Habitat
Habitat includes data that describe repeatable combinations of biota and associated chemical, physical, or geological features in a distinct place, which, as in the CMECS Biotic Component, generally are named for the dominant taxa living there. Habitat also includes biotopes in accordance with CMECS. Examples include seagrass beds, deep-water corals, benthos, nekton, plankton, mussel beds. Distributions for Habitat data subject types include records of biotic associations, habitats, or biotopes obtained through direct observation, imagery, collection, or other methods; Distributions also include biotope maps, predicted maps of present-day habitats (for example, the Northwest Atlantic Marine Ecoregional Assessment, Mapping European Seabed Habitats), and other compilations or interpretations from observed data. Assessments include ecological valuation indices, presence, quantity (hectares), or percentage of identified high-value habitats; other purpose-driven, regionally-specific indicators of ecological value; classifications of areas as critical habitat; ecological services models; evaluations of habitat condition; and place-based indices of susceptibility and vulnerability to disturbance. Predictions are the results of models or projections of future distributions, values, or impacts; anticipated changes produced by natural and human processes; future projections of cumulative impacts of single or multiple stressors; and scenario-testing habitat loss/gain models and predictions of related ecological or economic effects under different management strategies.