Global ecosystem typology

Alternative site for the Global ecosystem typology with additional information for ecosystem profiles and indicative maps.

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M1.8 Subtidal mud plains

Biome: M1. Marine shelf biome

Contributors:
(texts)

These low energy, muddy ocean shelf ecosystems are moderately productive and typically dominated by microalgal and bacterial primary producers, microbial decomposers, and larger deposit feeders like burrowing polychaete worms and molluscs. Unlike subtidal sand beds (M1.7), the microbial community has a strong influence on biogeochemical cycles. Low oxygen zones can form where concentrations of organic matter and associated high bacterial activity deplete this limited resource.

Key Features

Soft sediment with limited primary production, abundant micro- and macro-detritivores and associated foraging predators.

Overview of distribution

Low energy waters of continental and island shelves.

Profile versions

  • v1.0 (2020-01-20): BA Polidoro; DA Keith
  • v2.0 (2020-06-15): BA Polidoro; SE Swearer; DA Keith
  • v2.01 ():
  • v2.1 (2022-04-06): BA Polidoro; SE Swearer; DA Keith Full profile available at official site

Main references

Selected references for this functional group:

  • Byers JE, Grabowski JH (2014) Soft-sediment communities Marine community ecology and conservation (Eds. MD Bertness, JF Bruno, BR Silliman, JJ Stachowicz), pp227-249. Sinauer, Sunderland

  • Snelgrove PVR (1999) Getting to the bottom of marine biodiversity: sedimentary habitats Bioscience 49: 129-138 DOI:10.2307/1313538

Diagrammatic assembly model

Diagrammatic assembly model of M1.8 Subtidal mud plains. See general notes on diagrams. Open image full size.

Maps

Maps are indicative of global distribution patterns are not intended to represent fine-scale patterns. The maps show areas of the world containing major (coloured red) or minor occurrences (coloured yellow) of each ecosystem functional group. See general notes on maps.

There are 2 alternative versions of the indicative map for this functional group, please compare description and sources below.

M1.8.IM.orig_v1.0

Datasets

  • GSFM-2014

Map references

  • Harris PT, Macmillan-Lawler M, Rupp J, Baker EK (2014) Geomorphology of the oceans. Marine Geology 352: 4-24. 10.1016/j.margeo.2014.01.011

M1.8.web.orig_v1.0

These are ecosystem functional groups that are widespread through the global extent of the marine shelf biome. Reliable data on their precise distribution are limited. To represent regional uncertainty, their indicative distributions were mapped in as minor occurrences through the full extent of the marine ‘shelf’ base layer as mapped by Harris et al. (2014b). Occurrences were converted to 30 arc second spatial resolution. Open image full size.

Datasets

  • GSFM-2014

Map references

  • Harris PT, Macmillan-Lawler M, Rupp J, Baker EK (2014) Geomorphology of the oceans. Marine Geology 352: 4-24. 10.1016/j.margeo.2014.01.011

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