Glossary of specific terms
Biological 'traits' are arranged by 'category'. For example, the category 'growth form' includes traits such as 'radial' or 'conical', while the category 'characteristic feeding method', includes traits such as 'predator' and 'surface deposit feeder'. BIOTIC also includes some free text fields that include traits that do not easily lend themselves to standardised terms.
Due to the syntax of database field names, the trait categories are abbreviated in the downloadable CSV files. The abbreviated name for the trait categories is given in brackets after each category name if different from their respective category name. The abbreviated category names are listed in alphabetical order at the end of this glossary.
General Biology
Trait |
Definition |
Fragile |
Likely to break, or crack as a result of physical impact; brittle or friable. |
Intermediate |
Liable to suffer minor damage, chips or cracks as result of physical impacts. |
Robust |
Unlikely to be damaged as a result of physical impacts, e.g. hard or tough enough to withstand impact, or leathery or wiry enough to resist impact. |
Trait |
Definition |
Attached |
Adherent to a substratum. |
Bed forming |
Forming a dense aggregation that visually dominates the seabed or shore. |
Burrow dwelling |
Living within a burrow. |
Ectoparasitic |
Parasitic on the outer surface of its host (adapted from Lincoln et al., 1998). |
Encrusting |
To cover with a crust or thin coating (OED, 1990). |
Erect |
Upright. |
Free living |
Living without attachment or restriction. |
Reef building |
Forming an elevated structure on the seabed through chemical precipitation or concretion (adapted from Hiscock, 1996). |
Tubicolous |
Tube dwelling (Barnes et al., 1993). |
Method of bioturbation (bioturbator)
Trait |
Definition |
Diffusive mixing |
Vertical bioturbation as a diffusive transport process resulting from the activities of e.g. free-living polychaetes, subsurface deposit feeders and carnivores, and burrow excavating species such as crustaceans (Pearson, 2001). |
Surface deposition |
Deposition of particles at the sediment surface resulting from e.g. defecation or egestion (pseudofaeces) by e.g. filter and surface deposit feeding tubicolous polychaetes and sedentary bivalves (Pearson, 2001). |
Conveyer belt transport |
Translocation of sediment from depth within the sediment to the surface during subsurface deposit feeding or burrow excavation (Pearson, 2001). |
Reverse conveyer belt transport |
The subduction of particles from the surface to some depth by feeding or defecation (Pearson, 2001). |
Trait |
Definition |
Independent |
Any organism not relying on another for food (except as prey), environment or livelihood. |
Parasite on/in |
An organism that lives in or on another living organism (the host), from which it obtains food and other requirements. The host does not benefit from the association and is usually harmed by it. |
Mutualist with/on/in |
A partner in a symbiosis where both organisms benefit, frequently a relationship of complete dependence (Lincoln et al., 1982). |
Inquilinist with/on/in |
A partner in a symbiotic association which lives in close association with another, generally in the tube or burrow or actually within a body chamber of the host (Brusca, 1980). |
Commensal with/on/in |
A partner in a symbiosis in where one species derives benefit from a common food supply, whilst the other species is not adversely affected (Lincoln et al., 1982). |
Host |
Any organism that provides food or shelter for another organism, e.g. the definitive host of a parasite (for mature or developmental stages), or a symbiont (commensal, mutualist or inquilinist) (adapted from Lincoln et al., 1998). |
Trait |
Definition |
Solitary |
Living alone, not gregarious (Thompson, 1995). |
Gregarious |
