The continental margin off Lofoten, Vesterålen, and Troms comprises a great variation of marine landscapes, ranging from 0 to 3,000 m in depth largely influenced by previous glaciations and oceanographic processes governed by three different water masses. The biological communities identified with multivariate analyses of results from visual surveys were strongly correlated with water mass distribution, sediment type, and various topographic indices. Broadscale geomorphic features such as canyons and troughs have a significant influence on the distribution of sediment types and biological communities through their modification of current patterns. Currents also influence the distribution of geomorphic features such as sand waves and coral reefs. At a broadscale, the largest faunistic change occurs between the warm Atlantic water and the cold intermediate water mass at depths around 700 m.

Depth range
80- 3000 m

Mesophotic “mentions”
0 x (total of 4149 words)

Classification
* Focused on 'mesophotic' depth range
* Focused on 'temperate mesophotic ecosystem'

Fields
Biodiversity
Geomorphology

Focusgroups
Overall benthic (groups)

Locations
Norway

Platforms
Drop / Towed Video
Sonar / Multibeam