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Marine Habitat Classification


Description of biotope or habitat type

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   Urchin dominated community on Atlantic lower bathyal sand


Physical habitat description

Salinity Full (30-35 ppt)
Wave exposure
Tidal streams
Substratum Sand
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.Sa.UrcCom Urchin dominated community on Atlantic lower bathyal sand

  • 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 contains biotopes that are dominated by urchins and occurs on sediment. The species of urchin and associated species varies with depth and substrate type. On Atlantic mid bathyal mud and lower bathyal sand only Gracilechinus acutus norvegicus assemblages have been recorded to date. Associated taxa on sand include holothurians.

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.AtMB.Mu.UrcCom
The same epifaunal broad community occuring in the mid bathyal on mud. The species of urchin may differ - cidarid urchins are not found on mud. Associated infauna are likely to differ.

M.AtLB.Mu.UrcCom
The same epifaunal broad community occuring on mud. The species of urchin may differ - cidarid urchins are not found on mud. Associated infauna are likely to differ.

M.AtUB.Sa.UrcCom
The same epifaunal broad community occuring in the upper bathyal. Associated infauna are likely to differ.

M.AtMB.Sa.UrcCom
The same epifaunal broad community occuring in the mid bathyal. Associated infauna are likely to differ.

M.AtUB.Co.UrcCom
The same epifaunal broad community occuring in the upper bathyal on coarse sediment. Associated infauna are likely to differ.

M.AtMB.Co.UrcCom
The same epifaunal broad community occuring in the mid bathyal on coarse sediment. Associated infauna are likely to differ.

M.AtUA.Mu.UrcCom
The same epifaunal broad community occuring in the mid abyssal on mud. The species of urchin may differ - Gracilechinus alexandri dominates in the upper abyssal. Associated infauna are likely to differ.


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