Living in groups or communities, growing in clusters (Thompson, 1995). |
Colonial |
Descriptive of organisms produced asexually which remain associated with each other; in many animals, retaining tissue contact with other polyps or zooids as a result of incomplete budding (Barnes et al., 1993). |
Trait |
Definition |
1 |
Toxic / poisonous |
0 |
Non-toxic / poisonous |
Environmental position (envpos)
Code |
Trait |
Definition |
|
1 |
Epifaunal |
An animal living on the surface of the substratum. |
|
2 |
Epifloral |
A plant living on the surface of the substratum. |
|
3 |
Infaunal |
Benthic animals which live within the seabed. |
|
4 |
Interstitial |
Relating to the system of cavities and channels formed by the spaces between grains in a sediment (interstitial space). |
|
5 |
Demersal |
Living at or near the bottom of a sea or lake, but having the capacity for active swimming (from Lincoln et al., 1998). |
|
14 |
Pelagic |
Inhabiting the open waters of the sea or ocean, excluding the bottom layers. |
|
16 |
Insufficient information |
||
17 |
Not relevant |
||
18 |
Not researched |
||
19 |
Epibenthic |
Living on the surface of the seabed. |
|
20 |
Epilithic |
Growing on the surface of rock or other hard inorganic substrata. |
|
21 |
Epiphytic |
Growing on the surface of a living plant but not parasitic upon it. |
|
22 |
Epizoic |
Growing or living on the exterior of a living animal but not parasitic upon it. |
|
23 |
Neustonic |
Living on or under the surface film of open water. |
|
24 |
Pleustonic |
Living permanently at the water surface due to their own buoyancy, normally positioned partly in the water and partly in the air. |
|
25 |
See additional information |
||
26 |
Lithotomous |
Relating to an organism that burrows into rock. |
|
28 |
Hyperbenthic |
Living above but close to the substratum (from Lincoln et al., 1998). |
Characteristic feeding method (feedingmethod)
Code |
Trait |
Definition |
|
1 |
Photoautotroph |
An organism that obtains metabolic energy from light by a photochemical process such as photosynthesis (e.g. seaweeds, phytoplankton) |
|
2 |
Suspension feeder : Any organism which feeds on particulate organic matter, including plankton, suspended in the water column (from Lincoln et al., 1998). |
Active |
Catching food on a filter from water by actively sweeping (e.g. Porcellana platychelyes ) or pumping (e.g. sea squirts, many bivalve molluscs) |
3 |
Passive |
Catching food on a filter held into flowing water (e.g. hydroids, sea fans, sea pens), or collecting the 'rain' of detritus on sticky apparatus other than a filter (e.g. Cucumaria frondosa ). |
|
4 |
Deposit feeder : Any organism which feeds on fragmented particulate organic matter from the substratum; detritivores (from Lincoln et al., 1998). |
Surface |
Obtaining food from the surface of the substratum (e.g. Corophium volutator). |
5 |
Sub-surface |
Obtaining food from within the substratum (e.g. Echinocardium cordatum ). |
|
8 |
Omnivore |
Animal which feeds on a mixed diet including plant and animal material (from Lincoln et al., 1998). |
|
10 |
Herbivore |
An organism which feeds on plants, including phytoplankton. |
|
11 | Scavenger | Any organism that actively feeds on dead organic material (e.g. crabs, whelks). | |
12 | Symbiont contribution | Where some dietary component(s) are provided by symbiotic organisms (e.g. Anemonia with zooxanthellae). | |
14 | Insufficient information | ||
16 | Not relevant | ||
17 | Field unresearched | ||
19 | Planktotroph | Feeding at least in part on materials captured from the plankton (Barnes et al., 1993). | |
20 | Chemoautotroph | An organism that obtains metabolic energy from oxidation of inorganic substrates such as sulphur, nitrogen or iron (e.g. some microorganisms). | |
21 | See additional information | ||
22 | Predator | An organism that feeds by preying on other organisms, killing them for food (Lincoln et al., 1998). | |
