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Marine Habitat Classification


Description of biotope or habitat type

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   Cidarid urchin assemblage 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 Biotope depth range 200 - 600 m (based on zone); assemblage recorded from 184 - 1062 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.AtUB.Sa.UrcCom.CidUrc Cidarid urchin assemblage on Atlantic upper 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 biotope is characterised by sparse and occasionally agreggated Cidarid urchins on sand substrates. The same epifaunal assemblage is also found on coarse sediment and in the mid bathyal but associated infauna are likely to differ. Characterising species listed refer to all Cidarid urchins assemblages not just those found associated with the zone and substrate specified in this biotope.

Situation

No situation data available.

Temporal variation

No temporal variation data available.

Characterising species

Taxon % of core records where taxon was recorded
Cidaris cidaris
Parastichopus tremulus
Spatangus raschi
Caryophyllia
Cerianthidae
Bolocera tuediae
Ophiuroidea

Similar biotopes or habitat types

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

M.AtMB.Sa.UrcCom.CidUrc
The same epifaunal assemblage in the mid bathyal. Associated infauna are likely to differ.

M.AtUB.Co.UrcCom.CidUrc
The same epifaunal assemblage on coarse sediment. Associated infauna are likely to differ.

Photos

M.AtUB.Sa.UrcCom.CidUrc Cidarid urchin assemblage on Atlantic upper bathyal sand, Rockall Bank. ANON© MSS/JNCC/University of Plymouth
M.AtUB.Sa.UrcCom.CidUrc Cidarid urchin assemblage on Atlantic upper bathyal sand, Rockall Bank. ANON© MSS/JNCC/University of Plymouth

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