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Image gallery of estuarine benthos classified with the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS)
Citation:
Cicchetti, G. Image gallery of estuarine benthos classified with the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS). Coastal & Estuarine Research Federation Conference 2023, Portland, OR, November 12 - 16, 2023.
Impact/Purpose:
The interagency Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard is the FGDC-approved federal standard for the biological, physical, and geological features of the coasts and ocean. CMEC has been adopted for use by four Federal Agencies, a number of coastal states, and many academics and NGOs. CMECS, published in 2012, is now being upgraded. This presentation demonstrates how the proposed changes apply to estuarine benthos as illustrated with images of the type that CMECS classifications are based on. This is the most direct way to show these changes and so this presentation benefits CMECS users who are attempting to apply the upgrades.
Description:
We present a gallery of images of estuarine benthos classified with the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) including both sediment profile images (SPI) and sediment surface images. CMECS is an extensive hierarchy of terms and definitions for the biological, chemical, physical and geological features of the coasts and oceans, and it is the approved Federal Standard for that. CMECS was published in 2012 and is now being upgraded with changes based on the input of many scientists and practitioners. This presentation explains how the proposed changes could apply to estuarine benthos as illustrated with a set of interpreted images, also addressing assessment of benthic condition. The goal is to provide users of CMECS with real examples of how they would use the Standard now and as it evolves.