23 | Interface feeder | An organism that feeds at the interface between the water column and underlying substratum. | |
26 | Grazer (grains / particles) | Animals which rasp benthic algae (or sessile animals, such as bryozoan crusts) from inorganic particles e.g. sand grains. | |
27 | Grazer (fronds / blades) | Animals which rasp benthic algae (or sessile animals, such as bryozoan crusts) from the surface of macroalgal fronds and blades. | |
28 | Grazer (surface / substratum) | Animals which rasp benthic algae (or sessile animals, such as bryozoan crusts) from the substratum. | |
29 | Detritivore | An organism that feeds on fragmented particulate organic matter (detritus) (Lincoln et al., 1998). |
Code |
Trait |
Definition |
1 |
Boring |
Makes an excavation (through physical or chemical action) in which to live. |
2 |
Crustose hard |
Forming or resembling a crust (Thompson, 1995) that is solid or resistant to touch or pressure e.g. the encrusting coralline algae or sea mats such as Umbonula littoralis. |
3 |
Crustose soft |
Forming or resembling a crust (Thompson, 1995) that yields to the touch or pressure e.g. the gelatinous colonies of Botryllus schlosseri or soft cushions of sponges such as Halichondria sp.. |
5 |
Flaccid |
Soft, limp, flabby ( Brusca, 1980). |
6 |
Massive |
Bulky (Homes, 1979). |
7 |
Cushion |
A mass or pillow of soft material. |
8 |
Turf |
The lowest stratum of erect branching or filiform species. |
9 |
Foliose |
Bearing leaves or leaf-like structures; having the appearance of a leaf. |
10 |
Shrub |
Having a very short stem with branches near the ground (Thompson, 1995). |
11 |
Arborescent / Arbuscular |
Having the shape or characteristics of a tree. |
12 |
Forest |
A large number or dense mass of vertical objects (Thompson, 1995). |
13 |
Algal gravel |
Maerl; twig-like unattached (free-living) calcareous red algae, often a mixture of species and including species which form a spiky cover on loose small stones - 'hedgehog stones'. |
16 |
Accretion |
Build up or accumulation of sediment. |
17 |
Mat |
A dense mass which blankets the substratum. |
18 |
Faunal beds |
Dense aggregation of animals that visually dominate the seabed or shore such as brittlestars (e.g. Ophiothrix fragilis ) or mussels (e.g. Mytilus edulis). |
19 |
Radial |
Symmetrical about any plane passed perpendicular to the oral/aboral axis (Barnes et al., 1993). |
20 |
Stellate |
Arranged like a star. |
21 |
Whiplike |
In the form of a whip. |
22 |
Straplike / Ribbonlike |
In the form of a strap or ribbon. |
23 |
Filiform / Filamentous |
Slender and thread-like (Kozloff, 1996). |
25 |
Vermiform unsegmented |
Wormlike but lacking true segments although annuli may be present, e.g. roundworms (Nematoda) and ribbon worms (Nemertea). |
26 |
Vermiform segmented |
Wormlike with the body divided into semi-independent, serially repeated units (Barnes et al., 1993) e.g. Annelida. |
27 |
Vermiform annulated |
Wormlike where the external surface is divided into a chain of rings or 'annuli' by furrows giving the appearance of segments (Barnes et al., 1993). |
28 |
Digitate |
Having parts arranged like fingers on a hand (Holmes, 1979). |
29 |
Lanceolate |
Lance shaped and usually elongate (Brusca, 1980). |
30 |
Penicillate |
Brush like (Prescott , 1969). |
31 |
Pinnate |
Branching like a feather - an elongate main axis with lateral branches or lobes (Prescott, 1969). |
32 |
Capitate / Clubbed |
Enlarged or swollen at the apex, with a 'head', clubbed. (Prescott, 1969). |
33 |
Clathrate |
Latticed (Holmes, 1979). |
34 |
Reticulate |
In the form of a mesh or net (Prescott, 1969). |
35 |
Funnel shaped |
In the shape of a funnel. |
36 |
Dendroid |
Branching irregularly - similar to that of a root system (Prescott, 1969). |
37 |
Flabellate |
Shaped like a fan, fanlike (Brusca, 1980). |
