Table 1 Description of benthic habitats of the oceanic islands (Desventuradas).
Stations | Subsystem | Class (macrohabitat) | Subclass (microhabitat) | Environmental variables | Modifiers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ST17 | OI | Flat bottom | Slope: flat (0–5°) Texture: smooth surface Sediment types: mixed sediment, coarse sand | Salinity: 34.4 Temperature (C°): 13.9 Oxygen (mL/L): 5 | Bottom morphology: regular-continuous homogeneous bottom with little relief with organic debris (coquina) Biological processes: conspicuous microhabitats/communities of anemone, sea pens and kelps patch |
ST18 | OI | Sloping bottom, with vertical sections | Slope: steeply sloping (30°–60°) Texture: moderate rugosity to high rugosity surface Sediment types: bedrock and boulde | Salinity: 34.7 Temperature (C°): 17.7 Oxygen (mL/L): 5.5 | Bottom morphology: irregular bottom with structures fractured, faulted and folder Bottom texture: occupied by clast or rock Biological processes: conspicuous microhabitats/communities of coralline incrusting algae, sponge and anemone |
ST20 | OI | Type I: steep slope bottom Hard substrates and steep slope of compact cemented rock Type II: flat bottom | Type I Slope: sloping (5°–30°) Texture: moderate rugosity Sediment types: bedrock and boulder Type II Slope: flat (0°–5°) Texture: smooth surface Sediment types: mixed sediment, coarse sand | Salinity: 34.3 Temperature (C°): 12.9 Oxygen (mL/L): 4.7 | Type I Bottom morphology: irregular bottom with structures fractured, faulted and folder Bottom texture: occupied by clast or rock Biological processes: conspicuous microhabitats/communities of coralline incrusting algae, sponge and anemone Type II Bottom morphology: regular-continuous homogeneous bottom with little relief Biological processes: conspicuous microhabitats/communities of anemones and sea pens |
ST21 | OI | Flat bottom | Slope: flat (0°–5°) Texture: smooth surface Sediment types: mixed sediment, coarse sand | Salinity:34.3 Temperature (C°): 12.9 Oxygen (mL/L): 4.7 | Bottom morphology: regular-continuous homogeneous bottom with little relief Biological processes: conspicuous microhabitats/communities of anemones and sea pens |
ST22 | OI | Sloping bottom with bedform-sediment waves | Slope: sloping (5°–30°) Texture: very low rugosity Sediment types: silty sediments | Salinity: 34.5 Temperature (C°): 8.4 Oxygen (mL/L): 1.3 | Bottom morphology: irregular bottom (Undulated surface -ripples) with sediment waves (10 cm to amplitude) Bioturbation: burrows and excavations |
SF2 | SM (top) | Steep slope bottom hard substrates and steep slope of compact cemented rock | Slope: steeply sloping (30°–60°) Texture: moderate rugosity to high rugosity surface, rock bottom | Salinity: 34.5 Temperature (C°): 10.4 Oxygen (mL/L): 1.6 | Bottom morphology: rock bottom with smalls accumulation of coarse sand Biological processes: conspicuous microhabitats/communities of sponges, sea pens and white corals |
SF6 | SM (top) | Flat bottom | Slope: flat (0–5°) Texture: smooth surface Sediment types: mixed sediment, coarse sand | Salinity: 34.3 Temperature (C°): 13.5 Oxygen (mL/L): 4.4 | Bottom morphology: regular- continuous homogeneous bottom with little relief Biological processes: conspicuous microhabitats/communities of anemones, hydrozoan colonies, biocenosis (sea urchin skeletons) |
SF7 | SM (top) | Flat bottom | Slope: Flat (0–5°) Texture: smooth surface Sediment types: mixed sediment, coarse sand | Salinity: 34.4 Temperature(C°): 13.5 Oxygen (mL/L): 4.4 | Bottom morphology: regular- continuous homogeneous bottom with little relief Biological processes: conspicuous microhabitats/communities of anemones, rhodoliths, sponges, thanatocoenosis (coquina- Pteropod shells) |
SF8 | SM (top) | Flat bottom | Slope: Flat (0–5°) Texture: smooth surface Sediment types: mixed sediment, coarse sand | Salinity: 34.4 Temperature (C°): 10.3 Oxygen (mL/L): 2.1 | Bottom morphology: regular- continuous homogeneous bottom with little relief Biological processes: thanatocoenosis (coquina- bivalve shells); Bioturbation (burrows and excavations) |
SF9 | SM (top) | Flat bottom | Slope: Flat (0–5°) Texture: smooth surface Sediment types: mixed sediment, coarse sand | Salinity: 34.2 Temperature (C°): 10.3 Oxygen (mL/L): 4.3 | Bottom morphology: regular- continuous homogeneous bottom with little relief Biological processes: conspicuous microhabitats/communities of anemones, rhodoliths, sponges, thanatocoenosis (coquina- Pteropod shells) |
SFX | SM (top) | Flat bottom | Slope: Flat (0–5°) Texture: smooth surface Sediment types: mixed sediment, coarse sand | Salinity: 34.4 Temperature (C°): 11.5 Oxygen (mL/L): 2.6 | Bottom morphology: regular- continuous homogeneous bottom with little relief Biological processes: conspicuous microhabitats/communities of anemones, amphinomid polychaetas and detrital patch |
