A full list of the traits, categories and their definitions are listed below.


Morphology

Body shape
articulate (BOD_SH_01) Jointed, arthrous (Holmes, 1979).
bivalved (BOD_SH_02) Characteristically a shell of two calcareous valves joined by a flexible ligament.
cone / conical (BOD_SH_03) Cone shaped e.g. limpet-shaped, patelliform (adapted from Stachowitsch, 1992).
cylindrical / elongated (BOD_SH_04) With straight sides and a circular section (Thompson, 1995).
dendroid (BOD_SH_05) Branching irregularly – similar to that of a root system (Prescott, 1969).
encrusting (BOD_SH_06) Forms or resembles a crust over a substratum or other organisms. Hard (solid or resisting to touch or pressure, e.g. encrusting coralline algae or sea mats such as Umbonula littoralis) or soft crust (yielding to touch or pressure, e.g. gelatinous colonies of Botryllus schlosseri or soft cushions of sponges such as Halichondria sp.); cushion (mass or pillow of soft material); mat (dense mass which blankets the substratum).
erect / upright (BOD_SH_07) Main visible parts of organism stand upright and above the surface of the substratum. Several strata: arborescent (with the shape or characteristics of a tree); forest (a dense stand of large plants in which the upper branches (trees) or laminae (macroalgae) overlap to form a canopy that shades the under story of flora and fauna); shrub (with a very short stem with branches near the ground (Thompson, 1995)); turf (lowest stratum of erect branching or filiform species).
faunal beds (BOD_SH_08) Dense aggregation of animals that visually dominate the seabed or shore such as brittlestars (e.g. Ophiothrix fragilis) or mussels (e.g. Mytilus edulis).
filiform / filamentous (BOD_SH_09) Slender and thread-like (Kozloff, 1996).
globose (BOD_SH_10) Approximately spherical, ovoid or globular (Brusca, 1980).
radial (BOD_SH_11) Symmetrical about any plane passed perpendicular to the oral/aboral axis (Barnes et al., 1993).
stellate (BOD_SH_12) Arranged like a star.
straplike / ribbonlike (BOD_SH_13) In the form of a strap or ribbon.
turbinate (BOD_SH_14) Whorled (Brusca, 1980).
vermiform (BOD_SH_15) Worm-like. Annulated (body lacks true segments, although annuli may be present, e.g. roundworms (Nematoda) and ribbon worms (Nemertea)); segmented (the body is divided into semi-independent, serially repeated units (Barnes et al., 1993) e.g. Annelida); or unsegmented (the external surface is divided into a chain of rings or 'annuli' by furrows giving the appearance of segments (Barnes et al., 1993)).
Flexibility
high (FL_01) > 45° bending/flexing without breaking or suffering damage.
low (FL_02) 10 – 45° bending/flexing without breaking or suffering damage.
none (FL_03) < 10° bending/flexing without breaking or suffering damage.
Fragility
fragile (FR_01) Likely to break, or crack as a result of physical impact; brittle or friable.
intermediary (FR_02) Liable to suffer minor damage, chips or cracks as result of physical impacts.
robust (FR_03) Unlikely to be damaged as a result of physical impacts, e.g. hard or tough enough to withstand impact, or leathery or wiry enough to resist impact.
Supporting structures/skeleton
exoskeleton (SK_01) A rigid external structure that supports and/or protects the body of an organism and that is mainly or completely secreted by the epidermis (derived from Lawrence 2005). Includes shells.
external tube (SK_02) A built-structure inhabited by an organism and essential to its survival, but not part of its body, composed of hardened (either rigid or flexible) secretions, with or without the addition of embedded particles, with those particles either selectively collected from the environment or passively becoming glued during formation (pers. comm. Read, G.).
hydrostatic skeleton (SK_03) Skeletal support provided by hydrostatic pressure from a fluid filled cavity (e.g. the coelum) surrounded by muscles. Hydrostatic pressure provides skeletal support in sea anemones, jellyfish, nematodes, annelids, echinoderms, and other groups.
Skeleton material
calcareous (SK_M_01) Skeleton composed of calcareous spicules (sponges/echinoderms), plates, spines, bones or other structures. Can be composed of calcite, aragonite, amorphous CaCO3, high-magnesium calcite or mixed calcareous material.
siliceous (SK_M_02) Composed of silicon based spines, spicules or lattice, e.g. siliceous or glass sponges.
chitinous (SK_M_03) Composed of chitin, a long-chain polymer of N-acetylglucosamine. It is the chief polysaccharide in fungal cell walls and in the exoskeleton of arthropods (derived form Lawrence, 2005).
sponginous (SK_M_04) Composed of spongin, fibrous protein component of the horny sponges (derived from Lawrence, 2005).
Body size
small (BOD_SI_01) < 10 mm
small-medium (BOD_SI_02) 10-50 mm
medium (BOD_SI_03) 50-100 mm
medium-large (BOD_SI_04) 100-300 mm
large (BOD_SI_05) > 300 mm
Body size group
megabiota (BOD_SI_G_01) Individual organisms with a mean body size larger than 200 mm.
macrobiota (BOD_SI_G_02) Individual organisms with a mean body size between 2.0 and 200 mm.
meiobiota (BOD_SI_G_03) Individual organisms with a mean body size between 0.2 and 2.0 mm.
microbiota (BOD_SI_G_04) Individual organisms with a mean body size smaller than 0.2 mm.
Weight
low (W_01) < 0.1 g
low-medium (W_02) 0.1-1.0 g
medium (W_03) 1.0-10 g
medium-high (W_04) 10-100 g
high (W_05) > 100 g


Movement

Relative adult mobility
none (AD_MOB_01) Fixed (e.g. living in tubes, etc.)
low (AD_MOB_02) Limited mobility
medium (AD_MOB_03) Slow, free movement on sediment surface/through sediment matrix.
high (AD_MOB_04) Free 3D movement (swimming/burrow system, etc.).
