A revised marine ecosystem classification system and map of the distributions of 150 marine ecosystem types was produced in 2018. More than ten years of research was consolidated to inform the revised map. Updated biogeographic information was used to refine marine ecoregions, and sub-regions nested within ecoregions were introduced.

Chapter 3: Sink KJ, Harris LR, Skowno AL, Livingstone T, Franken M, Porter S, Atkinson LJ, Bernard A, Cawthra H, Currie J, Dayaram A, De Wet W, Dunga VL, Filander Z, Green A, Herbert D, Karenyi N, Palmer R, Pfaff M, Makwela M, MacKay F, Van Niekerk L, Van Zyl W, Bessinger M, Holness S, Kirkman SP, Lamberth S, Lück-Vogel M. 2019. Chapter 3: Marine Ecosystem Classification and Mapping. In: Sink KJ, van der Bank MG, Majiedt PA, Harris LR, Atkinson LJ, Kirkman SP, Karenyi N (eds). 2019. South African National Biodiversity Assessment 2018 Technical Report Volume 4: Marine Realm. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. South Africa. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12143/6372

This version will be updated with subsequent iterations periodically as new data is produced.

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 SEAMAP project in the SANBI Marine Program office (K.Sink@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. K.Sink@sanbi.org 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 SEAMAP project in the SANBI Marine Program office (K.Sink@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 Marine Ecosystem Map has been created for national purposes and the boundaries of ecosystem types are mapped at a coarse scale. Therefore, the map may act as a guide to the marine ecosystems in a region but is not appropriate for any work requiring fine scale investigations. Much of the map still requires field verification.

PROJCS["AEA_RSA_WGS84",GEOGCS["GCS_WGS_1984",DATUM["D_WGS_1984",SPHEROID["WGS_1984",6378137.0,298.257223563]],PRIMEM["Greenwich",0.0],UNIT["Degree",0.0174532925199433]],PROJECTION["Albers"],PARAMETER["False_Easting",0.0],PARAMETER["False_Northing",0.0],PARAMETER["Central_Meridian",25.0],PARAMETER["Standard_Parallel_1",-24.0],PARAMETER["Standard_Parallel_2",-33.0],PARAMETER["Latitude_Of_Origin",0.0],UNIT["Meter",1.0]]

There is a long history of efforts to classify marine regions and ecosystem types (Gregr and Bodtker 2007, Longhurst 2007, Howell 2010, Last et al. 2010, Gregr et al. 2012) and in South Africa, considerable effort has been expended to advance marine ecosystem classification and mapping in the last 15 years.

Key advances in the map include: very fine-scale shore mapping with alignment and seamless integration of terrestrial and estuarine systems at the land-sea interface; the inclusion of kelp forests, bays, stromatolites and fluvial fans as distinct ecosystem types; and the introduction of higher resolution depth strata across the shelf and on the slope.

SANS 1878

FGDC-STD-001-1998