Introduction- a proposed revision of EUNIS marine habitat
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A PROPOSED REVISION OF THE MARINE SECTION OF THE EUNIS HABITATS CLASSIFICATION The EUNIS habitats classification1, developed and maintained by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and its European Topic Center on Biological Diversity ( ETC-BD), is now widely used and has been adopted as a reference under the INSPIRE Directive2. However the current classification mostly dates from 2004 (Davies, Moss & Hill 2004) with only a few small changes since then and there have been frequent demands for an update to take into account our increasing knowledge and experience in using the classification. This is particularly the case for the marine component of the classification with an increase in surveying, especially using remote sensing techniques, and major projects such as BALANCE, MESH, MESH Atlantic and EUSeaMap. A meeting held at the EEA in October 20113 agreed that a revision of the classification was needed and recognised that the marine section was of highest priority. The following year the MESH Atlantic project held a workshop in San Sebastian, Spain, which, based on the experience from several projects throughout Europe, made recommendations for revising the marine section of the EUNIS habitats classification (Galparsoro et al 2012). Using these recommendations as a starting point, a workshop held at the EEA in November 20134 agreed on basic principles for a revision which were then used to produce a proposed revision of the marine part of the EUNIS habitats classification during 2014. It was agreed that the revision should be based on the following hierarchy: Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Name Realm Biological zone and substrate Bioregion Functional habitat Biotope Sub-biotope The proposed revision for levels 2 to 4 is presented below and has been entered per habitat group in the consultation tool (http://forum.eionet.europa.eu/nrc-biodiversity-data-andinformation/library/consultations/eunis-marine-habitats-review) to allow for comments; please restrict your comments to levels 2-4. Please note that to avoid confusion with the existing classification, no codes have been given. It should be remembered that the existing classification was only developed as far as level 3 (terrestrial and freshwater) and level 4 (marine) with habitats at lower levels (5-6) being simply ‘borrowed’ from other classifications such as the British BioMar classification. When the proposal for restructuring of levels 2-4 is agreed, following this consultation, the marine section will be updated by adding the currently available units at levels 5 and 6 to the relevant 1 http://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/biodiversity/eunis/eunis-habitat-classification http://inspire.ec.europa.eu/documents/Data_Specifications/INSPIRE_DataSpecification_HB_v3.0.pdf 3 http://forum.eionet.europa.eu/nrc-biodiversity-data-andinformation/library/eunis_classification/eunis_meeting_2011/report-eunis-habitat-classification-meeting-2011 2 4 http://forum.eionet.europa.eu/nrc-biodiversity-data-and-information/library/eunis_classification/eunis-marineexpert-meeting-nov-2013/ 1 higher units. Note also, that the current proposal is primarily a restructuring of levels 2-4 of the existing classification types, with only limited updating of the habitat types included (e.g. for the Baltic Sea and Atlantic deep sea). Additional habitat types (at levels 4-6) can be added in the future, based on suitable regional-level work (typologies, mapping). The rationale behind the revised classification is given in the document ‘Guiding Principles for Revising the Marine Component of the EUNIS Habitats Classification’ while the spreadsheet ‘EUNIS marine restructuring’ shows how the existing units have been regrouped, including units in levels 5 and 6. References Davies, C. E., Moss, D., & Hill, M. O. (2004). EUNIS habitat classification revised 2004. Report to: European Environment Agency-European Topic Centre on Nature Protection and