Habitat--Offshore Monterey, California

This part of DS 781 presents data for the habitat map of the seafloor of the Offshore of Monterey map area, California. The vector data file is included in "Habitat_OffshoreMonterey.zip," which is accessible from http://dx.doi.org/10.5066/F7F47M6T.
This map shows physical marine benthic habitats in the Offshore of Monterey map area. Marine benthic habitats represent a particular type of water quality, substrate, geomorphology, seafloor process, or any other attribute that may provide a habitat for a specific species or an assemblage of organisms. Marine benthic habitats are classified using the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS), developed by representatives from a consortium of federal agencies. CMECS is the U.S. government standard for marine habitat characterization. The standard provides an ecologically-relevant structure for biologic, geologic, chemical, and physical habitat attributes. This map illustrates the geoform and substrate components of the standard. This map was derived from seafloor geology map (sheet 10) units by translation of the unit description into the best-fit values of CMECS classes. The CMECS classes are documented at https://www.fgdc.gov/standards/projects/FGDC-standards-projects/cmecs-folder/CMECS_Version_06-2012_FINAL.pdf.
Please refer to Greene and others (2007) for more information regarding the Benthic Marine Potential Habitat Classification Scheme and the codes used to represent various seafloor features.
Reference Cited:
Greene, H.G., Bizzarro, J.J., O'Connell, V.M., and Brylinsky, C.K., 2007, Construction of digital potential marine benthic habitat maps using a coded classification scheme and its application, in Todd, B.J., and Greene, H.G., eds., Mapping the seafloor for habitat characterization: Geological Association of Canada Special Paper 47, p. 141-155.