Biotic Setting | Benthic/Attached Biota |
Biotic Class | Faunal Bed |
Biotic Subclass | Soft Sediment Fauna |
Biotic Group | Small Surface-Burrowing Fauna |
Biotic Community | Capitellid Bed Leptocheirus Bed Lumbrinerid Bed Oligochaete Bed Nematode Bed Harpacticoid Bed Turbellarian Bed |
Definition | Areas dominated by small, burrowing, often worm-like fauna with a body width usually < 2 millimeters; animals are typically found within 5 centimeters of the sediment-water interface. Common fauna include oligochetes, polychaetes, sipunculids, flatworms, nematodes, priapulids, small enteropneusts (acorn worms), and other phyla. Burrowing fauna other than worms may also be characteristic (e.g., small, surface-burrowing amphipods, mysids, copepods, or isopods). In many areas, surface fauna will be abundant, but individual animals generally associated with this group will be found living deeper than 5 centimeters; these areas are still classified as Small Surface-Burrowing Fauna. |