Biodiversity, 127-143. Galparsoro, Ibon, David W. Connor, Ángel Borja, Annabelle Aish, Patricia Amorim, Touria Bajjouk, Caroline Chambers, Roger Coggan, Guillaume Dirberg, Helen Ellwood, Douglas Evans, Kathleen L. Goodin, Anthony Grehan, Jannica Haldin, Kerry Howell, Chris Jenkins, Noëmie Michez, Giulia Mo, Pål Buhl-Mortensen, Bryony Pearce, Jacques Populus, Maria Salomidi, Francisco Sánchez, Alberto Serrano, Emily Shumchenia, Fernando Tempera, Mickaël Vasquez 2012 Using EUNIS habitat classification for benthic mapping in European seas: Present concerns and future needs. Marine Pollution Bulletin 64, no 12 (décembre): 2630-38 2 A PROPOSED REVISION OF THE MARINE SECTION OF THE EUNIS HABITATS CLASSIFICATION, LEVELS 2-4 Level 2 Zone/Substrate Level 3 Bioregion Baltic littoral rock Littoral rock Atlantic littoral rock Level 4 Functional habitat Unvegetated Baltic hydrolittoral rock and other hard substrata Vegetated Baltic hydrolittoral rock Communities of permanent brackish pools in the Baltic geolittoral zone Lichens or small green algae on Atlantic supralittoral and littoral fringe rock [Mytilus edulis] and/or barnacle communities on wave-exposed Atlantic littoral rock Robust fucoid and/or red seaweed communities on wave-exposed Atlantic littoral rock Barnacles and fucoids on moderately exposed Atlantic littoral rock [Mytilus edulis] and fucoids on moderately exposed Atlantic littoral rock Fucoids on tide-swept Atlantic littoral rock Fucoids on sheltered Atlantic littoral rock Fucoids on variable salinity Atlantic littoral rock Ephemeral green or red seaweeds on freshwater or sandinfluenced Atlantic littoral rock Communities of Atlantic littoral rockpools Communities of Atlantic littoral caves and overhangs Mediterranean littoral rock Communities of Mediterranean upper mediolittoral rock Communities of exposed Mediterranean lower mediolittoral rock Communities of moderately exposed Mediterranean lower mediolittoral rock Communities of sheltered Mediterranean lower mediolittoral rock Communities of Mediterranean mediolittoral rockpools 3 Level 2 Zone/Substrate Level 3 Bioregion Level 4 Functional habitat Communities of Mediterranean mediolittoral caves and overhangs Pontic littoral rock Communities of Pontic supralittoral rock Faunal communities of exposed Pontic mediolittoral rock Algal turf communities of exposed Pontic mediolittoral rock Faunal communities of moderately exposed Pontic mediolittoral rock Algal turf communities of moderately exposed Pontic mediolittoral rock Communities of sheltered Pontic mediolittoral rock Communities of Pontic mediolittoral rockpools Communities of Pontic mediolittoral caves and overhangs Littoral biogenic habitat (saltmarsh) Arctic littoral saltmarsh Upper shore Arctic salt meadows Lower shore Arctic salt meadows Baltic littoral saltmarsh Atlantic littoral saltmarsh Baltic upper saltmarshes Baltic upper-mid saltmarshes and saline and brackish reed, rush and sedge beds Atlantic saltmarsh driftlines Atlantic upper saltmarshes Atlantic upper-mid saltmarshes and saline and brackish reed, rush and sedge beds Atlantic mid-low saltmarshes Atlantic pioneer saltmarshes Mediterranean littoral saltmarsh Mediterranean saltmarsh driftlines Mediterranean upper saltmarshes Mediterranean upper-mid saltmarshes and saline and brackish 4 Level 2 Zone/Substrate Level 3 Bioregion Level 4 Functional habitat reed, rush and sedge beds Mediterranean mid-low saltmarshes Mediterranean pioneer saltmarshes Pontic littoral saltmarsh Pontic upper saltmarshes Pontic pioneer saltmarshes Littoral biogenic habitat (faunal) Baltic littoral biogenic habitat Mussel beds in the Baltic hydrolittoral zone Atlantic littoral biogenic habitat Worm reefs in the Atlantic littoral zone Mussel beds in the Atlantic littoral zone Oyster beds in the Atlantic littoral zone Mediterranean littoral biogenic habitat Worm reefs in the Mediterranean littoral zone Vermetid mollusc reefs in the Mediterranean littoral zone Coralline algal platforms in the Mediterranean littoral zone Littoral coarse sediment Pontic littoral biogenic habitat Worm reefs in the