Sediment-dwelling organisms are the most common faunal assemblage used to assess habitat quality across the globe. This study represents the first thorough, regional-scale ecological analysis about these fauna living along the continental slope of California since the late 1950’s. Using multiple data sets collected by a variety of different agencies, three distinct reference condition habitats were identified from 200 to more than 1,000 meters (m) below the surface of the ocean. This characterization is a key step in developing biologically based assessment tools for these heretofore understudied yet important habitats.

USD: $330,000

2016-07-20 → 2019-08-30