Video data were collected at all stations visited; results are presented in Appendix K. A summary of conspicuous species recorded from the video data is given in Table 4.1. Notably, from the video analysis the epibenthic communities were found to be limited with sedimentary habitats present throughout the survey area. Hydroid and bryozoan mixed turfs, the common starfish, Asterias rubens, and the brittlestars, Ophiura ophiura and O. albida were found widely across the survey area.
Table 3.1Frequently Observed Species From the Video Survey. Scientific Name
Type of species Hydroid/bryozoan mixed turf
Asterias rubens Ophiura ophiura Ophiura albida
88. Sea firs and sea mats Starfish
Brittlestar Brittlestar
Sedimentary habitats were not easily distinguishable without the infaunal data for comparison. The species composition of each site as found during the video analysis was not sufficient to separate grouping of biotopes. Therefore, utilising the grab sample data, four broad habitat types and one detailed biotope (Connor et al., 2004) were recorded from the video data (in combination with the grab data (see Table 3.2)).
Benthic Characterisation Report November 2013
East Anglia THREE and FOUR Offshore Cable Corridor
