Help Develop a National Standard for Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification (CMECS)

Garry F. Mayer, NOAA Fisheries, Office of Habitat Conservation

Garry.Mayer@noaa.gov

Rebecca (Becky) J. Allee, NOAA Coastal Services Center

Becky.Allee@noaa.gov 

Recent developments in coastal/ocean use and associated policy underscore the need for a national standard for classifying coastal and marine ecosystems. Emerging marine spatial planning initiatives, increased interest in marine managed areas, proposals for siting alternative ocean energy facilities, accelerated ocean aquaculture development, preparing for and responding to alterations associated with climate change, and a host of similar issues could be addressed more efficiently were there a standard parlance for describing “what’s out there.” Over the past decade, NOAA and its partners—NatureServe, U.S. EPA and USGS—have worked with individual scientists and managers from federal, state, and regional agencies; academia; industry; and non-governmental organizations to develop and test the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS). In 2008, CMECS was submitted to the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) for adoption as a national standard for classifying coastal and marine ecosystems. In 2010, the draft standard will be made available for public comment. In the interim, we invite CERF members to examine and apply the standard and report back to us on their experiences. We are soliciting expert comments on the standard before it “goes public” to assure it is as good as possible and useful to coastal and ocean interests to address a broad suite of marine issues. 

What is CMECS and how is it unique?

A description of CMECS as well as a copy of the most recent version of the standard is available on-line at: http://www.csc.noaa.gov/benthic/cmecs/index.html.

      The CMECS framework accommodates the physical, biological, and chemical information required to determine a marine habitat type. It is intended to meet national, regional, and local needs; build on existing work; create a comprehensive ecological classification; meet mapping needs; provide flexibility to meet individual needs; and allow for a dynamic content standard (i.e., the addition of elements via the use of a prescribed, peer-review process).

      CMECS broadly classifies the environment into aquatic settings, or systems differentiated by salinity, geomorphology, and depth. Within the systems, five underlying components or themes describe aspects of the relevant ecological units and their relationships:

• Water Column Component describes the structure, patterns, and processes of the water column.  
• Biotic Cover Component is a hierarchical classification describing the biological composition and cover of the coastal and marine benthos.
• Surface Geology Component describes the geological composition and environment of the upper few centimeters of benthic or coastal substrate, including the structural aspects of biogenic substrates such as coral reefs.
• Sub-Benthic Component describes characteristics of the underlying sediments and soils, providing more detailed information on the composition of the sediment column and the infauna.
• GeoForm Component describes major geomorphic or structural characteristics of the coast and seafloor at various scales.

      The components provide a structured way to organize information about coastal and marine habitats and a standard terminology for describing them. Components may be identified and mapped independently or combined as needed.

      The CMECS domain extends seaward from the tidal splash zone and intertidal and brackish wetlands of the coasts to the central oceans and deep waters of the Great Lakes. It includes the tidally-influenced areas of estuaries; continental and coastal waters; and all parts of the ocean, including abyssal and hadal environments. While the standard is being developed for use in the United States, it is intended be applicable to all coastal or marine environments worldwide. The proposed standard complements existing wetland and upland classification systems (FGDC wetland and vegetation standards).  

Why should I be interested?

CMECS provides a framework and consistent terminology that is intended to be compatible with existing classification systems and useful regardless of observation/mapping technology. Historically, compatibility has been a significant issue because data have been classified using many different approaches. CMECS developers have been diligent in working with investigators and organizations using other protocols to minimize the likelihood that previous or ongoing work will not be compatible. The aim is for existing data to be integrated easily into and reported via CMECS.

      The FGDC has accepted CMECS as a candidate national standard for coastal and marine ecological classification. CERF members can insure that CMECS speaks to the needs of the community by helping to review and “polish” the draft to be sent to FGDC for public comment. Options for providing technical assistance are discussed below. Involvement by CERF members is fitting because when CMECS is approved by FGDC, scientists receiving federal support for marine activities will be required to report to CMECS as the ecological characterization standard.  

How can I become involved?

      CMECS will be featured at the upcoming CERF 2009 Conference in Portland, OR.

• Stop by the CMECS booth and ask questions about the proposed standard, its development and anticipated next steps, and how to participate in reviewing and refining the standard.
• Be on the alert for papers discussing the use of CMECS and visit posters featuring CMECS on Monday, 2 November, and on Tuesday, 3 November.
• Apply CMECS in your research or environmental assessments if habitat classification is required. CMECS is improved by every application. If you are interested in piloting CMECS or cross-walking CMECS with a classification system you are using, we would be delighted to work with you. We want to learn how CMECS measures up and find out about its compatibility with tools already in use.
• Review the text (http://www.csc.noaa.gov/benthic/cmecs/index.html) and send us feedback, even if you only can comment on sections that relate to your interests. If you find problems, how might these be addressed? Let us know if you are interested in volunteering to participate in small writing teams dealing with technical issues in your area of expertise.
• Participate in the CMECS public review period once the FGDC publishes a notice of availability in the Federal Register.
• Become an advocate for CMECS to assure data on coastal and marine ecosystems are characterized and mapped in a standard fashion across local, regional and national boundaries.

      CMECS has the potential to extend the utility of data sets for multiple purposes and by multiple investigators. We look to CERF members to assist in assuring the standard will be of optimal use to all.