Porcupine Abyssal Plain

There is a downward flow of organic detritus derived from primary production in the upper layers of ocean that settles on the sea floor.

About 90% by number and biomass of the macrobenthos are sea cucumbers and some of the commonest species are Oneirophanta mutabilis, Pseudostichopus villosus and Psychropotes longicauda.

[4] The observatory is multidisciplinary and moored, and was deployed early on 7 October 2002[5] at 49° N and -16° 30' W.[6] It is coordinated by the National Oceanography Centre and provides time-series datasets used for monitoring and analysing the effects of climate change on the deep Atlantic Ocean and its ecosystems.

A full-depth mooring was established in 2012, with autonomous sensors to measure ocean temperature, salinity, chlorophyll fluorescence, carbon dioxide and nitrate.

[7] A 2010 collaboration between the Natural Environment Research Council and the United Kingdom Met Office has led to simultaneous monitoring of the ocean and atmosphere.