1. Coastal Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) and the Ecosystem Thematic Network (ETN) Christopher J. Madden NatureServe March 2008

2. Applications of the Marine Standard Format Identification of areas of Critical Habitat and Biodiversity Identification of areas of Critical Habitat and Biodiversity Endemic species Endemic species Threatened species Threatened species Hot spots Hot spots Delineate MPAs Delineate MPAs Locate Essential Fish Habitat Locate Essential Fish Habitat Ecosystem Based Management Ecosystem Based Management

3. Participate in a large data network Participate in a large data network Seamless integration with Freshwater and Terrestrial ETNs Seamless integration with Freshwater and Terrestrial ETNs Umbrella classification that incorporates or translates all member datasets Umbrella classification that incorporates or translates all member datasets Advantages of the Marine Standard Format

4. CMECS Suite of Classification Tools Benthic Cover Classification Water Column Classification Geoform Classification Biophysical Classification

5. CMECS-GEOSS Integration Hierarchical within Biogeographic regions Hierarchical within Biogeographic regions Nested Nested Similar to a species taxonomy Similar to a species taxonomy Bio-physical Bio-physical Spatial from a meters to contintental scale Spatial from a meters to contintental scale Inclusive of and translates with other classifications Inclusive of and translates with other classifications

6. Large Marine Ecosystems 0-200m

7. Biogeochemical Ecoregions > 200m

8. CMECS III Hierarchy w/in Ecoregion Biotope Marine Ecological Region L1 L2 L5 L7 L8 L9 Biotope Estuary Bare/Colonized/ Vegetated Nearshore Marine L3 Biotope Estuarine- Influenced Fresh Water Influenced Neritic Oceanic Ecological Region Biotope Biotope Complex Cover System Regime Subclass Class Vagile Species & Biological Associations L6 L4 Intertidal/Benthic Subsystem Bare/Colonized/ Vegetated Bare/Colonized/ Vegetated Bare/Colonized/ Vegetated Bare/Colonized/ Vegetated Intertidal/Benthic

9. Subclass Biotope Regime/ System Cover Biotope Complex Class Salinity/Enclosure/Total Depth Biological Cover/Bare Biophysical Structure Biophysical Fine Structure, Substrate Dominant Biology Type/Association Specific Biology Level Themes Spatial Scale is an implicit classifier at each level Modifiers for Form, Energy, Light, Physico-Chemistry, Anthropogenics Ecoregion Climate Regime, Biogeography Sub system Intertidal/Benthic (Depth)

10. Census of Marine Life and OBIS Data Model Linkages OBIS will add CMECS habitat designation for each data set. (short term) OBIS will add CMECS habitat designation for each data set. (short term) OBIS incorporating CMECS into its data model to allow habitat designations for all data records. (long term) OBIS incorporating CMECS into its data model to allow habitat designations for all data records. (long term) The OBIS portal will have a direct link to CMECS website. The OBIS portal will have a direct link to CMECS website. OBIS-NatureServe working to unify terminology across IMCRA, EUNIS and CMECS OBIS-NatureServe working to unify terminology across IMCRA, EUNIS and CMECS

11. San Diego Supercomputer Center OBIS Ontology Mapping Project OBIS Ontology Mapping Project Translation and crosswalk via the “Wrapper” Translation and crosswalk via the “Wrapper” Ecological species & biology Classification Hierarchy Physical multi-dimensional environment classification units A useful tool for comparing classifications

12. NatureServe CMECS website http://www.natureserve.org/getData/CMECS/index.htm

13. NatureServe CMECS website http://www.natureserve.org/getData/CMECS/index.htm

14. Conclusion Marine ETN Website will go live with the draft Standard Format late March 2008 Marine ETN Website will go live with the draft Standard Format late March 2008 IABIN is conducting a training workshop April 2008 IABIN is conducting a training workshop April 2008 Several LatAm countries are contributing data to the network Several LatAm countries are contributing data to the network We invite additional projects from the Caribbean Basin We invite additional projects from the Caribbean Basin http://biogeodb.stri.si.edu/bioinformatics/I ABIN/FormatoEstandar/formatomarino.php