Movement type of adult
burrower (AD_MOV_01) An organism that moves through the substratum by burrowing or tunneling (e.g. earthworms, polychaetes).
crawler / walker / climber (AD_MOV_02) An organism that moves across, up or down the substratum via movements of its legs, appendages or muscles (e.g. Carcinus).
creeper (AD_MOV_03) An organism that moves slowly or 'creeps' across the surface of the substratum.
swimmer (AD_MOV_04) An organism that moves through the water column via movements of its cilia, flagella, fins, legs or appendages, via undulatory movements of the body or via jet propulsion (e.g. Gadus, Loligo).
drifter (AD_MOV_05) An organism whose movement is dependent on wind or water currents (e.g. Aurelia). Can be entirely passive, or using structures, e.g. bysso-pelagic (using of a length of byssus thread (e.g. micro-molluscs, juvenile molluscs) or mucus (e.g Nemertesia planulae) to be carried by water flow).
jumper / hopper (AD_MOV_06) Organisms able to undertake a rapid jump or hop several times their own body length, using specialised limbs or appendages (e.g. sand hoppers, spring tails, grass hoppers etc).
Degree of attachment of adult
none (AD_ATT_01) Free organism, capable of movement.
temporary attachment (AD_ATT_02) An organism that can temporarily attach to a substratum but is able to release its attachment, and move across (or through) it (i.e. sedentary) (e.g. Actinia).
sessile / permanent attachment (AD_ATT_03) Non-motile; permanently attached at the base (Lincoln et al., 1998) (e.g. Caryophyllia).
Migration
diel (MIG_01) Daily, pertaining to a 24 hour period.
non-migratory / resident (MIG_02) Remaining within the same area (from Lincoln et al.,1998).
ontogenetic (MIG_03) Different life stages migrate into different habitats, or part of habitat (e.g. copepods) (Lincoln et al., 1998).
seasonal - environment (MIG_04) A seasonal migration in order to remain within suitable environmental conditions.
seasonal - feeding (MIG_05) A seasonal migration for the purpose of following food or moving to suitable feeding grounds.
seasonal - reproduction (MIG_06) A seasonal migration in order to reproduce.
Adult dispersal potential
none (AD_DISP_01) none
low (AD_DISP_02) < 100 m
medium (AD_DISP_03) 100-1000 m
high (AD_DISP_04) 1000-10000 m
very high (AD_DISP_05) > 10000 m
Larval/juvenile dispersal potential
none (L_DISP_01) none
low (L_DISP_02) < 100 m
medium (L_DISP_03) 100-1000 m
high (L_DISP_04) 1000-10000 m
very high (L_DISP_05) > 10000 m
Movement type of larva/juvenile
non-motile / semi-motile (L_MOV_01) Permanently attached to a substratum (non-motile) or capable of movement across (or through) it (semi-motile).
crawler / walker / climber (L_MOV_02) An organism that moves across, up or down the substratum via movements of its legs, appendages or muscles (e.g. Carcinus).
creeper (L_MOV_03) An organism that moves slowly or 'creeps' across the surface of the substratum.
swimmer (L_MOV_04) An organism that moves through the water column via movements of its cilia, flagella, fins, legs or appendages, via undulatory movements of the body or via jet propulsion (e.g. Gadus, Loligo).
drifter (L_MOV_05) An organism whose movement is dependent on wind or water currents (e.g. Aurelia). Can be entirely passive, or using structures, e.g. bysso-pelagic (using of a length of byssus thread (e.g. micro-molluscs, juvenile molluscs) or mucus (e.g Nemertesia planulae) to be carried by water flow).


Behaviour

Habitat modification
bed forming (HAB_MOD_01) An organism that lives in large aggregations or beds (e.g. brittlestars, mussels, oysters, Crepidula etc, sea squirts). Algal gravel, coral or similar sands.
reef building (HAB_MOD_02) An organism that forms large areas of hard substratum for other organisms due to the scale of its aggregations (e.g. horse mussels), accretions (e.g. Sabellaria) or its skeleton (e.g. corals).
burrow builder (HAB_MOD_03) An organism that constructs permanent or semi-permanent burrows through physical excavation or chemical action.
tube dwelling / tubicolous (HAB_MOD_04) An organism that lives in a tube of its own construction (e.g. mucus, bound sand grains, calcium carbonate etc).
sediment reworking (HAB_MOD_05) An organism that modifies or changes the physico-chemical nature of the habitat itself, e.g sediment reworking, deposition of faeces, or burrowing.
Sediment reworking type
biodiffusor / diffusive mixing (SED_RW_01) Organisms whose activities cause constant and random local sediment biomixing over short distances resulting in transport of sediment particles, analogous to molecular or eddy diffusion (from Kristensen et al., 2012). Includes epifaunal biodiffusers e.g. fiddler crabs; surficial biodiffusers e.g. Echinocardium; and gallery biodiffusers e.g. Nereis (Hediste) diversicolor.
upward conveyor (SED_RW_02) Organisms that live vertically in the sediment, typically head-down at depth in the sediment, and that transport particles from depth to the sediment surface (adapted from Kristensen et al., 2012).
downward (reverse) conveyor (SED_RW_03) Organisms that live vertically in the sediment, typically head-up at the surface, and that ingest particles at the surface and egest them as faeces at depth in the sediment (adapted from Kristensen et al., 2012).
regenerator (SED_RW_04) Organisms that excavate and maintain burrows in the sediment, which result in sediment transport from depth to the surface (adapted from Kristensen et al., 2012.
surficial modifier / surface deposition (SED_RW_05) Modifies the sediment surface by its activity e.g. subtraction or deposition of particles at the sediment surface resulting from e.g. defecation or egestion (pseudofaeces) by, for example, surface deposit feeding organisms (e.g. holothuroids, bivalves, tubicolous polychaetes)
blind-ended ventilation (SED_RW_06) Organisms that live in 'I' or 'J' shaped burrows open at only one end where water is drawn through or diffuses out of the sediment, e.g. Arenicola marina (adapted from Kristensen et al., 2012).
open-ended ventilation (SED_RW_07) Organisms that live in a 'U' or 'Y' shaped burrow where water is drawn through the burrow (adapted from Kristensen et al., 2012).
