Use constraints: Data can be used freely for non-commercial purposes given that the sources (DHI, EuSeaMap, BALANCE) are cited.

The dataset represents benthic biotope complexes in the Baltic Sea, based on a combination of geological sediment data and light availability data.

The geological sediment data has been produced within the EU Interreg IIIB project BALANCE (www.balance-eu.org). The data consists of five sediment classes:

I. Bedrock.

II. Hard bottom complex, includes patchy hard surfaces and coarse sand (sometimes also clay) to boulders.

III. Sand including fine to coarse sand (with gravel exposures).

IV. Hard clay sometimes/often/possibly exposed or covered with a thin layer of sand/gravel.

V. Mud including gyttja-clay to gyttja-silt.

These classes were reclassified into:

1 = Hard bottom (I and II)

2 = Sand (III)

3 = Mud (IV and V)

The light availability data has been produced withing the EUSeaMap project (unpublished data) and was reported on request to HELCOM Secreteriat by DHI. The dataset consists of two classess. photic (1) and non-photic (0).

The two previous datasets were combined to produce the following six biotope complexes:

1 = Photic sand

2 = Non-photic sand

3 = Photic mud and clay

4 = Non-photic mud and clay

5 = Photic hard bottom

6 = Non-photic hard bottom