Inventory of Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem Indicators Using an Ecological Resilience Framework

Project Description This project used an Ecological Resilience Framework to inventory ecological and ecosystem service indicators used in the monitoring of the Gulf of Mexico. Conceptual models and expert workshops allowed for the assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of these indicators so that a set of core indicators were developed that will improve restoration and damage assessments as well as inform sustainable management in the Gulf. These indicators are included on individual maps for five Gulf of Mexico ecosystems including mangroves, salt marsh, seagrass, oyster beds, and coral reefs. Habitat Data Layer Generation Habitat data for each ecosystem was generated using various source datasets. Where necessary, a selection by attributes was performed on each source to isolate coral, oyster, seagrass, salt marsh, or mangrove data from other habitat types. A selection by location was then run on the isolated habitat to include only those cells intersecting the project area. The final habitat layer for each ecosystem were then created from this selection. Coral Indicator Data Layer Generation Coral ecosystem indicators examined in this study include Bleaching Prevalence, Carbonate Chemistry (in terms of Aragonite Saturation), Chlorophyll A concentration, Disease Prevalence, Epibenthic Sessile Community Structure (in terms of Living Biota Percent Cover and Macroalgal Percent Cover), Grazing Echinoid Abundance, Light Attenuation (in terms of Water Transparency), Live Stony Coral Cover, Mortality, and Temperature.