Dependency
independent / free-living (DEP_01) Independent, individual organisms.
parasite (DEP_02) An organism that is intimately associated with, and metabolically dependent on, another organism (termed the host) for completion of its life cycle and which is detrimental to the host (see Lincoln et al., 1998).
mutualist (DEP_03) A symbiosis in which both organisms benefit; frequently a relationship of complete dependence. (Lincoln et al., 1998) (cf. symbiosis, commensalism, parasite).
inquilinist (DEP_04) A symbiotic association in which one symbiont lives in close association with another, generally in the tube or burrow or actually within a body chamber of the host (Brusca, 1980).
commensal (DEP_05) Symbiosis (q.v.) in which one species derives benefit from a common food supply, whilst the other species is not adversely affected (Lincoln et al., 1998).
host (DEP_06) An organism that provides food or shelter for another organisms, e.g. the inhabited symbiont. May be a definitive host infected by an adult stage or an intermediate host infected by life stages (see Lincoln et al., 1998).
Sociability
solitary (SOC_01) Living alone, not gregarious (Thompson 1995). Can be independent, without a defined territory, or territorial.
gregarious (SOC_02) Living in groups or communities, growing in clusters (Thompson, 1995) - where the organisms actively seek out members of the same species as adults or larvae/juveniles for protection from the environment, predators or for breeding.
Feeding method
grazer / browser (FEED_M_01) Generally mobile consumers of sessile prey (e.g. plants, hydroids) cropping exposed tissues usually without killing the whole individual or colony. Grazers generally feed on herbage, algae or phytoplankton by consuming the whole plant or the surface growth (Lincoln et al., 1998), rasping benthic algae (or sessile animals, such as bryozoan crusts) from the surface of macroalgal fronds and blades (Hiscock et al., 1999), from inorganic particles e.g. sand grains, or from the substratum (MarLIN; Hiscock et al., 1999). Browsers feed on parts of plants (e.g. shoots, leaves, twigs) or parts of other organisms (e.g. siphon nipping by fish). (Lincoln et al., 1998).
surface deposit feeder (FEED_M_02) An organism that feeds on fragmented particulate organic matter on the surface of the substratum (e.g. Corophium volutator) (adapted from Lincoln et al., 1998).
subsurface deposit feeder (FEED_M_03) An organism that feeds on fragmented particulate organic matter within the substratum (e.g. Echinocardium cordatum) (adapted from Lincoln et al., 1998).
filter / suspension feeder (FEED_M_04) Organisms that strain food from the surrounding water. They can range in complexity from sponges and corals to baleen whales. They live on organisms or debris that drift past them, or they seek out small floating or swimming organisms (Charton, 2001).
predator (FEED_M_05) Predatory behaviour in which one animal species captures a member of another species (Lincoln et al., 1998). OR mobile animals that attack, kill and consume individual prey items, usually one at a time. Can involve various hunting strategies, such as ambushing, cooperative or individual pursuit, and searching/foraging.
scavenger (FEED_M_06) An organism that feeds on carrion and organic refuse (e.g. crabs, whelks) (Lincoln et al., 1998).
parasitic (FEED_M_07) An organism that is intimately associated with, and metabolically dependent on another living organism, for completion of its life cycle, and which is detrimental to the host to a lesser or greater extent.
Food type/diet
omnivore (DIET_01) An organism which feeds on a mixed diet including plant and animal material (from Lincoln et al., 1998).
herbivore (DIET_02) An organism which only feeds on plants, including phytoplankton.
symbiont contribution (DIET_03) Where some dietary component(s) are provided by symbiotic organisms (e.g. Anemonia with zooxanthellae; lucinid bivalves).
carnivore (DIET_04) An organism that feeds on animal tissue/meat.
detritivore (DIET_05) An organism that feeds on fragmented particulate organic matter (detritus) (Lincoln et al., 1998).
saprophage (DIET_06) An organism that feeds on dead or decaying organic material (see Lincoln et al., 1998).
Feeding apparatus
arms / appendages (FEED_STR_01) Specialized limbs or appendages used to catch or process food items, e.g. grasping claws (arthropods, crabs), papillae or tube feet (echinoderms, crinoids), setose appendages (filter/suspension feeding appendages), sucker-bearing arms (cephalopods).
cephalic spines (FEED_STR_02) Specialist feeding organ in chaetognaths
choanocytes (FEED_STR_03) Special feeding cell of sponges
eversible pharynx (FEED_STR_04) Pharynx can be everted to engulf and/or seize food items (e.g. predatory polychaetes). Examples: buccal organs, muscular axial or simple axial proboscis, ventral muscular proboscis.
gills (FEED_STR_05) Where the respiratory organs also power and/or provide a feeding apparatus (muco-cilliary feeding). Examples: ctenidia (e.g. bivalve mollusks), filter baskets (specialist structures in sea squirts), gill rakers (specialist structures in planktivorous fish e.g. basking sharks).
inhalent siphon (FEED_STR_06) Specialist - modified siphon to capture prey.
lophophore (FEED_STR_07) Specialist - filter feeding organ e.g. brachiopods, phoronids, bryozoans.
