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1 1.10 Application of estuarine and coastal classifications in marine ...

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sources. The majority <strong>of</strong> our examples are focused on sub-national level <strong>classifications</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />

associated management applications rather than global or national level, although we<br />

acknowledge the importance <strong>of</strong> nested <strong>classifications</strong> to facilitate consistency <strong>in</strong> regional,<br />

national <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternational assessments <strong>and</strong> management decision mak<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

<strong>1.10</strong>.1.1 Importance <strong>of</strong> Spatial, Temporal <strong>and</strong> Thematic resolution<br />

In addition to spatial extent, the three attributes <strong>of</strong> a map that imp<strong>in</strong>ge most on the<br />

appropriateness <strong>of</strong> a spatial classification for management application are: 1) spatial resolution;<br />

2) temporal resolution, <strong>and</strong> 3) thematic resolution; all <strong>of</strong> which can <strong>in</strong>fluence the application,<br />

cost-effectiveness <strong>and</strong> feasibility <strong>of</strong> map production (Fassnacht et al. 2006, Kendall <strong>and</strong> Miller<br />

2008). Thematic resolution is <strong>in</strong>fluenced by the scale at which the environment is sampled <strong>and</strong><br />

chang<strong>in</strong>g the number <strong>of</strong> classes can <strong>in</strong>fluence the pattern<strong>in</strong>g, be it benthic seascape or ecosystem<br />

service values, as much as chang<strong>in</strong>g the spatial resolution. It is <strong>of</strong>ten perceived that higher<br />

thematic resolution (i.e., higher number <strong>of</strong> classes) that creates highly specialized categories can<br />

potentially <strong>of</strong>fer greater predictive power, but the predictive performance <strong>of</strong> categorical data<br />

really depends on what is be<strong>in</strong>g predicted. Spatial resolution <strong>and</strong> thematic resolution, as well as,<br />

post-classification techniques such as smooth<strong>in</strong>g can greatly impact the representation <strong>of</strong> rare<br />

<strong>and</strong> fragmented ecosystems <strong>and</strong> this has considerable implications for maps directed at site<br />

prioritization <strong>in</strong> mar<strong>in</strong>e conservation (Thompson <strong>and</strong> Gergel 2008). Furthermore, the static<br />

nature <strong>of</strong> most <strong>classifications</strong> is an issue when applied to dynamic mar<strong>in</strong>e environments. Mar<strong>in</strong>e<br />

environments can be modified significantly by human activities, storms <strong>and</strong> swell events, disease<br />

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