Pontic littoral zone Baltic littoral coarse sediment Vegetated Baltic hydrolittoral coarse sediment Unvegetated Baltic hydrolittoral coarse sediment Atlantic littoral coarse sediment Marine Atlantic littoral shingle (pebble) and coarse sediment Estuarine Atlantic littoral coarse sediment Mediterranean littoral coarse sediment Pontic littoral coarse sediment Littoral mixed sediment Baltic littoral mixed sediment Communities of Mediterranean mediolittoral coarse sediment Communities of Pontic mediolittoral shingle and gravel Unvegetated Baltic hydrolittoral mixed sediment and stony substrata 5 Level 2 Zone/Substrate Level 3 Bioregion Atlantic littoral mixed sediment Level 4 Functional habitat Vegetated (ephemeral) Atlantic littoral mixed sediment Unvegetated Atlantic littoral mixed sediment Mediterranean littoral mixed sediment Pontic littoral mixed sediment Littoral sand Baltic littoral sand Mediterranean mediolittoral coarse detritic sediment Communities of Pontic mediolittoral mixed sediment Vegetated Baltic hydrolittoral sandy substrata Unvegetated Baltic hydrolittoral sandy substrata Atlantic littoral sand Communities of the Atlantic strandline Seagrass beds on Atlantic littoral sediment Marine [Cyperaceae] beds in the Atlantic littoral zone Barren or amphipod-dominated Atlantic littoral mobile sand Polychaete/amphipod-dominated Atlantic littoral fine sand Polychaete/bivalve-dominated Atlantic littoral muddy sand Mediterranean littoral sand Communities of the Mediterranean strandline Communities of Mediterranean mediolittoral sand Pontic littoral sand Seagrass beds on Pontic mediolittoral sediment Faunal communities of Pontic mediolittoral sand Littoral mud Baltic littoral mud Vegetated Baltic hydrolittoral muddy substrata Unvegetated Baltic hydrolittoral muddy substrata Atlantic littoral mud Marine Atlantic littoral mud Estuarine Atlantic upper littoral mud Mediterranean littoral mud Polychaete/bivalve-dominated mid estuarine Atlantic littoral mud Polychaete/oligochaete-dominated upper estuarine Atlantic littoral mud Communities of Mediterranean mediolittoral mud 6 Level 2 Zone/Substrate Level 3 Bioregion Pontic littoral mud Infralittoral rock Baltic infralittoral rock Atlantic infralittoral rock Level 4 Functional habitat Polychaete/oligochaete-dominated upper estuarine Pontic littoral mud Kelp communities on Baltic infralittoral rock and mixed substrata Perennial algal or moss communities on Baltic infralittoral rock and mixed substrata Stable aggregations of unattached perennial vegetation on Baltic infralittoral mixed substrata Crustose algal communities on Baltic infralittoral rock and mixed substrata Annual algal communities on Baltic infralittoral rock and mixed substrata Submerged rooted plant communities on Baltic infralittoral mixed substrata Emergent vegetation communities on Baltic infralittoral mixed substrata Epifaunal turf communities on Baltic infralittoral rock and mixed substrata Sparse epifaunal communities on Baltic infralittoral rock and mixed substrata Baltic infralittoral clay and other hard substrata Baltic infralittoral anthropogenically-created substrata Kelp with cushion fauna and/or foliose red seaweeds on waveexposed Atlantic infralittoral rock Frondose algal communities (other than kelp) on exposed Atlantic infralittoral rock Encrusting algal communities on exposed Atlantic infralittoral rock Kelp and seaweed communities on sediment-affected or disturbed Atlantic infralittoral rock Kelp and red seaweeds on moderate energy Atlantic infralittoral rock 7 Level 2 Zone/Substrate Level 3 Bioregion Level 4 Functional habitat Kelp and seaweed communities in tide-swept sheltered Atlantic infralittoral rock Silted kelp on marine sheltered Atlantic infralittoral rock Mediterranean infralittoral rock Pontic infralittoral rock Kelp on variable salinity low energy Atlantic infralittoral rock Submerged fucoids, green or red seaweeds on low salinity Atlantic infralittoral rock Faunal communities on sheltered marine Atlantic infralittoral rock Faunal communities on variable or reduced salinity Atlantic infralittoral