mouth parts (FEED_STR_08) Specialized mouth parts: beak (e.g. cephalopods, birds), biting or macerating parts (e.g. most vertebrates), piercing or suctorial mouth parts (designed to pierce outside of food or prey and feed on internal fluids or tissues).
mucus mesh / net (FEED_STR_09) Secretion of a simple or complex mucus mesh to filter food particles from water column (e.g polychaetes Chaetopterus and larvaceans).
phagocytosis (FEED_STR_10) Engulfing prey/food item in cytoplasm.
radulae (FEED_STR_11) Specialist - protrusile anterior region of digestive tract; refers to chitinized teeth along the radular membrane (Stachowitsch, 1992). Piercing (e.g. cone shells) – modified to inject toxins; rasping (grazing molluscs).
tentacles (FEED_STR_12) A slender, flexible limb or appendage in an animal, especially around the mouth of an invertebrate, used for grasping or moving about, or bearing sense organs (OED). Accessory feeding structures (e.g. palps, tentacles or a radiolar crown (grooved palps) in polychaetes); grasping tentacles; oral podia (modified tube feet in holothurians); palps of protobranch mollusks; pinnate or branched tentacles used as a filtration mechanism; sticky or mucus covered tentacles used to collect particluate food (e.g. polychaete deposit feeders); stinging tentacles that bear stinging cells to catch, subdue prey (e.g. Cnidaria).
Feeds on
macroalgae / seagrass (FEED_ON_01)
microphytobenthos (FEED_ON_02)
phytoplankton (FEED_ON_03)
zooplankton (FEED_ON_04)
annelids (FEED_ON_05)
crustaceans (FEED_ON_06)
mollusks (FEED_ON_07)
fish (FEED_ON_08)
ascidians (FEED_ON_09)
foraminiferans (FEED_ON_10)
echinoderms (FEED_ON_11)
detritus (FEED_ON_12)
Predated by
annelids (PRED_01)
crustaceans (PRED_02)
fish (PRED_03)
birds (PRED_04)
mollusks (PRED_05)
echinoderms (PRED_06)
mammals (PRED_07)


Life history

Life span
short (LS_01) < 2 years
medium (LS_02) 2-5 years
medium-long (LS_03) 5-20 years
long (LS_04) > 20 years
Regeneration potential
yes (RP_01) The animal can regenerate injured or missing body parts (e.g. cropped siphons in bivalves, arms in sea stars, limbs in crustaceans, polychaete segments).
no (RP_02) The animal cannot regenerate injured or missing body parts.
Age at maturity
≤ 2 months (AM_01)
2-6 months (AM_02)
6 months - 1 year (AM_03)
1-2 years (AM_04)
2-3 years (AM_05)
3-4 years (AM_06)
≥ 4 years (AM_07)
Reproduction strategy
iteroparous (REP_S_01) 1) Breeding several times per lifetime. 2) Organisms that have repeated reproductive cycles (Lincoln et al., 1998).
semelparous (REP_S_02) Breeding once per lifetime, or breeding only once then dying (Barnes et al., 2006). Organisms that only have one brood during their lifetime (Lincoln et al., 1998).
Reproductive frequency
annual episodic (REP_F_01) Breeds every year but in one or more discrete periods initiated by some trigger (for example a lunar cycle).
annual protracted (REP_F_02) Breeds every year over an extended or drawn out period.
< biannual (REP_F_03) Breeds less frequently than every two years.
biannual episodic (REP_F_04) Breeds every second year but in one or more discrete periods initiated by some trigger (for example a lunar cycle).
biannual protracted (REP_F_05) Breeds once every two years over an extended or drawn out period.
Reproductive season
winter (REP_SE_01) December-February (Northern Hemisphere); June-August (Southern Hemisphere)
spring (REP_SE_02) March-May (Northern Hemisphere); September-November (Southern Hemisphere)
summer (REP_SE_03) June-August (Northern Hemisphere); December-February (Southern Hemisphere)
autumn (REP_SE_04) September-November (Northern Hemisphere); March-May (Southern Hemisphere)
no particular season (REP_SE_05)
Reproductive type
asexual (REP_T_01) Reproduction not involving the exchange of genetic material, amictic, individuals derived form a single parent (Barnes et al., 2006); not involving the fusion of gametes (Lincoln et al., 1998). Includes apomictic parthenogenesis (reproduction via single cells/eggs that are derived by mitosis (Barnes et al., 1993)) and vegetative reproduction (asexual reproduction via somatic growth processes, fragmentation, fission, or budding (adapted from Lincoln et al., 1998)).
gonochoristic (REP_T_02) Dioecious; having separate sexes/genders (Barnes et al., 1993).
permanent (synchronous) hermaphrodite (REP_T_03) Both male and female reproductive organs in a single individual (animals) or flower (plants) (Lincoln et al., 1998). An indivdual is capable of producing both ova and spermatozoa either at the same time (Barnes et al., 1993). Can be self-fertilizing or non-selfing (incapable of self-fertilization, due to physical or temporal separation of gametes, and/or self-incompatability genes).
sequential hermaphrodite (REP_T_04) Hermaphrodite in which the male and female organs mature (that is, produce gametes) at different times in the reproductive cycle (adapted from Lincoln et al., 1998). Can be protandrous (male gametes mature and are shed before female gametes mature (Holmes, 1979)) or protogynous (female gametes mature and are shed before male gametes mature (Holmes 1979)).
Fecundity (number of eggs)
< 50 (FEC_01)
50 - 500 (FEC_02)
500 - 2500 (FEC_03)
2500 - 10000 (FEC_04)
10000 - 20000 (FEC_05)
20000 - 100000 (FEC_06)
> 100000 (FEC_07)
Egg/propagule size
< 100 um (EGG_S_01)
100 - 200 um (EGG_S_02)
200 - 400 um (EGG_S_03)
> 400 um (EGG_S_04)
Fertilization
external (broadcast spawner) (FERT_01) Egg/sperm meet and fertilize externally to parental individuals, tissues or confines of their bodies, but within the fluid medium.
internal (FERT_02) Fertilization (gametes meet) within the body (or body cavity or accessory organ) of the individual.
