1 1.10 Application of estuarine and coastal classifications in marine ...
1 1.10 Application of estuarine and coastal classifications in marine ...
1 1.10 Application of estuarine and coastal classifications in marine ...
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4.) Water column [pelagic] features <strong>of</strong> open sea areas, such as mixed <strong>and</strong> stratified water<br />
bodies <strong>and</strong> frontal systems.<br />
<strong>1.10</strong>.2.2 Seascapes <strong>of</strong> the Baltic Sea<br />
Classified maps represent<strong>in</strong>g benthic seascapes (also referred to as benthic mar<strong>in</strong>e<br />
l<strong>and</strong>scapes) were developed to <strong>in</strong>crease the cost-efficiency <strong>of</strong> data collection <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>tegration <strong>in</strong><br />
the Baltic Sea <strong>and</strong> to identify essential fish habitats <strong>and</strong> other important conservation areas for<br />
the implementation <strong>of</strong> the EU Habitats Directive (Reijonen et al. 2008). Seascapes were<br />
classified us<strong>in</strong>g: 1.) physiographic mar<strong>in</strong>e features <strong>of</strong> the coast (7 classes); 2.) topographic<br />
features <strong>of</strong> the seabed (18 classes) (Figure 3), <strong>and</strong> 3.) 60 ecologically relevant benthic seascapes<br />
based on <strong>in</strong>tegrated data on sal<strong>in</strong>ity, sediments <strong>and</strong> photic depth (see Al-Hamdani <strong>and</strong> Reker<br />
2007). These maps have provided a basemap on habitat <strong>and</strong> seascape patterns to support<br />
implementation <strong>of</strong> ecosystem-based management <strong>in</strong> the region. At the sub-regional level the<br />
maps are expected to provide a useful tool <strong>in</strong> develop<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>tegrated solutions for nature<br />
conservation <strong>and</strong> susta<strong>in</strong>able fisheries, <strong>coastal</strong> development, transport <strong>and</strong> other uses. Several<br />
regional authorities are us<strong>in</strong>g the maps <strong>in</strong> fisheries restoration <strong>and</strong> management plans <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong> the<br />
design <strong>and</strong> zonation <strong>of</strong> MPAs. To further characterize the complexity <strong>of</strong> the environment, a<br />
classified map <strong>of</strong> habitat heterogeneity (1 x 1 km 2 grid cells) was quantified from summed<br />
classes derived from variability <strong>in</strong> depth, wave exposure <strong>and</strong> shorel<strong>in</strong>e complexity to provide a<br />
surrogate for biodiversity <strong>and</strong> classes were validated with <strong>in</strong> situ biological datasets (Figure 4).<br />
Although the <strong>in</strong>itial efforts were focused on characteriz<strong>in</strong>g benthic structure, the development <strong>of</strong><br />
pelagic seascapes similar to those developed for the Scotian Shelf are also be<strong>in</strong>g exam<strong>in</strong>ed.<br />
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