rock Robust faunal cushions and crusts in Atlantic infralittoral surge gullies and caves Fouling communities on Atlantic infralittoral hard substrata Algal communities on very exposed Mediterranean infralittoral rock Algal communities on moderately exposed Mediterranean infralittoral rock Submerged fucoids, green or red seaweeds on marine Mediterranean infralittoral rock Mussel communities on exposed Pontic infralittoral rock Coralline algal communities on exposed or moderately exposed Pontic infralittoral rock Fucales communities on Pontic infralittoral rock Foliose algal communities (other than Fucales) on Pontic infralittoral rock Sciaphilic algal communities on Pontic infralittoral rock Faunal communities on Pontic infralittoral rock Rock-boring communities on Pontic infralittoral soft rock Communities of Pontic infralittoral caves and overhangs 8 Level 2 Zone/Substrate Level 3 Bioregion Infralittoral biogenic Baltic infralittoral biogenic habitat habitat Atlantic infralittoral biogenic habitat Mediterranean infralittoral biogenic habitat Level 4 Functional habitat Mussel beds in the Baltic infralittoral zone Polychaete worm reefs in the Atlantic infralittoral zone [Posidonia] beds in the Mediterranean infralittoral zone Polychaete worm reefs in the Mediterranean infralittoral zone Pontic infralittoral biogenic habitat Polychaete worm reefs in the Pontic infralittoral zone Mussel beds in the Pontic infralittoral zone Oyster reefs in the Pontic infralittoral zone Shallow/infralittoral coarse sediment Arctic shallow/infralittoral coarse sediment Baltic shallow/infralittoral coarse sediment Arctic infralittoral coarse sediment Kelp communities on Baltic infralittoral coarse sediment Maerl beds on Baltic infralittoral sediment Perennial algae or annual moss communities on Baltic infralittoral coarse sediment Stable aggregations of unattached perennial vegetation on Baltic coarse sediment Annual algal communities on Baltic infralittoral coarse sediment Submerged rooted plant communities on Baltic infralittoral coarse sediment Emergent vegetation communities on Baltic coarse sediment Unvegetated Baltic infralittoral shell gravel Unvegetated Baltic infralittoral coarse sediment Atlantic shallow/infralittoral coarse Kelp and seaweed communities on Atlantic infralittoral coarse sediment sediment 9 Level 2 Zone/Substrate Level 3 Bioregion Level 4 Functional habitat Maerl beds on Atlantic infralittoral coarse sediment Faunal communities in marine Atlantic infralittoral coarse sediment Faunal communities in estuarine Atlantic sublittoral coarse sediment Mediterranean shallow/infralittoral coarse sediment Kelp and seaweed communities on Mediterranean infralittoral coarse sediment Maerl beds on Mediterranean infralittoral coarse sediment Faunal communities in Mediterranean infralittoral coarse sediment Pontic shallow/infralittoral coarse sediment Algal communities on Pontic infralittoral coarse sediment Faunal communities in Pontic infralittoral coarse sediment Bivalve communities in Pontic clean-medium coarse sands Shallow/infralittoral mixed sediments Baltic shallow/infralittoral mixed sediment Unvegetated Baltic infralittoral mixed sediment Atlantic shallow/infralittoral mixed sediment Maerl beds on Atlantic infralittoral mixed sediment Kelp and seaweed communities on Atlantic infralittoral mixed sediment Angiosperm communities in reduced salinity Atlantic infralittoral sediment Marine Atlantic infralittoral mixed sediment Estuarine Atlantic sublittoral mixed sediment Mediterranean shallow/infralittoral mixed sediment Communities of Mediterranean infralittoral (coastal) detritic bottoms 10 Level 2 Zone/Substrate Shallow/infralittoral sand Level 3 Bioregion Level 4 Functional habitat Pontic shallow/infralittoral mixed sediment Pontic infralittoral mixed substrata Baltic shallow/infralittoral sand Stable aggregations of unattached perennial vegetation on Baltic infralittoral sand Annual algal communities on Baltic infralittoral sand Submerged rooted plant communities on Baltic infralittoral sand Emergent vegetation communities on Baltic