Synchronization of spawning
yes (SYN_01) Organisms whose populations undergo a synchronized ripening of the gametes, usually culminating in an epidemic spawning event
no (SYN_02) Organisms whose populations do not undergo a synchronized ripening of the gametes
Parental care/brood protection
none (PC_01) A species does not provide parental care to its offspring beyond supplying them with a small package of yolk that serves as an initial source of nutrition until the offspring are fully capable of fending for themselves.
outside microenvironment of the parent (PC_02) Parental care is provided through e.g. protective structures, but not on the body of the parent or in its immediate living environment (e.g. in a burrow, tube or nest).
within microenvironment of the parent (PC_03) Parental care is provided either on the body of the parent or in its immediate living environment (e.g. in a burrow, tube or nest).
Egg/clutch location
adult burrow (EGG_L_01) Eggs are placed or retained within the parent's burrow.
brood chamber (EGG_L_02) Eggs retained by adult, usually in specialised cavity/appendage where the eggs develop to larval or juvenile stage.
attached - adult body (EGG_L_03) Eggs attached or stuck to adult but not held in specialised appendage/receptacle.
attached - sediment surface (EGG_L_04) Eggs attached to the sediment surface e.g. by mucilagenous sheath such as used by necklace shells, and opistobranchs.
attached - rock/hard substrata (EGG_L_05) Eggs attached or stuck to hard substrata, e.g. dog whelk capsules.
attached - vegetation (EGG_L_06) Eggs attached or stuck to vegetation, e.g. opistobranchs, mermaid purses, cephalopod eggs etc.
egg sac (EGG_L_07) For example the egg sacs of copepods - carried by adult.
free / water column (EGG_L_08) Eggs spawned into water column.
sediment surface (EGG_L_09) Eggs spawned onto the sediment surface.
Larval and juvenile development
direct development (L_DEV_01) Development without a larval stage.
lecithotrophic larvae (L_DEV_02) Development at the expense of internal resources (i.e. yolk) provided by the female (Barnes et al., 1993).
planktotrophic larvae (L_DEV_03) Feeding at least in part on materials captured from the plankton (Barnes et al., 1993).
Developmental mechanism
oviparous (DEV_M_01) Egg laying; producing eggs that are laid and hatch externally (Lincoln et al., 1998).
ovoviviparous (DEV_M_02) Fully formed eggs are retained and hatched inside the maternal body and are released as live offspring (Lincoln et al., 1998). No nutrition is derived from the mother.
viviparous (DEV_M_03) 1) Producing live offspring from within the body of the parent (Lincoln et al., 1998). 2) Development of an embryo within the body of the parent, in part, resources passing directly from parent to embryo (Barnes et al., 2006).
Larval stage duration
not relevant (L_DUR_01) No larval stage (e.g. direct development).
2 - 10 days (L_DUR_02)
11 - 30 days (L_DUR_03)
1 - 2 months (L_DUR_04)
> 2 months (L_DUR_05)
Larval settlement substratum
biogenic reef (L_SET_01) An elevated structure on the seabed built by calcareous or other concretion-forming organisms, or by chemical precipitation (Hiscock, 1996); for example by Modiolus modiolus or Sabellaria alveolata.
cave (L_SET_02) A hollow normally eroded in a cliff (or vertical rock) with the penetration being greater than the width of the entrance (Hiscock, 1996).
crevices and fissures (L_SET_03) A narrow crack in hard substratum where penetration is deeper than the width at the entrance; a crevice is <10 mm wide at the entrance, while a fissure is >10 mm (Hiscock, 1996).
macroalgae (L_SET_04) Macroalgal surfaces, such as kelps and fucoids.
other species (L_SET_05) The surface of other species, e.g. shells or carapace.
overhang (L_SET_06) An overhanging part of a rock formation. Typically the surface of the rock below the overhang receives some cover or shade from the overhang.
rockpool (L_SET_07) 1) A pool of water among rocks left behind by the ebbing tide. 2) a depression in the littoral zone of a rocky seashore where, at low tide, seawater is left behind (Hiscock, 1996).
seagrass (L_SET_08) Habitat associated with seagrass bed communities.
strand-line (L_SET_09) A line on the shore composing debris deposited by a receding tide; commonly used to denote the line of debris at the level of extreme high water (Lincoln et al., 1998).
under boulders (L_SET_10) Habitat associated with the underside of boulders.
hard substrates - immobile (L_SET_11) Immobile hard substratum e.g. solid rock, concrete but including soft rocks, such as chalk. Includes artificial (man-made) substrates, e.g. wood, metal, concrete structures; bedrock; large or very large boulders (> 512 mm), likely to be stable; small boulders (256-512 mm), which may be unstable.
hard substrates - mobile (L_SET_12) Mobile hard substratum, e.g. cobbles (64-256 mm; rounded or flat), pebbles (16-64 mm; rounded or flat) that are regularly moved by wave action.
clay (L_SET_13) 1) Sediment particles less than 0.004 mm in size (Wentworth, 1922). 2) A soft very fine-grained sedimentary rock composed primarily of clay-sized particles (Hiscock, 1996).
coarse sediments (L_SET_14) Sediments composed of gravel and sand; inc. gravel or shingle (particle size 4 -16 mm; clean stone or shell gravel), gravelly sand (sand with 5-30% gravel) and sandy gravel (30 -80% gravel with sand) (Long, 2006).
mixed sediments (L_SET_15) Mixtures of a variety of sediment types, composed of pebble / gravel / sand / mud. This category includes muddy gravels (gravel (30-80%) with mud), muddy sandy gravels (gravel (30-80%) with mud and sand), gravelly muds (mud with 5-30% gravel), and muddy gravelly sands (sand (50-90%) with gravel (>5%) and mud) (Long, 2006).
mud and sandy mud (L_SET_16) Mud (1- particle size <0.063 mm (silt / clay fraction) (Hiscock, 1996) 2- >90% mud), muddy sands (sand (50-90%) with mud) and sandy muds (mud (50-90%) with sand) where mud is the major fraction (see Long, 2006).
sand and muddy sand (L_SET_17) Sands and sands with mud where sand is the major fraction (see Long 2006). Include coarse clean sands (particle size 0.5 - 4 mm (Hiscock, 1996)); fine clean sands (particle size 0.063 - 0.5 mm (Hiscock, 1996)); medium clean sands (particle size 0.25-1mm (Hiscock, 1996)).
