EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > ME6 - Upper Bathyal mud > ME61 - Arctic upper bathyal mud

Arctic upper bathyal mud

Description (English)

Deep-sea mud sediments have a diverse infaunal community dominated by polychaetes. Epifauna tend to be sparse, mobile species, but aggregations of erect fauna such as glass sponges, sea pens and soft corals can occur.
In the absence of ecological data, mud habitat can be defined according to Long (2006), which describes the classification's broad sediment types according to the relative proportion of mud, sand and gravel (see http://www.emodnet-seabedhabitats.eu/PDF/GMHM3_Detailed_explanation_of_seabed_sediment_classification.pdf). Note that Folk muddy sand sediments are classed as mud habitat if the mud content is great enough to support species usually associated with mud. In the absence of particle size data it can be difficult to reliably distinguish between mud and sand.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type code ME61

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) A6.5 Deep-sea mud narrower
For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type Comment
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 A6.5 Deep-sea mud same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 A5.5 Deep-sea muds same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 A5.5 Deep-sea muds same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 A5.5 Bathyal zone mud same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 A5.3 Bathyal zone mud (continental slope floor) same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 11.211 Bathyal benthic communities wider
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 11.211 Bathyal benthic communities wider
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 11.211   wider
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 11.211   wider
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