infralittoral sand Mixed epibenthic macrocommunity on Baltic infralittoral sand Infaunal communities in Baltic infralittoral sand Atlantic shallow/infralittoral sand Kelp and seaweed communities on Atlantic infralittoral sand Seagrass beds on Atlantic infralittoral sand Marine Atlantic infralittoral fine sand Marine Atlantic infralittoral muddy sand Estuarine Atlantic sublittoral sand Mediterranean shallow/infralittoral sand Pontic shallow/infralittoral sand Seagrass beds on Mediterranean infralittoral sand Communities of Mediterranean infralittoral fine sands Communities of sheltered Mediterranean infralittoral superficial muddy sands Seagrass beds in Pontic infralittoral sandy sediment Unattached perennial algal communities on Pontic infralittoral sand Annual algal communities on Pontic infralittoral sand and muddy sand Infaunal communities of Pontic infralittoral well-sorted fine sands Pontic infralittoral muddy sand 11 Level 2 Zone/Substrate Level 3 Bioregion Level 4 Functional habitat Estuarine Pontic sublittoral sand Shallow/infralittoral mud Arctic shallow/infralittoral mud Baltic shallow/infralittoral mud Marine Arctic infralittoral fine mud Stable aggregations of unattached perennial vegetation on Baltic infralittoral muddy sediment Annual algal communities on Baltic infralittoral muddy sediment Submerged rooted plant communities on Baltic infralittoral muddy sediment Emergent vegetation communities on Baltic infralittoral muddy sediment Epifaunal communities on Baltic infralittoral muddy sediment Infaunal communities in Baltic infralittoral muddy sediment Communities of variable salinity Baltic sublittoral mud Atlantic shallow/infralittoral mud Kelp and seaweed communities on Atlantic infralittoral mud Maerl beds on Atlantic infralittoral muddy sediment Unattached algal communities on Atlantic infralittoral mud Angiosperm communities in reduced salinity Atlantic sublittoral mud Marine Atlantic infralittoral sandy mud Marine Atlantic infralittoral fine mud Estuarine Atlantic sublittoral mud Reduced salinity Atlantic infralittoral mud Mediterranean shallow/infralittoral mud Pontic shallow/infralittoral mud Communities of Mediterranean infralittoral muddy detritic bottoms Pontic infralittoral terrigenous sandy mud Pontic infralittoral fine mud 12 Level 2 Zone/Substrate Level 3 Bioregion Level 4 Functional habitat Estuarine Pontic sublittoral mud Circalittoral rock Baltic circalittoral rock Epifaunal turf communities on Baltic circalittoral rock Sparse faunal communities on Baltic circalittoral rock Baltic circalittoral clay and other hard substrata Atlantic circalittoral rock Baltic circalittoral artificial substrata Faunal communities on very tide-swept Atlantic upper circalittoral rock Mixed faunal turf communities on high energy Atlantic upper circalittoral rock Echinoderms and crustose communities on moderate energy Atlantic upper circalittoral rock Brachiopod and ascidian communities on Atlantic sheltered upper circalittoral rock Faunal communities on variable salinity Atlantic circalittoral rock Communities on Atlantic lower circalittoral rock Communities on Atlantic soft circalittoral rock Mediterranean circalittoral rock Communities of Atlantic circalittoral caves and overhangs Fouling faunal communities of Atlantic circalittoral artificial substrata Coralligenous communities on moderately exposed Mediterranean circalittoral rock Coralligenous communities on sheltered Mediterranean circalittoral rock Communities of Mediterranean circalittoral caves and overhangs Pontic circalittoral rock Mussel beds on Pontic circalittoral rock Faunal communities on Pontic upper circalittoral rock Faunal communities on lower circalittoral rock 13 Level 2 Zone/Substrate Level 3 Bioregion Level 4 Functional habitat Communities of Pontic circalittoral caves and tunnels Fouling faunal communities on Pontic circalittoral artificial substrata Circalittoral biogenic habitat Baltic circalittoral biogenic habitat Mussel beds in the Baltic circalittoral zone Atlantic circalittoral biogenic habitat Polychaete worm reefs on Atlantic sublittoral