Global ecosystem typology

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M3.5 Deepwater biogenic beds

Biome: M3. Deep sea floors biome

Contributors:
(texts)

Relatively complex three-dimensional structures are formed by slow-growing, filter-feeders like sponges, corals and bivalves. Without light, they rely on currents and fallout from upper ocean layers for energy and also nutrients. However, their structural complexity provides habitats for a great diversity of dependent species including symbionts, microbial biofilms and associated grazers, and filter-feeding epifauna. Mobile predators like crabs and benthic demersal fish contribute to diverse communities.

Key Features

Benthic sessile suspension feeders that crate structurally complex 3D habitat, supporting high biodiversity.

Overview of distribution

Aphotic biogenic structures from benthic fauna.

Profile versions

  • v1.0 (2020-01-20): E Ramirez-Llodra; UC Fernandez-Arcaya; DA Keith
  • v2.0 (2020-05-28): E Ramirez-Llodra; UC Fernandez-Arcaya; S Rossi; DA Keith
  • v2.01 ():
  • v2.1 (2022-04-06): E Ramirez-Llodra; UC Fernandez-Arcaya; S Rossi; DA Keith Full profile available at official site

Main references

Selected references for this functional group:

  • Buhl‐Mortensen L, Vanreusel A, Gooday AJ et al. (2010) Biological structures as a source of habitat heterogeneity and biodiversity on the deep ocean margins Marine Ecology 31: 21-50 DOI:10.1111/j.1439-0485.2010.00359.x

  • Rossi S, Bramanti L, Gori, A, Orejas C (2017) Marine Animal Forests: The ecology of benthic biodiversity Hotspots Springer, Berlin

  • Rossi S, Isla E, Bosch-Belmar M, Galli G, Gori A et al. (2019) Changes of energy fluxes in the marine animal forest of the Anthropocene: factors shaping the future seascape ICES Journal of Marine Sciences 76, 2008-2019

Diagrammatic assembly model

Diagrammatic assembly model of M3.5 Deepwater biogenic beds. 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.

M3.5.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

M3.5.web.orig_v1.0

The distribution of deepwater biogenic beds was based on the ‘mountains’ and ‘hills’ classes within the abyssal geomorphic unit of of Harris et al. (2014b). These were mapped in yellow as minor occurrences to acknowledges considerable uncertainties in the distribution of biogenic beds within these geomorphic units. 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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