Deep-sea Lophelia pertusa reefs
Description (English)
Lophelia pertusa, a cold water, reef-forming coral, has a wide geographic distribution ranging from 55°S to 70°N, where water temperatures typically remain between 4-8°C. These reefs are generally subject to moderate current velocities (0.5 knots). The majority of records occur in the north-east Atlantic. The extent of L. pertusa reefs vary, with examples off Norway several km long and more than 20m high. These reefs occur within a depth range of 200->2000m on the continental slope, and in shallower waters in Norwegian fjords and Swedish west coast. In Norwegian waters, L. pertusa reefs occur on the shelf and shelf break off the western and northern parts on local elevations of the sea floor and on the edges of escarpments. The biological diversity of the reef community is approximately three times as high as the surrounding soft sediment (ICES, 2003), suggesting that these cold-water coral reefs may be biodiversity hotspots. Characteristic species include other hard corals, such as Madrepora oculata and Solenosmilia variabilis, the redfish Sebastes viviparous and the squat lobster Munida sarsi. L. pertusa reefs occur on hard substrata; this may be Lophelia rubble from an old colony or on glacial deposits. For this reason, L. pertusa reefs can be associated with iceberg plough-mark zones.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
EUNIS habitat type | code A6.611 |
---|---|
Bern Convention | Included in a Resolution 4 habitat type at a higher level (A6.61) |
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableSpecies mentioned in habitat description
Other classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
CORINE Land Cover | 5.2.3. | Sea and ocean | n/a |
Marine Habitat Classification Britain/Ireland 0405 | SS.SBR.Crl.Lop | <I>Lophelia</I> reefs | narrower |
Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Habitats (UK) | 45 | Lophelia pertusa reefs | same |
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A6.611 | Deep-sea Lophelia pertusa reefs | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A5.611 | Lophelia pertusa reefs | wider |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A5.611 | Lophelia pertusa reefs | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A5.131 | Lophelia pertusa reefs | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | A5.11 | Lophelia pertusa reefs on circalittoral offshore rock | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | A5.41 | Lophelia beds on circalittoral offshore rock | same |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | COR.Lop | Lophelia reefs | same |
MNCR BioMar 96.7 (Britain & Ireland) | COR.Lop | same |