39 |
Tubicolous |
Tube dwelling (Barnes et al., 1993). |
40 |
Medusiform / Medusoid |
Disk, bell or umbrella shaped and often gelatinous (Barnes et al., 1993). |
41 |
Cylindrical |
With straight sides and a circular section (Thompson, 1995). |
42 |
Globose |
Spherical / ovoid / globular (Brusca, 1980). |
43 |
Bullate / Saccate |
Balloon or sac-like (Prescott, 1969). |
44 |
Articulate |
Jointed, arthrous (Holmes, 1979). |
45 |
Bivalved |
Characteristically a shell of two calcareous valves joined by a flexible ligament. |
46 |
Turbinate |
Whorled (Brusca, 1980). |
47 |
Pisciform |
Fishlike. |
48 |
Insufficient information |
|
50 |
Not relevant |
|
51 |
Not researched |
|
52 |
Conical |
Cone shaped e.g. limpet -shaped, patelliform, (adapted from Stachowitsch, 1992). |
53 |
See additional information |
|
54 |
Tadpole |
Having the body form of a tadpole i.e. consisting of a round head with a tail. |
Code |
Trait |
Definition |
4 |
Swimmer |
An organism that moves through the water column via movements of its fins, legs or appendages, via undulatory movements of the body or via jet propulsion (e.g. Gadus, Loligo). |
5 |
Crawler |
An organism that moves along on the substratum via movements of its legs, appendages or muscles (e.g. Carcinus). |
6 |
Burrower |
An organism that lives or moves in a burrow (e.g. Arenicola). |
7 |
Drifter |
An organism whose movement is dependent on wind or water currents (e.g. Aurelia). |
8 |
Temporary attachment |
Temporary / sporadic attachment. Attached to a substratum but capable of movement across (or through) it (e.g. Actinia). |
10 |
Permanent attachment |
Non-motile; permanently attached at the base (Lincoln et al., 1998) (e.g. Caryophyllia). |
11 |
Insufficient information |
|
13 |
Not relevant |
|
14 |
Field unresearched |
|
15 |
See additional information |
Is the species a host for another species? (isHost)
Trait |
Definition |
1 |
Yes, it is a host |
0 |
No, it is not a host |
Reproduction
Regeneration potential? (regeneration)
Trait |
Definition |
1 |
Yes |
0 |
No |
Reproductive frequency (ReprodFreq)
Trait |
Definition |
Semelparous |
Breeding only once then dying (Barnes et al., 1993). |
< Biannual |
Breeds less frequently than every two years. |
Biannual episodic |
Breeds every second year but in one or more discrete periods initiated by some trigger (for example a lunar cycle). |
Biannual protracted |
Breeds once every two years over an extended or drawn out period. |
Annual episodic |
Breeds every year but in one or more discrete periods initiated by some trigger (for example a lunar cycle). |
Annual protracted |
Breeds every year over an extended or drawn out period. |
Developmental mechanism (devmech)
Code |
Trait |
Definition |
1 |
Planktotrophic |
Feeding at least in part on materials captured from the plankton (Barnes et al., 1993). |
2 |
Lecithotrophic |
Development at the expense of internal resources (i.e. yolk) provided by the female (Barnes et al., 1993). |
3 |
Direct development |
Development without a larval stage (Barnes et al., 1993). |
8 |
Oviparous |
A type of reproduction in animals in which the fertilized eggs are laid or spawned by the mother. |
9 |
Ovoviviparous |
A type of reproduction in animals in which the embryo(s) develop in persistent membranes and hatch within the maternal body. No nutrition is derived from the mother. |
10 |
Viviparous (parental care) |
A type of reproduction in animals in which the embryo(s) develop within and derive nourishment from the maternal body. |
11 |
Viviparous (no care) |
|
12 |
Insufficient information |
|
14 |
Not researched |
|
15 |
Not relevant |
|
16 |
Spores (sexual / asexual) |
A plant reproductive cell capable of developing into a new individual, directly or after fusion with another spore. Spores may be produced either by meiosis or mitosis (Lincoln et al., 1998). |
