{"thcode":23,"term":{"code":26,"name":"Living Resources","parent":6,"scope":"Includes aspects of coastal and marine biota that are of particular importance to ecology or to human uses. These can include particular species, groups of biota, associations of biota with physical features, biological function, and biological connectivity."},"uf":[],"bt":[{"code":6,"name":"Data Content Subjects","parent":1,"scope":"Environmental characteristics and processes as well as human activities that use, rely on, or impact those features."},{"code":1,"name":"Data Categories for Marine Planning","parent":null,"scope":"Categories indicating the breadth of information types required for ocean planning from a national, multidisciplinary perspective. Published in USGS Open-File Report 2015-1046, doi:10.3133\/ofr20151046"}],"nt":[{"code":31,"name":"Biological Occurrence","parent":26,"scope":"Biological Occurrence data identify different taxa together with the times and locations in which these particular organisms live. Distributions for these data subject types record observations of identifiable taxa at known times and places on the basis of captured samples, imagery, genetic testing, or other methods. Distributions also include single-taxon modeling approaches such as habitat suitability index models or essential fish habitat models; interpretations based on empirical correlations; population change models; connectivity estimates; or evaluations of migratory pathways and spawning grounds. Assessment types include spatially applicable indices for identifying and valuing regional taxa; classifications of species (for example, as harvested, protected, or invasive) as a function of location and time; evaluations of organism condition; assessments of stressor or disturbance effects on taxa, assemblages and communities; evaluations of ecological value of species (for example, keystone species, nonredundant species); taxon-based ecological services models; and place-based indices of susceptibility and vulnerability to disturbance. Predictions include evaluations of future impacts, distributions, and ecological or economic effects due to single or multiple stressors and other projected changes, as well as scenario-testing models of taxon losses\/gains under different management options, usually combined with projections of related ecological or economic effects."},{"code":28,"name":"Ecological Functions and Services","parent":26,"scope":"Ecological Functions and Services includes data describing or measuring an ecological or ecosystem process, property, or benefit to humans that is associated with habitat or biota. While many natural services are related to physical materials and energy production, this category is limited to those services and benefits that derive from ecological interactions of living organisms. Examples of processes or properties include primary productivity, secondary production, nutrient processing, biomass, biodiversity, ecological integrity, and trophic connectivity or export. Examples of services include provisioning of food; carbon storage; nutrient removal; filtration of water; and storm, wave, or flood protection. Functions and services related to biodiversity and production are included here and are further categorized and discussed below. Distributions include records of ecological processes, properties, or services at a location, obtained through direct measurement; measurement of proxies; or modeled estimates. Assessments include ecological valuation indices; calculations of yield; indices of habitat quality or biological integrity; purpose-driven, regionally-specific indicators of ecological value or condition; classifications of areas as critical to certain functions; monetization or other valuations of services; and models of benefits or values. Predictions are the results of models or projections of future distributions, values, or impacts of ecological functions or services; anticipated changes produced by natural and human processes; future projections of cumulative impacts of single or multiple stressors; scenario-testing models of loss or gain of function; and predictions of ecological or economic effects of functional changes under different management strategies. The Ecological Functions and Services category includes two sublevels, which are called out for their broad impact on other functions and services and for their frequent use in assessments."},{"code":27,"name":"Habitat","parent":26,"scope":"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."}],"rt":[]}