sediment Mussel beds on Atlantic sublittoral sediment Coral reefs in the Atlantic circalittoral zone Mediterranean circalittoral biogenic habitat Pontic circalittoral biogenic habitat Circalittoral coarse sediment Baltic circalittoral coarse sediment Coralligenous communities in the Mediterranean circalittoral zone Mussel beds on Pontic circalittoral terrigenous sediment Epifaunal communities on Baltic upper circalittoral shell gravel and coarse sediment Infaunal communities in Baltic upper circalittoral coarse sediment Baltic lower circalittoral coarse sediment [below pycnocline] Atlantic circalittoral coarse sediment Atlantic upper circalittoral coarse sediment Atlantic lower circalittoral coarse sediment Mediterranean circalittoral coarse sediment Pontic circalittoral coarse sediment Maerl beds on Mediterranean circalittoral coarse sediment Tide-swept Pontic circalittoral shell gravel Pontic Wurmian lower circalittoral (shelf margin) shell gravel Circalittoral mixed sediments Baltic circalittoral mixed sediment Baltic upper circalittoral mixed sediment Baltic lower circalittoral mixed sediment 14 Level 2 Zone/Substrate Level 3 Bioregion Atlantic circalittoral mixed sediment Level 4 Functional habitat Atlantic upper circalittoral mixed sediment Atlantic lower circalittoral mixed sediment Mediterranean circalittoral mixed sediment Circalittoral sand Pontic circalittoral mixed sediment Communities of Mediterranean upper circalittoral [coastal] detritic bottoms Communities of Mediterranean lower circalittoral [shelf-edge] detritic bottoms Communities of Pontic circalittoral mixed sediment Baltic circalittoral sand Epifaunal communities of Baltic upper circalittoral sand Infaunal communities of Baltic upper circalittoral sand Baltic lower circalittoral sand Atlantic circalittoral sand Atlantic upper circalittoral fine sand Atlantic upper circalittoral muddy sand Atlantic lower circalittoral sand Circalittoral mud Mediterranean circalittoral sand Communities of Mediterranean circalittoral sand Pontic circalittoral sand Pontic circalittoral muddy sand Arctic circalittoral mud Arctic circalittoral fine mud Epifaunal communities of Baltic upper circalittoral muddy sediment Infaunal communities of Baltic upper circalittoral muddy sediment Baltic circalittoral mud Baltic lower circalittoral muddy bottoms Atlantic circalittoral mud Atlantic upper circalittoral sandy mud Atlantic upper circalittoral fine mud Low or reduced salinity (lagoons) Atlantic circalittoral mud Atlantic lower circalittoral mud 15 Level 2 Zone/Substrate Level 3 Bioregion Mediterranean circalittoral mud Pontic circalittoral mud Level 4 Functional habitat Communities of Mediterranean circalittoral muddy detritic bottoms Communities of Mediterranean circalittoral (coastal terrigenous) muds Pontic upper circalittoral sandy mud Pontic upper circalittoral fine mud Pontic lower circalittoral mud Bathyal rock Arctic bathyal rock Atlantic bathyal rock Crinoid-dominated community on Arctic mid bathyal rock and other hard substrata Mixed cold water coral community on Arctic mid bathyal rock and other hard substrata Arctic lower bathyal rock and other hard substrata Atlanto-Arctic upper bathyal rock and other hard substrata Barnacle-dominated community on Atlantic upper bathyal rock and other hard substrata Brachiopod-dominated community on Atlantic upper bathyal rock and other hard substrata Sponge community on Atlantic upper bathyal rock and other hard substrata Mixed cold water coral community on Atlantic upper bathyal rock and other hard substrata Sparse encrusting community on Atlantic upper bathyal rock and other hard substrata Barnacle-dominated community on Atlantic mid bathyal rock and other hard substrata Brachiopod-dominated community on Atlantic mid bathyal rock and other hard substrata Mixed cold water coral community on Atlantic mid bathyal rock and other hard substrata Sparse encrusting community on Atlantic mid bathyal rock and 16 Level 2 Zone/Substrate Level 3 Bioregion Level 4 Functional habitat other hard substrata Mixed cold water coral community on Atlantic lower