Description of biotope or habitat type
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Reteporella and Axinellid sponges on Atlantic upper bathyal rock and other hard substrata
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | |
| Tidal streams | |
| Substratum | Rock - pebbles and cobbles |
| Zone | Atlantic upper bathyal |
| Depth Band | Biotope depth range 200 - 600 m (based on zone); assemblage recorded from 142-311 m; median 226 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 occurs on cobbles and pebbles on sandy sea bed possibly associated with shallow iceberg ploughmarks, characterised by Axinellid and massive lobose sponges, cup sponges and bryozoan Reteporella attached to the cobbles, with squat lobsters sheltering under the cobbles. It is similar to a deeper expression of the shallower biotope “deep sponge communities (circalittoral)".
Situation
No situation data available.
Temporal variation
No temporal variation data available.
Characterising species
| Taxon | % of core records where taxon was recorded |
|---|---|
| Munida | |
| Porifera encrusting (yellow, pale) | |
| Reteporella | |
| Axinella infundibuliformis | |
| Porifera massive lobose | |
| Bryozoa | |
| Zoantharia |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
M.AtUB.Ro.DeeSpo.SpoSty
Stylasterids are present and sponges are mainly lobose rather than Axinellid.Photos