Metamorphosis type
catastrophic (MET_01) The metamorphosis is accompanied by massive internal change coupled with catastrophic destruction of the larval tissues. Huge chunks of the larval body, its tissues and organs, are digested away and reabsorbed, or simply discarded.
non-catastrophic (MET_02) The adult develops from the juvenile through a process of extension and differential growth, including different larval stages but without a drastic change of the body plan.


Distribution

Environmental position
endobenthic / infauna (ENV_POS_01) Benthic animals which live within the seabed.
interstitial (ENV_POS_02) Living within the system of cavities and channels formed by the spaces between grains in a sediment (interstitial space).
epibenthic (ENV_POS_03) Living on the surface of the seabed.
epiphytic (ENV_POS_04) Living on the surface of a living plant but not parasitic upon it.
epizoic (ENV_POS_05) Living on the exterior of a living animal but not parasitic upon it.
hyperbenthic (ENV_POS_06) Living above but close to the substratum (Lincoln et al., 1998).
epilithic (ENV_POS_07) Living on the surface of rock or other hard inorganic substrata.
lithotomous (ENV_POS_08) Stone-boring; an organism that burrows into rock.
endolithic (ENV_POS_09) Organism that colonize the interior of any kind of rock but not actively boring into it.
boring in biogenic substrate (ENV_POS_10) Boring in biogenic hard substrate and living in these burrows.
demersal (ENV_POS_11) Living at or near the bottom of a sea or lake but having the capacity for active swimming (from Lincoln et al., 1998).
pelagic (ENV_POS_12) Inhabiting the open sea, excluding the sea floor.
Substratum
biogenic reef (SUB_01) An elevated structure on the seabed built by calcareous or other concretion-forming organisms, or by chemical precipitation (Hiscock, 1996); for example by Modiolus modiolus or Sabellaria alveolata.
cave (SUB_02) A hollow normally eroded in a cliff (or vertical rock) with the penetration being greater than the width of the entrance (Hiscock, 1996).
crevices and fissures (SUB_03) A narrow crack in hard substratum where penetration is deeper than the width at the entrance; a crevice is <10 mm wide at the entrance, while a fissure is >10 mm (Hiscock, 1996).
macroalgae (SUB_04) Macroalgal surfaces, such as kelps and fucoids.
other species (SUB_05) The surface of other species, e.g. shells or carapace.
overhang (SUB_06) An overhanging part of a rock formation. Typically the surface of the rock below the overhang receives some cover or shade from the overhang.
rockpool (SUB_07) 1) A pool of water among rocks left behind by the ebbing tide. 2) a depression in the littoral zone of a rocky seashore where, at low tide, seawater is left behind (Hiscock, 1996).
seagrass (SUB_08) Habitat associated with seagrass bed communities.
strand-line (SUB_09) A line on the shore composing debris deposited by a receding tide; commonly used to denote the line of debris at the level of extreme high water (Lincoln et al., 1998).
under boulders (SUB_10) Habitat associated with the underside of boulders.
hard substrates - immobile (SUB_11) Immobile hard substratum e.g. solid rock, concrete but including soft rocks, such as chalk. Includes artificial (man-made) substrates, e.g. wood, metal, concrete structures; bedrock; large or very large boulders (> 512 mm), likely to be stable; small boulders (256-512 mm), which may be unstable.
hard substrates - mobile (SUB_12) Mobile hard substratum, e.g. cobbles (64-256 mm; rounded or flat), pebbles (16-64 mm; rounded or flat) that are regularly moved by wave action.
clay (SUB_13) 1) Sediment particles less than 0.004 mm in size (Wentworth, 1922). 2) A soft very fine-grained sedimentary rock composed primarily of clay-sized particles (Hiscock, 1996).
coarse sediments (SUB_14) Sediments composed of gravel and sand; inc. gravel or shingle (particle size 4 -16 mm; clean stone or shell gravel), gravelly sand (sand with 5-30% gravel) and sandy gravel (30 -80% gravel with sand) (Long, 2006).
mixed sediments (SUB_15) Mixtures of a variety of sediment types, composed of pebble / gravel / sand / mud. This category includes muddy gravels (gravel (30-80%) with mud), muddy sandy gravels (gravel (30-80%) with mud and sand), gravelly muds (mud with 5-30% gravel), and muddy gravelly sands (sand (50-90%) with gravel (>5%) and mud) (Long, 2006).
mud and sandy mud (SUB_16) Mud (1- particle size <0.063 mm (silt / clay fraction) (Hiscock, 1996) 2- >90% mud), muddy sands (sand (50-90%) with mud) and sandy muds (mud (50-90%) with sand) where mud is the major fraction (see Long, 2006).
sand and muddy sand (SUB_17) Sands and sands with mud where sand is the major fraction (see Long 2006). Include coarse clean sands (particle size 0.5 - 4 mm (Hiscock, 1996)); fine clean sands (particle size 0.063 - 0.5 mm (Hiscock, 1996)); medium clean sands (particle size 0.25-1mm (Hiscock, 1996)).