18 |
See additional information |
|
19 |
Brooding |
The incubation of eggs either inside or outside the body. Eggs may be brooded to a variety of developmental stages. Males or females may be responsible for brooding (adapted from Ruppert & Barnes, 1994). |
Reproductive type (reprodtype)
Code |
Trait |
Definition |
|
7 |
Budding |
A form of asexual multiplication in which a new individual begins life as an outgrowth from the body of the parent. It may then separate to lead an independent existence or remain connected or otherwise associated to form a colonial organism (Barnes et al., 1993). |
|
8 |
Parthenogenesis |
A form of asexual multiplication in which the ovum develops into a new individual without fertilization (Barnes et al., 1993). |
|
9 |
Fission |
A form of asexual multiplication involving division of the body into two or more parts each or all of which can grow into new individuals (Barnes et al., 1993). |
|
10 |
Permanent hermaphrodite |
Capable of producing both ova and spermatozoa either at the same time (Barnes et al., 1993). |
|
11 |
Protandrous hermaphrodite |
A condition of hermaphroditism in plants and animals where male gametes mature and are shed before female gametes mature (Holmes, 1979). |
|
12 |
Protogynous hermaphrodite |
A condition of hermaphroditism in plants and animals where female gametes mature and are shed before male gametes mature (Holmes, 1979). |
|
13 |
Gonochoristic |
Having separate sexes (Barnes et al., 1993). |
|
16 |
Insufficient information |
||
18 |
Not relevant |
||
19 |
Not researched |
||
20 |
Vegetative |
Development by somatic growth. Vegetative reproduction is, therefore, an asexual processes occurring as a result of fragmentation, division or budding from the parent organism. |
|
21 |
Self-fertilization |
Selfing or autogamy. Fertilization of a female gamete by a male gamete produced by the same individual. |
|
22 |
Alternation of generations |
The alternation of generations, in the life cycle of an organism, that exhibit different modes of reproduction; typically sexual (diploid) and asexual (haploid) phases. Also termed metagenesis (Lincoln et al., 1998). |
|
23 |
Gamete type |
Isogamous |
Having gametes of similar size, shape and behaviour. (Lincoln et al., 1998). |
24 |
Anisogamous |
Having flagellate gametes of different size, shape or behaviour (from Bold, 1977 and Lincoln et al., 1998). |
|
25 |
Oogamous |
Having large, non-motile eggs and small motile sperm. Usually applied to algae (Lincoln et al., 1998). |
|
26 |
See additional information |
Distribution and Habitat
Trait |
Definition |
Non-migratory / resident |
Remaining within the same area (from Lincoln et al., 1998). |
Seasonal (feeding) |
A seasonal migration for the purpose of following or moving to suitable feeding grounds. |
Seasonal (reproduction) |
A seasonal migration in order to reproduce. |
Seasonal (environment) |
A seasonal migration in order to remain within suitable environmental conditions. |
Diel |
Daily, pertaining to a 24 hour period. |
Passive |
A migration undertaken through the effects of tide, current or wind. |
Active |
A migration undertaken by active movement across the substratum or through the water column. |
Code |
Preference |
Definition (Hiscock, 1990 unless otherwise stated) |
1 |
Supralittoral |
The lower terrestrial zone, characteristically dominated by orange and white-to-grey lichens on hard substrata with scattered salt-tolerant higher plants and mosses. |
2 |
Upper littoral fringe |
This is colonized by Verrucaria maura with Littorina saxatilis and Littorina neritoides often present. May include saltmarsh species on shale/pebbles in shelter. |
3 |
Lower littoral fringe |
