stars (ophiuroids) which lie on the surface of the seabed. They can occur in isolation or be overlain onto other broad communities such as 'sparse encrusting fauna' and 'mixed cold water coral'. It may be necessary to assign this broad community and 'child' biotopes in conjunction with another type. Species may differ with depth and sediment type but it was not possible to identify to species level using video data available.
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.AtLB.Mx.SurOph
The same epifaunal broad community occuring in the upper bathyal on mixed sediment. The brittle star species may differ and so will associated infauna.