Description of biotope or habitat type
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Kophobelemnon fields on Atlantic upper bathyal mud
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | |
| Tidal streams | |
| Substratum | Mud |
| Zone | Atlantic upper bathyal |
| Depth Band | Biotope depth range 200 - 600 m (based on zone); assemblage recorded from 242 - 1059 m; mean 734 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 seapens of the genus Kophobelemnon (in the UK likely to be Kophobelemnon stelliferum) on mud. Kophobelemnon fields are also found in the mid bathyal zone but the associated infauna are likely to differ. Characterising species listed refer to all Kophobelemnon stelliferum 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 |
|---|---|
| Cerianthidae | |
| Kophobelemnon | |
| Protoptilum | |
| Kophobelemnon stelliferum | |
| Pennatula phosphorea | |
| Flabellum chunii | |
| Lanice conchilega | |
| Polycheles typhlops | |
| Grimpoteuthis umbellata |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
M.AtMB.Mu.SpnMeg.KopFie
The same epifaunal assemblage in the mid bathyal. Associated infauna may differ.
SS.SMu.CFiMu.SpnMeg
Shallower variant in the circalittoral characterised by the sea pens Virgularia mirabilis and Pennatula phosphorea.