| Title | Classification of marine sublittoral habitats, with application to the northeastern North America region |
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| Author | Valentine, P C; Todd, B J ; Kostylev, V E |
| Source | Benthic habitats and the effects of fishing, proceedings of symposium on effects of fishing activities on benthic habitats: linking geology, biology, socioeconomics, and management; by Barnes, P W (ed.);
Thomas, J P (ed.); American Fisheries Society Symposium 41, 2005 p. 183-200 |
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| Year | 2005 |
| Alt Series | Geological Survey of Canada, Contribution Series 2002186 |
| Publisher | American Fisheries Society (Bethesda, Md., USA) |
| Meeting | Symposium on Effects of Fishing Activities on Benthic Habitats: Linking Geology, Biology, Socioeconomics, and Management; Tampa, Florida; US; November 12-14, 2002 |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper |
| Province | Nova Scotia; New Brunswick |
| NTS | 20; 10D; 10E; 10L; 10M; 11D; 11E; 21A; 21B; 21E; 21G; 21H |
| Lat/Long WENS | -72.0000 -62.0000 46.0000 40.0000 |
| Subjects | marine geology; sedimentology; littoral environment; seafloor topography; environmental studies; marine environments; side-scan sonar; sonar surveys; oceanography; grain size analysis; flora; faunas;
reflectance; depositional environment |
| Illustrations | location maps; photographs; tables |
| Released | 2005 01 01 |
| Abstract | Habitats are defined as spatially recognizable areas where the physical, chemical, and biological environment is distinctly different from surrounding environments. A habitat can be delimited as
narrowly or as broadly as the data and purpose permit, and this flexibility of scale influences the development of habitat classification schemes. Recent habitat classifications focus on a wide range of habitats that occur in European, American, and
worldwide seafloor environments. The proposed classification of marine sublittoral habitats is based on recent studies in the American and Canadian parts of northeastern North America using multibeam and side-scan sonar surveys, video and
photographic transects, and sediment and biological sampling. A guiding principle in this approach to habitat classification is that it will be useful to scientists and managers of fisheries and the environment. The goal is to develop a practical
method to characterize the marine sublittoral (chiefly the subtidal continental shelf and shelf basin) habitats in terms of (1) their topographical, geological, biological, and oceanographical attributes and (2) the natural and anthropogenic
processes that affect the habitats. The classification recognizes eight seabed themes (informal units) as the major subject elements of the classification. They are seabed topography, dynamics, texture, grain size, roughness, fauna and flora, habitat
association and usage, and habitat recovery from disturbance. Themes include one or many classes of habitat characteristics related to seabed features, fauna and flora, and processes that we view as fundamental for recognizing and analyzing habitats.
Within the classes, a sequence of subclasses, categories, and attributes addresses habitat characteristics with increasing detail. Much of the classification is broadly applicable worldwide (excluding some lowlatitude environments), but faunal and
floral examples are representative of the northeastern North America region. In naming habitats, the classification emphasizes seabed substrate dynamics, substrate type, and seabed physical and biological complexity. The classification can
accommodate new classes, subclasses, categories, and attributes, and it can easily be modified or expanded to address habitats of other regions. It serves as a template for a database that will provide a basis for organizing and comparing habitat
information and for recognizing regional habitat types. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 213974 |
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