Description of biotope or habitat type
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Squat lobster assemblage on Atlantic mid bathyal coarse sediment (Lophelia rubble)
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | |
| Tidal streams | |
| Substratum | Coarse sediment - coral gravel |
| Zone | Atlantic mid bathyal |
| Depth Band | Biotope depth range 600 - 1300 m (based on zone); assemblage recorded from 225 - 1129 m; median 298 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 describes the fringing rubble apron of cold water coral mounds or accumulations of gravel size Lophelia pertusa skeleton. Freiwald et al. (2004) list those species occurring within this zone on cold water coral reefs. The same assemblage was recorded in the Atlantic upper bathyal but associated species are likely to vary with depth. Characterising species listed refer to all squat lobster on Lophelia rubble 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 |
|---|---|
| Munida | |
| Bonellia viridis | |
| Porifera massive lobose | |
| Cerianthidae | |
| Porifera encrusting (blue) | |
| Ophiuroidea | |
| Porifera encrusting (pale - yellow, white, grey, cream, pink | |
| Lophelia pertusa | |
| Madrepora oculata | |
| Actiniaria | |
| Phallonemertes | |
| Cidaris | |
| Serpulidae | |
| Brachiopoda |
Similar biotopes or habitat types