The influence of flow rate, depth and surface inclination on the density and the distribution of temperate anthozoa

Abstract

Current flow regime, bathymetry and substratum angle were found to influence the density and distribution of the following anthozoan species at Lough Hyne Marine Nature Reserve, Ireland: Corynactis viridis, Alcyonium digitatum, Caryophyllia smithii, Anemonia viridis and Anthopleura ballii. Density variation was found on inclined, vertical and overhanging cliff surfaces for species found on hard substratum (Corynactis viridis, Alcyonium digitatum and Caryophyllia smithii). All species showed significant variation with increasing depth and between sites with different water flow rates.