Description of biotope or habitat type
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Psolus squamatus and encrusting sponge assemblage on Atlantic mid bathyal rock and other hard substrata
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | |
| Tidal streams | |
| Substratum | Rock and other hard substrata - cobble, boulder and bedrock |
| Zone | Atlantic mid bathyal |
| Depth Band | Biotope depth range 600 - 1300 m (based on zone); assemblage recorded from 500 - 1878 m; median 1198 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 assemblage occurs on cobble, boulder and bedrock areas with the holothurian Psolus being the most conspicuous faunal compenent and lamellate sponges also being present. A range of encrusting species are also present and are like to vary with depth and location. This assemblage also occurs in the upper bathyal. It is likely this biotope represents more than one assemblage but data are not sufficent to separate them. Characterising species listed refer to all Psolus squamatus and encrusting sponge 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 |
|---|---|
| Porifera encrusting (pale - yellow, white, grey, cream, pink | |
| Ophiuroidea | |
| Porifera encrusting (green) | |
| Psolus squamatus | |
| Porifera massive globose | |
| Caryophylliidae | |
| Actiniaria | |
| Ascidiacea | |
| Syringammina fragilissima | |
| Crinoidea | |
| Anomiidae | |
| Serpulidae | |
| Phoronida | |
| Ophiactis balli | |
| Cidaris cidaris | |
| Halcampoididae | |
| Porifera encrusting (orange) | |
| Munida sarsi |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
M.AtUB.Ro.SpaEnc.PsoSpo
The same epifaunal assemblage in the upper bathyal.
M.AtUB.Ro.SpaEnc.PsoAno
Occurs in the upper bathyal. A range of encrusting species are also present but there is no conspicuous presence of lamellate sponges as there is within Psolus squamatus and encrusting sponge assemblage.
