Publication Abstract

Distribution and structure of faunal assemblages and their associated physical conditions on the Atlantic continental shelf of the British Isles

Distribution and structure of faunal assemblages and their associated physical conditions on the Atlantic continental shelf of the British Isles

J. Ellis, S. Greenstreet, M. Robertson and S. Rogers

There has been an increased use of groundfish surveys as platforms for the sampling of macro-epibenthic fauna over wide geographical areas in recent years. Indeed, internationally coordinated studies have provided spatially comprehensive data for the North Sea. In contrast, the invertebrate fauna off the western coasts of the UK are more poorly known. Macro-epifaunal samples collected by 2m-beam trawl were used to determine the structure and diversity of demersal assemblages occurring along the western seaboard of the British Isles. Samples were collected from 2000-2002 from the Celtic Sea (ICES division VIIf-j), Irish Sea (VII a) and off North West Scotland (VIa). Cluster analysis was used to determine the distribution of assemblages in the area, and the distribution of these assemblages examined in relation to depth, substrate, latitude, temperature, salinity and tidal stress. Stations in the Irish Sea were characterised by species typical of inshore grounds, including Pagurus bernhardus, Asterias rubens, Ophiura ophiura and Liocarcinus holsatus, with stations in the deeper waters of the Celtic Sea typified by Pagurus prideaux, Callionymus maculatus, Macropipus tuberculatus< Epizoanthus incrustatus and Hyalinoecia tubicola, with Pycnogonum littorale and Actinauge richardi abundant on the edge of the continental shelf. The relationships between epibenthic assemblages and the physical environment are discussed.

Reference:

J. Ellis, S. Greenstreet, M. Robertson and S. Rogers. 2004. Distribution and structure of faunal assemblages and their associated physical conditions on the Atlantic continental shelf of the British Isles. ICES CM 2004/P:03, 25pp

J. Ellis* and S. Rogers*

ICES CM 2004/P:03, 25pp