Current estimates suggest there are around 6,500 species of animals and plants (excluding microbial flora and seabirds) in Scotland's seas (Scotland's Marine Atlas, 2011).ģ.1.2 The seabed is a critical component of marine ecosystems. This diversity owes much to the factors described in paragraphs 3.0.1 and 3.0.2. ģ.1.1 Scotland's marine environment supports a diverse complex of different habitats, which in their turn support a wide range of marine plants and animals. There are over 900 islands, including the major archipelagos of Shetland, Orkney and the Outer Hebrides. ![]() These warm waters mix with cooler polar waters that are rich in nutrients.ģ.0.2 Scotland's coastline is over 18,000 km long, and very varied in nature. The North Atlantic current brings warm water from the Gulf of Mexico to the west coast of Scotland. ![]() 3.0.1 Scotland's location at the edge of the continental shelf means that it is subject to both subpolar and subtropical influences.
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