Sediment dwelling depth
0 cm (SED_DEP_01) Epifauna
0 - 1 cm (SED_DEP_02)
1 - 5 cm (SED_DEP_03)
5 - 15 cm (SED_DEP_04)
> 15 cm (SED_DEP_05)
Vertical zonation
supralittoral (VZ_01) 1) The lower terrestrial zone, characteristically dominated by orange and white-to-grey lichens on hard substrata with scattered salt-tolerant higher plants and mosses (Hiscock, 1996). 2) The region of the shore directly above the highest water level and subject to wetting by spray or wave splash (Lincoln et al., 1998).
littoral (VZ_02) 1) The region between the highest and lowest extent of the tide on the shore. 2) The shore zone between the lowest and highest seasonal water level in a lake (Lincoln et al., 1998).
infralittoral (VZ_03) A subzone of the sublittoral in which upward-facing rocks are dominated by erect algae, typically kelps; it can be further subdivided into the upper and lower infralittoral (based on Hiscock, 1985). The term is also used by Glémarec (1973) to refer to areas (étages) with a eurythermal environment of great seasonal and also daily and tidal amplitude. 1) lower The part of the infralittoral subzone which, on hard substrata, supports scattered kelp plants (a kelp park) or from which kelps are absent altogether and the seabed is dominated by foliose red and brown algae. It may be difficult to distinguish the lower infralittoral where grazing pressure prevents the establishment of foliose algae. 2) upper The part of the infralittoral subzone which, on hard substrata, is dominated by Laminariales forming a dense canopy, or kelp forest (based on Hiscock, 1985).
circalittoral (VZ_04) The subzone of the rocky sublittoral below that dominated by algae (the infralittoral), and dominated by animals. No lower limit is defined, but species composition changes below about 40m to 80m depth, depending on depth of the seasonal thermocline. This subzone can be subdivided into the upper circalittoral where foliose algae are present and the lower circalittoral where they are not (see Hiscock, 1985). The term is also used by Glémarec (1973) to refer to two étages of the sediment benthos below the infralittoral: a coastal circalittoral category with a eurythermal environment of weak seasonal amplitude (less than 10°C) varying slowly and a circalittoral category of the open sea with a stenothermal environment (Hiscock, 1996).
bathyal (VZ_05) Occupying the ocean floor from ca 200 - 4000 m depth (Lincoln et al., 1998). Note: in the Black Sea, the bathyal zone is anoxic and does not support multicellular life.
abyssal (VZ_06) Occupying the ocean floor from ca 4000 - 6000 m depth. Usually a more or less flat plain (Lincoln et al., 1998). Note: in the Black Sea, the abyssal zone is anoxic and does not support multicellular life.
Habitat preferences
Black sea littoral rock (MA14) (HAB_PREF_01) Littoral rock along the shores of the Black Sea, includes bedrock, boulders and cobbles.
Black sea littoral biogenic habitats (MA24) (HAB_PREF_02) Black Sea littoral habitats formed by animals such as worms, mussels or plants (salt marshes).
Black sea littoral coarse sediment (MA34) (HAB_PREF_03) Littoral coarse sediments occuring on the coast of the Black Sea include shores of mobile pebbles, cobbles and gravel, sometimes with varying amounts of coarse sand.
Black Sea littoral mixed sediment (MA44) (HAB_PREF_04) Black Sea shores of mixed sediments ranging from muds with gravel and sand components to mixed sediments with pebbles, gravels, sands and mud in more even proportions. By definition, mixed sediments are poorly sorted. Stable large cobbles or boulders may be present which support epibiota such as fucoids and green seaweeds more commonly found on rocky and boulder shores. Mixed sediments which are predominantly muddy tend to support infaunal communities which are similar to those of mud and sandy mud shores.
Black sea littoral sand (MA54) (HAB_PREF_05) Black Sea shores comprising clean sands (coarse, medium or fine-grained) and muddy sands with up to 25% silt and clay fraction. Shells and stones may occasionally be present on the surface.
Black Sea littoral mud (MA64) (HAB_PREF_06) Black Sea shores of fine particulate sediment, mostly in the silt and clay fraction (particle size less than 0.063 mm in diameter), though sandy mud may contain up to 40% sand (mostly very fine and fine sand). Littoral mud typically forms extensive mudflats, though dry compacted mud can form steep and even vertical structures, particularly at the top of the shore adjacent to saltmarshes. Little oxygen penetrates these cohesive sediments, and an anoxic layer is often present within millimetres of the sediment surface. Littoral mud can support communities characterised by polychaetes, bivalves and oligochaetes. Most muddy shores are subject to some freshwater influence, as most of them occur along the shores of estuaries. Mudflats on sheltered lower estuarine shores can support a rich infauna, whereas muddy shores at the extreme upper end of estuaries and which are subject to very low salinity often support very little infauna.
Black Sea infralittoral rock (MB14) (HAB_PREF_07) Infralittoral rock and other hard substates occuring on the shoores of the Black Sea. Depending on the exposure they may be dominated by algae or invertebrates.
Black Sea infralittoral biogenic habitat (MB24) (HAB_PREF_08) Black Sea habitats where a solid substate is formed by organisms such as polychaete worms or bivalves.
Black Sea infralittoral coarse sediment (MB34) (HAB_PREF_09) Coarse sediments in the Black Sea including coarse sand, gravel, pebbles, shingle and cobbles which are often unstable due to wave action. They typically have a low silt content and a lack of a significant seaweed component. They are characterised by a robust fauna including venerid bivalves.
