EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > MD2 - Offshore circalittoral biogenic habitat > MD23 - Baltic offshore circalittoral biogenic habitat > MD231 - Baltic offshore circalittoral biogenic bottoms characterized by epibenthic bivalves > MD2314 - Baltic offshore offshore circalittoral mixed bottoms characterized by epibenthic sponges

Baltic offshore offshore circalittoral mixed bottoms characterized by epibenthic sponges

Description (English)

Baltic offshore bottoms in the aphotic zone, below halocline/pycnocline with 10- 90 % coverage of hard (rock/boulders/stone) and 10-90 % soft substrata (e.g. muddy/coarse sediment/sand). Sessile/semi-sessile epibenthic sponges cover at least 10 % of the seabed and more than other perennial attached erect groups.
Physical environment
Substrate is soft or crystalline rock, boulders or stones mixed with mobile substrates such as sand or coarse substrate. Depth is typically from 20 to 100 meters.
Characteristic species
Ephydatia fluviatilis

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code MD2314
Relation to	Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites)

Legal status

Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments

Legal text	Annex	Name in legal text	Code in legal text	Habitat type relationship	More information
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2010)	Reefs	1170	Narrower	https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc....ckColorLogged=FDC864 Resolution No. 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention lists endangered natural habitats requiring specific conservation measures [and the designation of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCIs) forming the Emerald network]

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Not available

Other classifications

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A5.45	Deep circalittoral mixed sediments	narrower

For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type	Comment
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A5.45	Deep mixed sediments	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A4.75	Animal communities of deep circalittoral mixed sediment bottoms	same

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