Description of biotope or habitat type
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Lobose sponge and stylasterid assemblage on Atlantic upper bathyal rock and other hard substrata
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | |
| Tidal streams | |
| Substratum | Rock and other hard substrata - bedrock and boulders |
| Zone | Atlantic upper bathyal |
| Depth Band | Biotope depth range 300 - 600 m (based on zone); assemblage recorded from 387 - 685 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 has been found on bedrock and boulders on the shallow flanks of Rockall Bank and is characterised by large yellow lobose sponges and Stylasterid corals. It has only been observed on Rockall Bank most likely due to the shallow depth range over which it occurs; the summits of many of the features are too deep.
Situation
No situation data available.
Temporal variation
No temporal variation data available.
Characterising species
| Taxon | % of core records where taxon was recorded |
|---|---|
| Anomiidae | |
| Serpulidae | |
| Munida | |
| Porifera encrusting (pale, yellow and orange) | |
| Ophiactis | |
| Brachiopoda | |
| Cidaris cidaris | |
| Caryophyllia | |
| Pandalus borealis | |
| Stylaster | |
| Porifera lobose (yellow) |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
M.AtUB.Ro.DeeSpo.RetAxi
Stylasterids are absent and Axinellid sponges are present as well as lobose sponges. Bryozoan Reteporella is also common.Photos