bathyal rock and other hard substrata Bathyal biogenic habitat Arctic bathyal biogenic habitat Arctic mid bathyal biogenic substrate Arctic lower bathyal biogenic substrate Atlanto-Arctic upper bathyal biogenic substrate Atlantic bathyal biogenic habitat Bathyal coarse sediment Mediterranean bathyal biogenic habitat Atlantic upper bathyal cold water coral reef (biogenic substrate) Mixed cold water coral community on Atlantic upper bathyal biogenic substrate Atlantic lower bathyal cold water coral reef (biogenic substrate) Mixed cold water coral community on Atlantic lower bathyal biogenic substrate Communities of deep-sea corals in the Mediterranean bathyal zone Arctic bathyal coarse sediment Burrowing anemone field in Arctic mid bathyal coarse sediment Atlantic bathyal coarse sediment Arctic lower bathyal coarse sediment Sponge aggregation on Atlanto-Arctic upper bathyal coarse sediment Sparse encrusting community on Atlanto-Arctic upper bathyal coarse sediment Crinoid dominated community on Atlantic upper bathyal coarse sediment Mixed cold water coral community on Atlantic upper bathyal coarse sediment Solitary scleractinian field on Atlantic upper bathyal coarse sediment 17 Level 2 Zone/Substrate Level 3 Bioregion Level 4 Functional habitat Sparse encrusting community on Atlantic upper bathyal coarse sediment Urchin-dominated community on Atlantic upper bathyal coarse sediment Crinoid-dominated community on Atlantic mid bathyal coarse sediment Mixed cold water coral community on Atlantic mid bathyal coarse sediment Sparse encrusting community on Atlantic mid bathyal coarse sediment Solitary scleractinian field on Atlantic mid bathyal coarse sediment Urchin-dominated community on Atlantic mid bathyal coarse sediment Xenophyophore-dominated community on Atlantic mid bathyal coarse sediment Mixed cold water coral community on Atlantic lower bathyal coarse sediment Solitary scleractinian field on Atlantic lower bathyal coarse sediment Xenophyophore-dominated community on Atlantic lower bathyal coarse sediment Bathyal mixed sediment Arctic bathyal mixed sediment Arctic mid bathyal mixed sediment Atlantic bathyal mixed sediment Arctic lower bathyal mixed sediment Sponge aggregation on Atlanto-Arctic upper bathyal mixed sediment Atlantic upper bathyal mixed sediment Xenophyophore-dominated community on Atlantic mid bathyal mixed sediment Surface-dwelling ophiuroid community on Atlantic lower bathyal 18 Level 2 Zone/Substrate Level 3 Bioregion Level 4 Functional habitat mixed sediment Xenophyophore-dominated community on Atlantic lower bathyal mixed sediment Mediterranean bathyal mixed sediment Deep-sea sponge aggregations Deep-sea lag deposits Deep-sea calcareous pavements Communities of allochthonous material Bathyal sand Arctic bathyal sand Mixed infauna dominated by polychaetes in Arctic mid bathyal sand Arctic lower bathyal sand Atlanto-Arctic upper bathyal sand Atlantic bathyal sand Burrowing-ophiuroid community on Atlantic upper bathyal sand Crinoid-dominated community on Atlantic upper bathyal sand Solitary scleractinian field on Atlantic upper bathyal sand Surface-dwelling ophiuroid community on Atlantic upper bathyal sand Urchin-dominated community on Atlantic upper bathyal sand Mixed infauna dominated by polychaetes in Atlantic upper bathyal sand Burrowing anemone field in Atlantic mid bathyal sand Burrowing ophiuroid community on Atlantic mid bathyal sand Crinoid-dominated community on Atlantic mid bathyal sand Solitary scleractinian field on Atlantic mid bathyal sand Surface-dwelling ophiuroid community on Atlantic mid bathyal sand Urchin-dominated community on Atlantic mid bathyal sand 19 Level 2 Zone/Substrate Level 3 Bioregion Level 4 Functional habitat Mixed infauna dominated by polychaetes in Atlantic mid bathyal sand Burrowing-ophiuroid community on Atlantic lower bathyal sand Solitary scleractinian field on Atlantic lower bathyal sand Urchin-dominated community on Atlantic lower bathyal sand Mediterranean bathyal sand Bathyal mud Arctic bathyal mud Atlantic bathyal mud Communities of Mediterranean bathyal sand Mixed