The Pelvetia/Porphyra belt with patchy Verrucaria maura and Fucus spiralis (on sheltered shores). Fucus distichus and Fucus spiralis nana occurs on extremely exposed shores in the NE. Verrucaria mucosa present above the main barnacle population. May also include saltmarsh species on shale/pebbles in shelter. |
4 |
Upper eulittoral |
Barnacles and limpets present in quantity with Fucus vesiculosus and Ascophyllum although often this belt has only sparse algal cover compared with the lower eulittoral. |
5 |
Mid eulittoral |
Barnacle - limpet dominated, sometimes mussels, with Fucus vesiculosus and Ascophyllum nodosum . Mastocarpus stellatus and Palmaria palmata patchy in lower part. Usually quite a wide belt. |
6 |
Lower eulittoral |
Fucus serratus , Mastocarpus stellatus , Himanthalia elongata and Palmaria palmata present; sparse barnacles. Patchy Alaria . |
7 |
Sublittoral fringe |
Dominated by Alaria esculenta , Laminaria digitata or L. saccharina with sparse barnacles and encrusting Rhodophycota. |
8 |
Upper infralittoral |
Kelp forest. |
9 |
Lower infralittoral. |
Sparse or no kelp, dominated by foliose algae except where grazed. |
10 |
Upper circalittoral |
Dominated by animals with sparse foliose algae except where grazed. |
11 |
Lower circalittoral |
Dominated by animals with no foliose algae but encrusting Rhodophycota patchy in grazed areas. |
13 |
Insufficient information |
|
15 |
Not relevant |
|
16 |
Field unresearched |
|
17 |
Circalittoral offshore |
Typically occurs below 50-70 metres away from the influence of wave action. Aphotic with animal communities in stable or stenothermal and stenohaline conditions. Open sea (Connor et al., 1997). |
18 |
Bathybenthic (Bathyal) |
Occupying the ocean floor from ca 200 - 4000 m depth. |
19 |
See additional information |
|
20 |
Epipelagic |
The photic zone, includes the open ocean influenced by light. The lower boundary is dependant on the depth of light penetration and is generally regarded extend to ca 200 m in depth. |
21 |
Mesopelagic |
The upper aphotic zone and extends to a depth of ca 1000 m. |
22 |
Bathypelagic |
Extends from ca 1000 - 2500 m. |
23 |
Abyssopelagic |
Overlays the plains of the major ocean basins with a lower boundary of ca 6000 m. |
24 |
Hadopelagic |
Open waters of deep oceanic trenches, from ca 6000 m and below. |
25 |
Benthopelagic |
A zone of open water extending ca 100 m above the surface of the sea bed at all depths below the edge of the continental shelf. |
26 |
Neritic |
Water column overlying the continental shelf; surface to ca 200m depth. |
27 |
Oceanic |
Open waters beyond the continental shelf. |
28 |
Abyssobenthic (Abyssal) |
Occupying the ocean floor from ca 4000 - 6000 m depth. Usually a more or less flat plain. |
29 |
Hadobenthic (Hadal) |
Occupying the ocean floor at depths exceeding ca 6000 m. Usually in trenches and canyons of the abyssal zone. |
Physiographic features (physpref)
Code |
Preference |
Definition (derived from Hiscock, 1996) |
1 |
Open coast |
Any part of the coast not within a marine inlet, strait or lagoon, including offshore rocks and small islands. This includes MNCR types; Linear coast, Islands / Rocks and Semi-enclosed coast. |
2 |
Offshore seabed |
Seabed beyond three miles (5 km) from the shore. |
3 |
Strait/Sound |
Channels between the mainland and an island or between two islands which are open at both ends to the open coast (it does not refer to similar features or narrows within marine inlets). |
5 |
Sea loch |
Glacially formed inlets (fjords, fjards) of western Scotland and Ireland; typically elongate and deepened by glacial action with little freshwater influence. Often with narrows and sills dividing the loch into a series of basins. |
6 |
Ria/Voe |
Drowned river valleys of south-west Britain (ria) and Shetland (voe). Often with a greater presence of rock and more marine in character than estuaries. |
7 |
Estuary |
Downstream part of a river where it widens to enter the sea; often with significant freshwater influence and predominantly comprising sediment habitats. |
