{"thcode":23,"term":{"code":30,"name":"Biodiversity","parent":28,"scope":"A measure of the variety of organisms within a level of biological organization at any scale in a defined place. Types of biodiversity include genetic diversity; species diversity; guild, feeding group, or functional group diversity; habitat or biotope diversity; and any other measure of biological variety at a location. Biodiversity can be evaluated at levels of biological organization including taxonomic groups (for example, fishes), communities (for example, megafauna), habitats (for example, soft substrate, coral reef), or ecological systems (for example, number of habitats or biotopes in a managed embayment) and at spatial scales ranging from submeter to global. Biodiversity is widely viewed as critical to ecological functions, services, and economic benefits; changes in biodiversity have been closely linked to changes in the ways ecosystems function. Biodiversity is usually considered as an inherent ecosystem service. For purposes of marine planning, biodiversity measures that can be compared across the planning area are most valuable in decision-making. Distributions include quantifications of numbers of species, genetic types, taxonomic groups (for example, fishes), communities, or habitats at a place; diversity indices that can include rarity or relative abundance of types; measurements of proxies (for example, habitat types with known high or low numbers of species); or models. Assessments can estimate, value, monetize, or model the ecological function or service values and impacts of various aspects of biodiversity; identify biodiversity hotspots; or evaluate the effects of pollution, development, climate change, or other stressors on biodiversity. Predictions are the results of models or projections of future distributions, values, or impacts to biodiversity, including future changes produced by natural and human processes. Predictive models can also evaluate the ecosystem effects and ecological function or service impacts of altered biodiversity; scenario-testing models can compare ecological function or service outcomes of different management actions that affect biodiversity."},"uf":[],"bt":[{"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":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."},{"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":[],"rt":[]}