Table A-8.  Habitat Class Codes

Habitat Class attribute is a classification of the biophysical characteristics of an entire unit, and provides a single attribute that describes the typical intertidal biota together with the geomorphology. That is, a typical example of a Habitat Class includes a combination of biobands, and their associated indicator species (which determine the Biological Exposure category) and the geomorphological features of the Habitat Class.

The biological mapper observes and records the biobands in the unit, if any, and determines the Biological Exposure Category (EXP_BIO). The Habitat Class is determined on the basis of presence/absence of biobands, exposure category, geomorphology, and spatial distribution of biota within the unit.

Within the database, both a numeric code and an alpha code are used. Both codes are listed in Table A-9, in which the matrix includes all combinations of Dominant Structuring Process on the vertical axis, and Biological Exposure on the horizontal axis.




Dominant Structuring Process Categories
Wave Stability of the substrate depends on the type of substrate and on the wave energy level.
-Immobile: on Bedrock; or Bedrock & Sediment; or Sediment-dominated (in low energy settings)
-Partially Mobile on Rock & Sediment; or Sediment
-Mobile on Sediment (bare beach)
Fluvial -Estuary (saltmarsh vegetation associated with freshwater stream, often with delta form)
Current -Current-Dominated saltwater channel
Glacial -Glacier ice
Anthropogenic -Man-modified impermeable substrate
-Man-modified permeable substrate
Lagoon -Blackshore lagoon, only recorded as a Secondary Habitat Class



Biological Exposure Categories
VE -- Very Exposed

E -- Exposed

SE -- Semi-Exposed

SP -- Semi-Protected

P -- Protected

VP -- Very Protected