8 |
Isolated Saline Water (Lagoon) |
Enclosed bodies of water, separated or partially separated from the sea by shingle, sand or sometimes rock and with a restricted exchange of water with the sea, yielding varying salinity regimes. |
9 |
Enclosed Coast / Embayment |
Any other sort of enclosed coast not covered by the definitions above such as harbours or marinas. |
15 |
Insufficient information |
|
17 |
Not relevant |
|
18 |
Field unresearched |
|
20 |
See additional information |
Code |
Preference |
Definition (adapted from Hiscock, 1996) |
1 |
Full salinity |
30-40 |
2 |
Variable salinity |
18-40 |
3 |
Reduced salinity |
18-30 |
4 |
Low salinity |
<18 |
6 |
Insufficient information |
|
8 |
Not relevant |
|
9 |
Field unresearched |
|
10 |
See additional information |
Code |
Preference |
Definition |
1 |
Bedrock |
Any stable hard substratum, not separated into boulders or smaller sediment units. Includes soft rock-types such as chalk, peat and clay. |
2 |
Large to very large boulders |
>512 mm. Likely to be stable. |
3 |
Small boulders |
256 - 512 mm. May be unstable. |
4 |
Cobbles |
64-256 mm. May be rounded to flat. Substrata that are predominantly cobbles. |
5 |
Pebbles |
16-64 mm. May be rounded to flat. Substrata which are predominantly pebbles. |
6 |
Gravel / shingle |
4 -16 mm. Clean stone or shell gravel including dead maerl. >80% gravel. |
7 |
Maerl |
Live maerl. Phymatolithon calcareum and Lithothamnion corallioides in Britain and Ireland. |
8 |
Muddy gravel |
50 - 80 % gravel, 20 - 50 % mud. |
27 |
Coarse clean sand |
0.5 - 4 mm. > 80 % sand. |
28 |
Fine clean sand |
0.063 - 0.5 mm. >80 % sand. |
29 |
Sandy mud |
50 - 80 % mud, 20 - 50 % sand |
30 |
Muddy sand |
50 - 80 % sand, 20 - 50 % mud. |
31 |
Mud |
<0.063 mm (silt / clay fraction). >80% mud. |
32 |
Mixed |
Mixtures of a variety of sediment types, composed of pebble / gravel / sand / mud. This category includes muddy gravels, muddy sandy gravels, gravelly muds, and muddy gravelly sands. |
35 |
Algae |
Macroalgae surfaces, such as Laminaria spp., or fucoids. |
37 |
Other species |
The surface of other species, e.g. shells or carapace. |
38 |
Biogenic reef |
An elevated structure on the seabed built by calcareous or other concretion-forming organisms, or by chemical precipitation (Hiscock, 1996). For example by Modiolus modiolus or Sabellaria alveolata. |
39 |
Artificial |
E.g. wood, metal or concrete structures. |
40 |
Water column |
Pelagic. |
41 |
Strandline |
A line on the shore composing debris deposited by a receding tide; commonly used to denote the line of debris at the level of extreme high water (Lincoln et al., 1998). |
42 |
Salt marsh |
A flat, poorly drained coastal swamp inundated by most high tides (Lincoln et al., 1998). |
43 |
Seagrass |
Habitat associated with seagrass bed communities. |
44 |
Rockpools |
A pool of water among rocks left behind by the ebbing tide. |
45 |
Under boulders |
Habitat associated with the underside of boulders. |
46 |
Caves |
A large hollow in the side of a vertical rock face or cliff. |
47 |
Crevices / fissures |
Narrow openings (Thompson, 1995). |
48 |
Overhangs |
An overhanging part of a rock formation (Thompson, 1995). |
50 |
Not relevant |
|
51 |
Insufficient information |
|
53 |
Field not researched |
|
54 |
See additional information |
|
55 |
Muddy fine sand |
|
57 |
Clay |
1) Sediment particles less than 0.004 mm in size (Wentworth, 1922). |
58 |
No preference |
|
59 |
Sandy gravel |
50 -80% gravel, 20 -50% sand. |
60 |
Muddy sandy gravel |
50 -80% gravel, 20 -50% mud and sand |
61 |
Gravelley sand |
50 -80% sand, 20 -80% gravel. |
62 |
Muddy gravelly sand |
50 -80% sand, 20 -50% mud and sand |
63 |
Sandy gravelly mud |
50 -80% mud, 20 -50% sand and gravel. |
64 |
Gravelly mud |
50 -80% mud, 20 -50% gravel. |
