Microhabitat Utilization by the Megafaunal Assemblage at a Low Relief Outer Continental Shelf Site - Middle Atlantic Bight, USA

Direct underwater observations, using a manned submersible (May 1987) and remote operated vehicle (July and November 1988), were made of the small-scale distribution and microhabitat relationships of the megafaunal assemblage at a 55 m low relief outer continental shelf site (40 0 50'N, 70 0 5 5 ' W ) . Four microhabitat types were defined: flat sand with amphipod tubes, sand wave crests, shell (single valves and valve aggregates) and biogenic depressions. Microhabitat heterogeneity occurred on the scale of meters. Significant species-specific microhabitat relationships were found. Temperature mediated mesoscale shifts in megafaunal-microhabitat associations were found for several species.