Biotic Setting | Benthic/Attached Biota |
Biotic Class | Faunal Bed |
Biotic Subclass | Attached Fauna |
Biotic Group | Attached Sea Urchins |
Biotic Community | Attached Strongylocentrotus purpurata Attached Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis |
Definition | Hard or mixed substrate areas dominated by mobile sea urchins. Many sea urchins are omnivorous, consuming algae, debris, sessile invertebrates, and other foods. In some situations, sea urchins will occur in great numbers, clearly constituting the dominant Biotic Group. These fauna may be associated with another Biotic Group (upon which they are feeding) and may be considered as Co-occurring Elements if the "forage" group occurs in greater percent cover, or dominates biomass. |