Science Advisory Report 2013/065

Key elements in the development of a hierarchical marine ecological classification system to support ecosystem approaches to management in Pacific Canada

Summary

• The key elements of a framework to subdivide the four major bioregions in Pacific Canada marine waters into ecologically meaningful sub-bioregion scale units were reviewed. The advice and guidance on the development of a biogeographic framework is intended to help inform Ecosystem Approaches to Management (EAM) of marine biodiversity including fisheries resources, the establishment of a network of bioregional marine protected areas (MPAs) in Pacific Region, and contribute to coastal zone management and planning activities at local scales in Pacific Canada marine waters.
• The key elements of a science-based biogeographic framework include:
1. Consideration of species and habitat diversity within both the pelagic and benthic realms,
2. Knowledge of management objectives and their associated spatial requirements,
3. The application of a suite of tools to analyze and summarize biotic and abiotic data,
4. The identification of important data sources and gaps, and
5. A hierarchical ecological classification system. 
• A prototype Pacific marine ecological classification system (PMECS) framework with standardized terminology and descriptors of both benthic and pelagic realms and information on the spatial extent and data resolution at each level in the hierarchy was developed during the meeting.  The PMECS is expected to represent abiotic and biotic diversity in Canadian Pacific marine waters because it is based on similar ecological classification systems that have been successfully applied in terrestrial and other marine environments.
• Development of the PMECS framework was guided by case studies and recommendations of experienced practitioners in Pacific and Maritimes Regions.  
• Twenty case studies were assessed to better understand the types of species distribution models, abiotic distribution models, and expert systems, presently used to describe biotic and abiotic diversity in the pelagic and benthic realms of Canadian Pacific marine waters, to understand the data requirements and gaps in these systems, and to identify key and common tools and approaches in marine ecological classification systems.
• It was recognized that it is important to capture and document uncertainty and drivers of uncertainty (e.g., data bias, lack of data, lack of knowledge) at each step in the framework.
• Some uncertainties were identified during the case study reviews and are documented by data type (acoustic bathymetry and bottom type, water properties, abiotic and biotic surveys, satellite, photographic, and video imagery).  Procedures to address some of these issues were discussed, but guidance will need to be developed to ensure that uncertainty is documented for each of the key elements as the PMECS is tested and implemented.
• The PMECS is hierarchical with multiple levels for down-scaling spanning bioregions to micro-communities and their associated spatial scales (extent and resolution).
• Although the PMECS is expected to be used primarily to down-scale or subdivide larger biogeographic units, it has an implicit capability to scale up to larger global levels than bioregions. 
• Adaptability of a biogeographic framework to new data, new model outputs, and new knowledge is recognized as an important characteristic; guidance will need to be developed on the process for incorporating new information
• It is recommended that the PMECS be considered as Pacific Region Science guidance for classifying marine biotic and abiotic diversity in Pacific Canada marine waters as ecosystem approaches to management are implemented by DFO.
• It is recommended that the performance of the PMECS prototype be evaluated with existing data and applying appropriate metrics (e.g., robustness, stability of results) and it is recommended that a method be developed to integrate the data sources into the prototype PMECS, with consideration given to current best practices on model integration, uncertainty characterization, and data gap and overlap (collection effort) analysis.
• DFO is currently conducting climate change research on trends and projections and it is recommended that the performance assessment of the proposed PMECS make use of this research.
• It is recommended that the utility of the PMECS be evaluated with respect to management objectives at varying spatial scales.
• It is recommended that a parallel pilot program be developed to evaluate the performance of several tools (e.g., predictive models of abiotic and biotic distributions) using identical high quality abiotic and biotic datasets from Pacific Canada marine waters to provide guidance on model choices to users of PMECS.
• The PMECS is data intensive and will involve DFO and numerous partners in building and contributing to the elements of the system, which includes providing and analyzing data, data products, and models.
• Based on long-standing terrestrial experience, functioning ecological classification systems are built on common standards for data collection, storage and sharing, and a community of partners.  Standards for data collection, storage, and sharing will be needed as implementation of the PMECS proceeds.
• It is recognized that there is a gap in the coordination of GIS capacity for geospatial planning and management internally within DFO and externally with other agencies/partners.  Filling this gap will be important to the successful implementation of the PMECS.
• The advice and guidance arising from this Regional Peer Review are steps in fulfilling national commitments to ensure that adequate MPA network design is achieved in Pacific Canada marine waters and to international commitments to apply the scientific criteria in Annexes I and II of Decision IX/20 of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.

This Science Advisory Report is from the February 12-14, 2013 Regional Peer Review meeting on Biogeographic Classification Framework to Inform Bioregional Marine Protected Area Network Design in Pacific Region.  Additional publications from this meeting will be posted on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science Advisory Schedule as they become available.

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