A revised marine ecosystem classification system and map of the distributions of 29 marine ecosystem types in the Sub-Antarctic was produced in 2018. More than ten years of research was consolidated to inform the revised map. Updated information was used to refine regions and new regions were introduced.

von der Meden, C., van der Merwe, S., Adams, R., Dayaram, A., Sink, K., Lombard, A., Bosman, A., Fourie, F., Harris, L., Hedding, D., Holness, S., Majiedt, P., Makhado, A., Meyer, R., Pistorius, P., Reisinger, R., Skowno, A., Somhlaba, S., Swart, S. and Smith, M .2019. ‘2: Ecosystem Classification and Mapping’, in National Biodiversity Assessment 2018 Technical Report Volume 6: sub-Antarctic Territory. Whitehead, T.O., Von der Meden, C., Skowno, A.L., Sink, K.L., van der Merwe, S., Adams, R. and Holness, S. (eds.). South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.

This layer was developed as part of the 2018 National Biodiversity Assessment.

This data may not be reproduced by any means, nor redistributed via web site or ftp site,

without prior permission. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of

data, users are advised to use the data and conclusions drawn from its use with caution.

Users noting errors and omissions are requested to notify the data custodian

(A.Skowno@sanbi.org.za) to improve data accuracy. These data are not for resale or A.Skowno@sanbi.org (A.Skowno@sanbi.org.za) to improve data accuracy. These data are not for resale or

replicating. This digital version is in the public domain requiring only the conventional

acknowledgement of source in publications and reports.

APPROPRIATE USE OF THIS DATASET: The Threat status and Ecosystem Protection

level statistics must be interpreted with an understanding of the approach and rationale

described in the National Biodiversity Assessment 2018 Terrestrial technical documents

and Synthesis report.

PROJCS["MaionIsland_LO37",GEOGCS["GCS_WGS_1984",DATUM["D_WGS_1984",SPHEROID["WGS_1984",6378137.0,298.257223563]],PRIMEM["Greenwich",0.0],UNIT["Degree",0.0174532925199433]],PROJECTION["Transverse_Mercator"],PARAMETER["False_Easting",0.0],PARAMETER["False_Northing",0.0],PARAMETER["Central_Meridian",37.0],PARAMETER["Scale_Factor",1.0],PARAMETER["Latitude_Of_Origin",0.0],UNIT["Meter",1.0]]

Knowledge of South Africa’s sub-Antarctic marine ecosystems benefit from a long history of research extending back to the Challenger (1873) and Discovery II (1935) expeditions. More recently, conservation planning efforts at the islands resulted in the design and proclamation of South Africa’s first offshore MPA in 2013 (Lombard et al. 2007, DEA 2013). The long history of efforts to classify marine regions and ecosystems types has culminated in this marine ecosystem type map. This is a product of continued research in the local marine environment and regional sub-Antarctic benthic and pelagic bioregionalisations (Raymond 2011, Douglass et al. 2014).

SANS 1878

FGDC-STD-001-1998