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Marine Habitat Classification


Description of biotope or habitat type

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   Gracilechinus alexandri, Psilaster and Plinthaster assemblage on Atlantic upper abyssal mud


Physical habitat description

Salinity Full (30-35 ppt)
Wave exposure
Tidal streams
Substratum Mud - pelagic ooze and terbidite
Zone Atlantic upper Abyssal
Depth Band Biotope depth range 2100 - 3100 m; assemblage recorded from 1400 - 2500 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.AtUA.Mu.UrcCom.GraAle <i>Gracilechinus alexandri</i>, Psilaster and Plinthaster assemblage on Atlantic upper abyssal mud

  • 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 consists of urchin Gracilechinus alexandri with seastars on mud substrate. Gage (1986) describes an assemblage from the continental slope west of the Hebrides (Rockall Trough) between 1400 and 2500m on pelagic ooze and terbidite dominated by echinoderms. The same epifaunal assemblage is also found in the lower bathyal but associated infauna are likely to differ. Characterising species listed refer to all Gracilechinus alexandri, Psilaster and Plinthaster 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
Gracilechinus alexandri
Persephonaster patagiatus
Plinthaster dentatus
Munidopsis curvirostra
Stereomastis sculpta
Neolithodes grimaldii
Colus jeffreysianus
Troschelia berniciensis

Similar biotopes or habitat types

M.AtLB.Mu.UrcCom.GraAcu
Assemblage occurs in the lower bathyal. The dominant urchin species is Gracilechinus acutus.

M.AtLB.Sa.UrcCom.GraAcu
Assemblage occurs in the lower bathyal on sand. The dominant urchin species is Gracilechinus acutus.

M.AtMB.Mu.UrcCom.GraAcu
Assemblage occurs in the mid bathyal on mud. The dominant urchin species is Gracilechinus acutus.

M.AtMB.Sa.UrcCom.GraAcu
Assemblage occurs in the mid bathyal on sand. The dominant urchin species is Gracilechinus acutus.

M.AtUB.Sa.UrcCom.GraAcu
Assemblage occurs in the upper bathyal on sand. The dominant urchin species is Gracilechinus acutus.

M.AtLB.Mu.UrcCom.GraAle
The same epifaunal assemblage in the lower bathyal. Associated infauna are likely to differ.


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