Benthic Habitat Maps from BBP Surveys

BBP in Brief, Issue 4, April 2005

Benthic Habitat Maps from BBP Surveys
Kate Holmes (AMNH-CBC)

[Click individual habitat photos for descriptions of the habitats]

The Habitat Working Group of the BBP is in the process of developing a series of detailed benthic (or sea floor) habitat maps for the areas in The Bahamas where we have conducted underwater surveys. The maps are being made into large posters, each with a high-resolution IKONOS satellite image of the region, a colored map depicting the various marine habitats, and a detailed legend with photos and descriptions of each of the habitats we are using. The posters will be made available to conservation organizations, schools, and other interested groups.

A year ago, an initial version of a poster depicting a stretch of Andros – the eastern coastal area three kilometers north of Stafford Creek to just south of Fresh Creek – was distributed to various conservation and environmental groups in Andros. Since then, we have adjusted the general design and added clearer descriptions in various habitats, including notes about some of the important species. We hope to soon distribute maps from Andros, Northern San Salvador, and Elbow Cay of Abaco, and are in the early stages of developing maps for portions of the Exumas and South Caicos. If you would like to review the maps and provide comments that would help us improve their usefulness to you and others, please contact Kate Holmes at kholmes@amnh.org.