12. Deep sea wood habitats
Map ID Number: 12
Location: Wairarapa and Hokitika Canyons (at 1000m)
Approximate area: Not precisely known; probably only a few hundred square kilometres in total aerial extent (Area 12 on the map is 6,219km2)
Description of area:
A supply of riverine drift wood, which is contingent on land-based practices, supports a special assemblage of organisms.
Biological attributes:
Habitat-restricted fauna based on the bacterial decay of wood cellulose include Concentricycloidea (sea daisies), gastropods, and small crustaceans
Criteria applied:
Endemism; dependency for other species; special conditions and specialised organisms.
Status and management:
Not managed.
State of information:
No information has been published on the actual habitat in New Zealand waters, only the presence of unusual organisms.
References and further reading:
Baker et al. (1986), Rowe et al. (1988).