Bathomes

Bathomes are large spatial regions (usually exceeding 1000 kilometres squared) characterised by the bathymetric (depth-related) distribution of biota. Bathomes are important in determining the types of biological communities that exist in a given region. To a large extent, depth determines the amount of light that reaches the seafloor, and it also has a strong influence on the temperature. Different species have specific conditions of light and temperature that they need to survive, and this limits their distribution in the ocean. Bathomes are a useful representation of regions that host similar biological communities, and this knowledge can be used in broadscale marine regional planning to inform decision-making and help us better understand the marine environment.