Description of biotope or habitat type
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Acanella arbuscula assemblage on Atlantic lower bathyal mud
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | |
| Tidal streams | |
| Substratum | Mud - sandy silts and fine grained oozes |
| Zone | Atlantic lower bathyal |
| Depth Band | Biotope depth range 1300 - 2100 m (based on zone); assemblage recorded from 900 - 2500 m; most common recorded depth of assemblage >1920 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 biotope is composed of dense aggregations of the Isidid octocoral Acanella arbuscula on sandy silts and fine grained oozes. It is likely to be functionally similar to a seapen field. Gage (1986) describes growths of the arborescent gorgonian Acanella arbuscula as providing a “perch” for such fauna as the brittle star Ophiacantha bidentata to feed in the current. This assemblage was also recorded in the upper bathyal but associated species are likely to differ with depth. Characterising species listed refer to all Acanella arbuscula assemblages not just those found associated with the zone and substrate specified in this biotope. This assemblage is described from published literature only.
Situation
No situation data available.
Temporal variation
No temporal variation data available.
Characterising species
| Taxon | % of core records where taxon was recorded |
|---|---|
| Acanella arbuscula | |
| Ophiacantha bidentata | |
| Hymenaster pellucidus | |
| Dytaster grandis grandis | |
| Porcellanaster ceruleus | |
| Echinosigra phiale | |
| Ypsilothuria bitentaculata attenuate | |
| Peniagone azorica | |
| Ophiomusa lymani | |
| Cerianthidae | |
| Phelliactis robusta | |
| Flabellum (Ulocyathus) alabastrum | |
| Hyalonema | |
| Lepidisis | |
| Kophobelemnon |
Similar biotopes or habitat types