5.0 MAPPING EXAMPLE

The following example uses the same mapping example from the physical shore-zone mapping manual (Howes et al. 1994) and extends the mapping process to the biotic mapping requirements. The intention is to depict the integration between the physical and biological mapping methods and the specifics of the biotic mapping process. For convenience, the physical mapping example is reproduced in this report as Appendix 3.

5.1 Project Data and Exposure Information

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Information in the project data and exposure databases (Appendix 3) are contained entirely and without change in the physical shore-zone mapping system. It is expected that the biotic mapping occurs in concert with the physical mapping. Therefore, these dataforms are filled out by the physical mapper and used directly by the biotic mapper.

5.2 Shore Unit Information

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Data collection specific to the biotic mapping database begins at the shore unit level. The physical mapper will complete the shore unit data base with the exception of the land use and freshwater influence fields (Table 5). In this example, the land use category is none (N) and there is no freshwater influence (N).

Table 5 - Shore Unit Database Example

5.3 Across-shore Component Information

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Information contained in the component data base (Appendix 3) is used directly from the physical shore-zone mapping system. This form is completed by the physical mapper.

5.4 Band Information

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Information on banding is unique to the biotic mapping system. Bands are identified from aerial video, aerial transparencies or from the ground. The band database entries are presented in Table 6 and are schematically represented in Figure 4. In this example, there are no bands associated with Zone A and Component 1, the cliff face. In Zone B, Component 1, the inclined beach, there are two bands, a continuous (C) grey-white band consisting primarily of barnacles (BAR) at the upper extent of the beach, and a lower continuous (C) band of golden brown made up primarily of Fucus sp. (FUC). Still in Zone B, Component 2, the irregular high tide rock platform, has a continuous (C) single band of bright green colour made up mostly of Ulva sp. (ULV). The third component in Zone B also has a single continuous (C) band soft brown in colour (SBR) which is dominated by Laminarians, Agarum sp., Sargassum sp., and other non-stalked brown algae.

Table 6 - Band Database Example.

5.5 Biota Information

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The major organisms associated with each band, their relative abundances and any microhabitat associations of more abundant and conspicuous species are compiled in the biota database (Table 7). The first four fields in this database serve only to link this database with other databases in the physical and biotic mapping systems. Ideally each major organism in each band is identified to species, but the mapping system accommodates more general levels of classification such as genus, order, etc.

Note that within the spray zone, the abundance of Verrucaria is simply referred to as the width of the entire band containing this algae. For all other species, the abundance is referred to as rare (R), few (F), common (C), or abundant (A). Most species are generally distributed, except for Petrolithes cinctripes which occurred only in mussel beds.

Table 7 - Biota Database Example

FIGURE 4 - Banding schematic

5.6 Explicitly Mapped Information

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The information mapped so far in this example has been for relatively sedentary intertidal or subtidal organisms. More mobile, nearshore species such as most fish, birds and mammals do not lend themselves to this type of mapping treatment. For many of the mobile species, the preferred approach is to map their distribution as a polygon which can then be linked to adjacent shore units if desired. In addition, polygons have been used by many individuals to map the distribution of many sessile species (e.g., clams, geoducks, kelp). In other cases, the data base for each species or group of species would vary and no attempt is made in this manual to develop or design databases for all possible explicitly mapped resources. For most resources, a minimum database would include information on abundance and timing of presence. The example shown in Figure 5 depicts herring fishery areas. As many copies of maps as necessary should be used in order to keep the information being mapped clear and distinct. An example data bse for the polygon data are presented in Table 8.

FIGURE 5 - Herring fishery in the Copper Island area

TABLE 8 - Fisheries coding sheet

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