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Information Classes
This
section presents the various information classes that can be
consulted in the Atlas of Coastal Habitats and Fishery
Resources. Some of the information mentioned below may not be
available for all 13 areas covered by the Atlas. This is because
of variations in the amount of documentation on the areas. If
an item of information is missing, this should not be interpreted
as indicating the absence of the habitat in question. Definition
of information classes:
- Invertebrates,
fish and marine mammals
- Aquatic
plants
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Invertebrates, fish and marine mammals
These themes encompass the information available on the
habitats for wildlife species, specifically invertebrates,
fish and marine mammals. The criteria used to identify and
characterize these habitats are described below.
Breeding area: area where the males and females of
a given species congregate to breed, including known and potential
spawning grounds.
-
Known
spawning ground: site where spawning activities or results (eggs)
have been observed.
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Potential
spawning ground: site whose boundaries have not been fully delimited
but which has been identified based on one or more of the following
criteria:
-
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site that has suitable
environmental conditions (substrate, current) and is located
near a known spawning ground
-
site recognized as
a spawning ground, but which is not being used for that
purpose at present despite having this potential
-
site that has favourable
conditions for the spawning activities of rare or threatened
species
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recognized nursery
area or larval rearing area.
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Birthing
area (whelping/calving): place where female marine mammals give
birth to their young.
-
Rearing
area: place where female marine mammals give birth to and nurse
and raise their young.
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Haulout:
area on land that pinnipeds (seals and walruses) use for various
activities, such as rutting, mating, whelping and nursing their
young. Haulouts also serve as resting areas.
Feeding area: place where the individuals of a given
species feed or can find food.
Concentration: area where a species is often observed
(documented sightings) and where the number of individuals
is sufficient to support recreational or commercial harvesting
activities. This term is used when the reason for a species'
presence at the location is not known (breeding, feeding,
migration or resting). The following harvesting activities
are described:
-
fishing
area: area where fish are caught using various gear types
(e.g. fish weirs, gillnets, drags).
-
harvesting
area: area where given species (most often shellfish) can be
harvested
by hand.
-
hunting
area: area where marine mammal species are hunted.
-
observation
area: area where recreational marine mammal viewing activities
take place.
- unharvested:
area where a species is abundant, but is not known to be harvested
or where a species is not harvested commercially or recreationally.
Species occurrence: refers to the species' general distribution
(documented sightings) at various life stages within a delimited
area. This term is used when the reason for a species' presence
at the location is not known (breeding, feeding, migration or
resting). It is also used when it cannot be determined with
certainty that the species is abundant. The following life stages
are described:
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adults:
sexually mature individuals.
-
young:
immature marine mammals.
-
juveniles:
general term for immature fish and invertebrates, including
eggs and fry.
-
fry:
young fish still living on yolk sac reserves.
-
larvae:
term used to denote individuals at the earliest development
stage.
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general:
used when it is impossible to specify a life stage (adult,
juvenile, larva, fry). This term is used systematically for
shellfish.
Aquatic vegetation
Zones of aquatic vegetation are considered essential habitat
for several animal species that may carry on various activities
associated with their life cycles; breeding, feeding, resting.
This information class comprises about 40 aquatic plant species.
The criteria used to identify and characterize the aquatic
vegetation habitats are described below.
Algae: Themes that encompass marine algae (seaweed)
concentration areas: red algae, green algae, brown algae and
filamentous algae (subdivided into families)
Aquatic bed: Themes characterized by the predominance
of submerged and floating plants: helophytic and hydrophytic
aquatic beds.
Marsh: Marshes are wetlands that have herbaceous vegetation
and are periodically flooded. This theme encompasses the following
elements: emergent vegetation (spartina and bulrushes), salt
marshes, freshwater marshes, herbaceous meadows.
Wet meadow: Wet meadows have a closed herbaceous canopy
dominated by graminoids (grasses) and little or no standing
water.
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