Description of biotope or habitat type
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Thaumatocrinus jungerseni assemblage on Atlantic mid abyssal mud
Physical habitat description
| Salinity | Full (30-35 ppt) |
|---|---|
| Wave exposure | |
| Tidal streams | |
| Substratum | Mud - silt or pelagic ooze |
| Zone | Atlantic mid abyssal |
| Depth Band | Biotope depth range 3100 - 4100 m (based on zone); assemblage recorded from 3580 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
Hughes and Gage (2004) describe this biotope from the mouth of Rockall Trough at 3580m dominated by the comatulid crinoid Thaumatocrinus jungerseni on fine silt or pelagic ooze. It is possible that this site experiences increased current speeds as a result of the constriction of the topography in this area, making it favourable to suspension feeding organisms such as crinoids. This assemblage may therefore be a variation on the Psychropotes longicauda and Oneirophanta mutabilis assemblage. This assemblage was described based on literature only.
Situation
No situation data available.
Temporal variation
No temporal variation data available.
Characterising species
| Taxon | % of core records where taxon was recorded |
|---|---|
| Thaumatocrinus jungerseni | |
| Fissidentalium candidum | |
| Ophiura ljungmani | |
| Cerianthidae | |
| Pennatulidae | |
| Psychropotes longicauda | |
| Oneirophanta mutabilis |
Similar biotopes or habitat types
Not applicable or unknown.