4/4/2017 BenthicMarine

SustainableDevelopmentIndicatorGroup

WorkingDraftFramework,Version2,June4,1996

1.2.4.1BenthicMarine
Definition:Thosemarineecosystemsconsistingoforganismslivingon,attachedto,orburrowinginthe
sedimentoftheoceanfloor.

DefinitionSource:TheScienceofBiology

BenthicMarineCategories:
1.2.4.1.1DeepSea:Thosemarineecosystemswithinsubstratebelowtheeuphoticzone(theupperwaterlayer
fromthesurfacetothedepthofeffectivelightpenetration).

1.2.4.1.1.1Abyssal

1.2.4.1.1.2Bathyal

1.2.4.1.1.3HadalZone

1.2.4.1.2IntertidalMarine:Thosemarineecosystemswithinthesubstratebetweenhighandlowtides,exposed
toandfloodedbytides.

1.2.4.1.2.1IntertidalMarineAquaticBed

1.2.4.1.2.2IntertidalMarineReef

1.2.4.1.2.3RockyIntertidalMarineShore

1.2.4.1.2.4UnconsolidatedIntertidalMarineShore

1.2.4.1.3SubtidalMarine:Thosemarineecosystemswithinsubstratethatispermanentlyfloodedbytidal
water.

1.2.4.1.3.1RockyMarineBottom

1.2.4.1.3.2SubtidalMarineAquaticBed

1.2.4.1.3.3SubtidalMarineReef

1.2.4.1.3.4UnconsolidatedMarineBottom

1.2.4.1.4Abyssopelagic:Thosemarineecosystemswithinthewaterbelow2000m,belowtheleveloflight
penetration.(DefinitionSource:ClassificationofWetlandsandDeepwaterHabitatsoftheUnitedStates)

1.2.4.1.5Bathylpelagic:Thosemarineecosystemswithinwaterbelowtheeuphoticzoneandabove2000m,the
extentofthecontinentalslope.(DefinitionSource:FundamentalsofEcology)

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1.2.4.1.6PelagicMarine:Thosemarineecosystemsfromthelowtidemarktotheopenoceanwithinthe
verticaldivisionfromthesurfacetofloor.

1.2.4.1.7Euphotic:Thosemarineecosystemswithintheupperwaterlayerdowntothedepthofeffectivelight
penetrationwherephotosynthesisbalancesrespiration.Thislevelusuallyoccursatadepthof1%light
penetrationandformsthelowerboundaryofthezoneofnetmetabolicproduction.(DefinitionSource:
ClassificationofWetlandsandDeepwaterHabitatsoftheUnitedStates)

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