Code |
Preference |
Definition (from McLeod, 1996) |
1 |
Very strong |
> 6 knots ( >3 m/sec.) |
2 |
Strong |
3 to 6 knots (1.5-3 m/sec.) |
3 |
Moderately strong |
1 to 3 knots (0.5-1.5 m/sec.) |
4 |
Weak |
< 1 knot (<0.5 m/sec.) |
5 |
Very weak |
negligible |
7 |
Insufficient information |
|
9 |
Not relevant |
|
10 |
Field unresearched |
|
11 |
See additional information |
Code |
Preference |
Definition (from Hiscock, 1990) |
1 |
Extremely exposed |
Open coastlines which face into the prevailing wind and receive both wind-driven waves and oceanic swell without any offshore obstructions such as islands or shallows for several thousand kilometres and where deep water is close to the shore (50 m depth contour within about 300 m). |
2 |
Very exposed |
1) Open coasts which face into prevailing winds and which receive wind-driven waves and oceanic swell without any offshore obstructions for several hundred kilometres, but where deep water is not close to the shore (50 m depth contour further than about 300 m). |
3 |
Exposed |
1) Coasts which face the prevailing wind but which have a degree of shelter because of extensive shallow areas offshore, offshore obstructions, or a restricted (less than 90°) window to open water. These sites are not generally exposed to large waves or regular swell. 2) Open coasts facing away from prevailing winds but with a long fetch, and where strong winds are frequent. |
4 |
Moderately exposed |
Generally coasts facing away from prevailing winds and without a long fetch, but where strong winds can be frequent . |
5 |
Sheltered |
Coasts with a restricted fetch and/or open water window. Coasts can face prevailing winds but with a short fetch (< 20 km) or extensive shallow area offshore, or may face away from prevailing winds. |
6 |
Very sheltered |
Coasts with a fetch less than about 3 km where they face prevailing winds or about 20 km where they face away from prevailing winds, or which have offshore obstructions such as reefs or a narrow (< 30°) open water window |
7 |
Extremely sheltered |
Fully enclosed coasts with a fetch of no more than about 3 km. |
8 |
Ultra sheltered |
Fully enclosed coasts with a fetch measured in tens or at most a few hundred metres. |
10 |
Insufficient information |
|
12 |
Not relevant |
|
13 |
Field unresearched |
|
14 |
See additional information |
List of abbreviated category names
Abbreviated name |
Category |
Field format |
bioturbator |
Bioturbation method |
Single-select |
biozone |
Biological zone preference |
Multi-select |
devmech |
Developmental mechanism |
Multi-select |
DispPotAdult |
Dispersal potential of adult |
Single-select |
DispPotLarvae |
Dispersal potential of larvae |
Single-select |
envpos |
Environmental position |
Multi-select |
feedingmethod |
Characteristic feeding method |
Multi-select |
flexibility |
Body flexibility |
Single-select |
isHost |
Is the species a host species? |
yes/no |
LarvalSettlePeriod |
Larval settlement period |
Text field |
LarvalSettlingTime |
Time larvae spend in plankton |
Single-select |
maturity |
Age at sexual maturity |
Single-select |
migratory |
Migration pattern |
Single-select |
migratory |
Migration pattern |
Single-select |
physpref |
Physiographic preference |
Multi-select |
regeneration |
Can the animal regenerate body parts? |
yes/no |
ReprodFreq |
Reproductive frequency |
Single-select |
ReprodLocation |
Reproductive location |
Single-select |
ReprodSeason |
Reproductive season |
Text field |
reprodtype |
Method of reproduction |
Multi-select |
toxic |
Is the animal toxic? |
yes/no |
waterflow |
Tidal strength preference |
Multi-select |
waveexp |
Wave exposure preference |
Multi-select |
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Wentworth, C.K., 1922. A scale of grade and class terms for clastic sediments. Journal of Geology, 30, 377-392.