{"thcode":62,"term":{"code":"BC-429","name":"Mat\/Film Forming Microbes","parent":"BC-392","scope":"Biotic Subclass: Areas dominated by microbes that form soft structures, generally through accumulations of conspecifics and other microbes into a matrix that appears as strands, a thin film, or a thicker mat."},"uf":[],"bt":[{"code":"BC-392","name":"Microbial Communities","parent":"BC-389","scope":"Biotic Class: Areas dominated by colonies of microscopic or single-celled organisms that form a hard structure, visible film, layer, or mat on or near the surface of the substrate. ..."},{"code":"BC-389","name":"Benthic\/Attached Biota","parent":"BC-C002","scope":"Biotic Setting: This biotic setting describes areas where biota lives on, in, or in close association with the seafloor or other substrates (e.g., pilings, buoys), extending down into the sediment to include the sub-surface layers of substrate that contain multi-cellular life. ..."},{"code":"BC-C002","name":"Biotic","parent":"root","scope":null},{"code":"root","name":"CMECS","parent":null,"scope":"Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard: Category terms encompassing waters from the head of tide or inland incursion of ocean salinity to the splash zone of the coasts to the deepest portions of the oceans and the deep waters of the Great Lakes."}],"nt":[{"code":"BC-550","name":"Bacterial Decay","parent":"BC-429","scope":"Biotic Group: Areas dominated by colonies of bacterial decomposers and other decay organisms that are observed covering and rotting larger organic matter (such as macroalgal debris, fish kills, or similar large organic inputs). ..."},{"code":"BC-549","name":"Bacterial Mat\/Film","parent":"BC-429","scope":"Biotic Group: Areas dominated by colonies of bacterial decomposers and other decay organisms. These colonies can range in appearance from delicate and filamentous to a dense mass that may blanket the sediment surface. See Figure 8.12 for an example of a bacterial mat."},{"code":"BC-548","name":"Microphytobenthos","parent":"BC-429","scope":"Biotic Group: Areas dominated by a visible accumulation of benthic diatoms, cyanobacteria, unicellular algae, and other single-celled organisms. ..."},{"code":"BC-551","name":"Vent Microbes","parent":"BC-429","scope":"Biotic Group: Areas dominated by chemoautotrophic bacteria living on or near hydrothermal vents. ..."}],"rt":[]}