infauna dominated by polychaetes in Arctic mid bathyal mud Mixed infauna dominated by polychaetes in Arctic lower bathyal mud Atlanto-Arctic upper bathyal mud Burrowing-ophiuroid community on Atlantic upper bathyal mud Crinoid-dominated community on Atlantic upper bathyal mud Sea pens and burrowing megafauna on Atlantic upper bathyal mud Solitary scleractinian field on Atlantic upper bathyal mud Burrowing anemone field in Atlantic mid bathyal mud Burrowing ophiuroid community on Atlantic mid bathyal mud Crinoid-dominated community on Atlantic mid bathyal mud Sponge aggregation on Atlantic mid bathyal mud Erect coral field on Atlantic mid bathyal mud Sea pens and burrowing megafauna on Atlantic mid bathyal mud Solitary scleractinian field on Atlantic mid bathyal mud Urchin-dominated community on Atlantic mid bathyal mud Xenophyophore-dominated community on Atlantic mid bathyal mud 20 Level 2 Zone/Substrate Level 3 Bioregion Level 4 Functional habitat Mixed infauna dominated by polychaetes in Atlantic mid bathyal mud Burrowing ophiuroid community on Atlantic lower bathyal mud Sponge aggregation on Atlantic lower bathyal mud Erect coral field on Atlantic lower bathyal mud Solitary scleractinian field on Atlantic lower bathyal mud Abyssal rock Mediterranean bathyal mud Urchin-dominated community on Atlantic lower bathyal mud Xenophyophore-dominated community on Atlantic lower bathyal mud Mixed infauna dominated by polychaetes in Atlantic lower bathyal mud Communities of Mediterranean bathyal mud Arctic abyssal rock Arctic upper abyssal rock and other hard substrata Atlantic abyssal rock Atlantic upper abyssal rock and other hard substrata Atlantic mid abyssal rock and other hard substrata Atlantic lower abyssal rock and other hard substrata Deep-sea manganese nodules Abyssal biogenic habitat Arctic abyssal biogenic habitat Arctic upper abyssal biogenic substrate Atlantic abyssal biogenic habitat Atlantic upper abyssal biogenic substrate Atlantic mid abyssal biogenic substrate Atlantic lower abyssal biogenic substrate Abyssal coarse sediment Arctic abyssal coarse sediment Arctic upper abyssal coarse sediment Atlantic abyssal coarse sediment Atlantic upper abyssal coarse sediment 21 Level 2 Zone/Substrate Level 3 Bioregion Level 4 Functional habitat Atlantic mid abyssal coarse sediment Atlantic lower abyssal coarse sediment Abyssal mixed sediment Arctic abyssal mixed sediment Arctic upper abyssal mixed sediment Atlantic abyssal mixed sediment Atlantic upper abyssal mixed sediment Atlantic mid abyssal mixed sediment Atlantic lower abyssal mixed sediment Abyssal sand Arctic abyssal sand Arctic upper abyssal sand Atlantic abyssal sand Atlantic upper abyssal sand Atlantic mid abyssal sand Atlantic lower abyssal sand Abyssal mud Arctic abyssal mud Atlantic abyssal mud Mixed infauna dominated by polychaetes in Arctic upper abyssal mud Holothurian-dominated community on Atlantic upper abyssal mud Urchin-dominated community on Atlantic upper abyssal mud Mixed infauna dominated by polychaetes in Atlantic upper abyssal mud Crinoid-dominated community on Atlantic mid abyssal mud Holothurian-dominated community on Atlantic mid abyssal mud Atlantic lower abyssal mud Other (non-oxygenbased) marine habitats Mediterranean abyssal mud Communities of Mediterranean abyssal muds Anoxic habitats Periodically and permanently anoxic sublittoral and deep sea habitats Cold seeps and hydrothermal vents Methane seeps Sulphide vents 22 Level 2 Zone/Substrate Level 3 Bioregion Level 4 Functional habitat Deep-sea reducing habitats Freshwater seeps Oil seeps It is proposed that the following should be considered as habitat complexes in section X of the classification (previously ‘X01 Estuaries’ was the only marine habitat complex) Raised features of the deep-sea bed Deep-sea trenches and canyons, channels, slope failures and slumps on the continental slope Permanently submerged flanks of oceanic islands Seamounts, knolls and banks Oceanic ridges Abyssal hills Carbonate mounds Canyons, channels, slope failures and slumps on the continental slope Deep-sea trenches 23
