Publication Abstract

The marine fauna of the Celtic Sea

J.R. Ellis, J.E. Lancaster, P.S. Cadman, and S.I. Rogers

The marine fauna of the Celtic Sea is described from 61 beam trawl catches from south-west of the British Isles. Over 340 species of invertebrate and fish were captured. The most ubiquitous species in the study area were the hermit crab Pagurus prideaux and spotted dragonet Callionymus maculatus, which were recorded in 77% and 66% of catches respectively. Multivariate community analyses indicated that 2 demersal assemblages occurred in the study area. The first was dominated by the anemone Actinauge richardi and occurred along the shelf edge in waters 132–350 m deep. The second assemblage was more widely distributed in the Celtic Sea (depth range: 66–232 m) and P. prideaux dominated, although there were some spatial differences in assemblage structure. The distribution of the demersal assemblages was correlated best with 5 variables (depth, temperature, latitude and the weights of rocks and shell debris in the catch). The distributions of the dominant and characteristic species are illustrated. Specific faunal associations observed included the brittlestar Asteronyx loveni on the sea pen Funiculina quadrangularis, and large numbers of the sea spider Pycnogonum littorale associated with A. richardi. The fauna along the shelf edge of the Celtic Sea is broadly similar to that found in the deeper waters of the northern North Sea.

Reference:

J.R. Ellis, J.E. Lancaster, P.S. Cadman, and S.I. Rogers, 2003. The marine fauna of the Celtic Sea. In: Marine biodiversity in Ireland and adjacent waters (J.D.Nunn, ed.). Ulster Museum, Belfast, 45-65.