Black Sea infralittoral mixed sediment (MB44) (HAB_PREF_10) The substrate is often patchy and is comprised of a mix of cobbles, pebbles, shelly gravels and silted cobbles. The effects of currents and wave action are varied, and influences the type of substrate present and whether it is overlain by silt. These different substrates can support a diverse range of faunal communities. These include spirorbid worms, crustaceans and ascidians.
Black Sea infralittoral sand (MB54) (HAB_PREF_11) Clean medium to fine sands or non-cohesive slightly muddy sands on open coasts, offshore or in estuaries and marine inlets. Such habitats are often subject to a degree of wave action or currents which restrict the silt and clay content to less than 15%. This habitat is characterised by a range of taxa including polychaetes, bivalve molluscs and amphipod crustacea.
Black Sea infralittoral mud (MB64) (HAB_PREF_12) Infralittoral mud and cohesive sandy mud of the Black Sea freqently with polychaete worms and bivalve molluscs.
Black Sea circalittoral rock (MC14) (HAB_PREF_13) Rock and other hard substates in the Black Sea circalittoral zone. In the Black Sea circalittoral rock starts at the lower limit of distribution of photophilic algae (which may be as shallow a 10m on the north-western Black Sea shelf and much deeper in Crimea or Turkey) and ends where the circalittoral rocky substrate gives way to sediments.
Black Sea circalittoral biogenic habitats (MC24) (HAB_PREF_14) Reefs in the Black Sea circalittoral zone formed by organisms such as polychaete worms and bivalve molluscs
Black Sea circalittoral coarse sediment (MC34) (HAB_PREF_15) Black Sea circalittoral coarse sands, gravel and shingle generally in depths of over 15-20m. This habitat may be found in tidal channels of marine inlets, along exposed coasts and offshore. This habitat, as with shallower coarse sediments, may be characterised by robust infaunal polychaetes, mobile crustacea and bivalves.
Black Sea circalittoral mixed sediment (MC44) (HAB_PREF_16) Mixed (heterogeneous) sediment habitats in the circalittoral zone (generally below 15-20 m) including well mixed muddy gravelly sands or very poorly sorted mosaics of shell, cobbles and pebbles embedded in or lying upon mud, sand or gravel. Due to the variable nature of the seabed a variety of communities can develop which are often very diverse. EUSeaMap suggests this habitat is most widespread in the north and west of the Black Sea.
Black Sea circalittoral sand (MC54) (HAB_PREF_17) Black Sea circalittoral sand and muddy sand with animal dominated communities.
Black Sea circalittoral mud (MC64) (HAB_PREF_18) Black Sea circalittoral mud and cohesive sandy mud predominantly found in sheltered harbours, bays, marine inlets and estuaries and stable deeper/offshore areas where the reduced influence of wave action and currents allow fine sediments to settle.
Black Sea offshore circalittoral rock (MD14) (HAB_PREF_19) Black Sea rock and other hard substrates in the circalittoral zone below the influence of waves.
Black Sea offshore circalittoral biogenic habitats (MD24) (HAB_PREF_20) Black Sea reefs formed by organisms in the circalittoral zone below the influence of wave action.
Black Sea offshore circalittoral coarse sediment (MD34) (HAB_PREF_21) Black Sea offshore (deep) circalittoral habitats with coarse sands and gravel or shell, predominately oxic but locally can be anoxic.
Black Sea offshore circalittoral mixed sediment (MD44) (HAB_PREF_22) Offshore (deep) circalittoral habitats in the Black Sea with slightly muddy mixed gravelly sand and stones or shell.
Black Sea offshore circalittoral sand (MD54) (HAB_PREF_23) Black Sea sand circalittoral habitats with fine sands or non-cohesive muddy sands below the influence of wave action. Predominately oxic but can be anoxic in deeper waters.
Black Sea offshore circalittoral mud (MD64) (HAB_PREF_24) Mud and cohesive sandy mud in the offshore circalittoral zone of the Black Sea. Predominantly oxic but also locally suboxic and anoxic.
Water flow/tidal streams
moderately strong (WF_01) 1 to 3 knots (0.5-1.5 m/sec.)
strong (WF_02) 3 to 6 knots (1.5-3 m/sec.)
very strong (WF_03) > 6 knots (> 3 m/sec)
very weak (WF_04) negligible
weak (WF_05) < 1 knot (< 0.5 m/sec)
Wave exposure
exposed (WE_01) 1) Coasts which face the prevailing wind but which have a degree of shelter because of extensive shallow areas offshore, offshore obstructions, or a restricted (less than 90°) window to open water. These sites are not generally exposed to large waves or regular swell. 2) Open coasts facing away from prevailing winds but with a long fetch, and where strong winds are frequent.
extremely exposed (WE_02) Open coastlines which face into the prevailing wind and receive both wind-driven waves and oceanic swell without any offshore obstructions such as islands or shallows for several thousand kilometres and where deep water is close to the shore (49 m depth contour within about 300 m).
moderately exposed (WE_03) Generally coasts facing away from prevailing winds and without a long fetch but where strong winds can be frequent.
very exposed (WE_04) 1) Open coasts which face into prevailing winds and which receive wind-driven waves and oceanic swell without any offshore obstructions for several hundred kilometres, but where deep water is not close to the shore (49 m depth contour further than about 300 m). 2) Open coasts adjacent to extremely exposed sites but which face away from prevailing winds.
extremely sheltered (WE_05) Fully enclosed coasts with a fetch of no more than about 3 km.
sheltered (WE_06) Coasts with a restricted fetch and/or open water window. Coasts can face prevailing winds but with a short fetch (< 20 km) or extensive shallow area offshore, or may face away from prevailing winds.
ultra sheltered (WE_07) Fully enclosed coasts with a fetch measured in tens or at most a few hundred metres.
very sheltered (WE_08) Coasts with a fetch less than about 3 km where they face prevailing winds or about 20 km where they face away from prevailing winds, or which have offshore obstructions such as reefs or a narrow (<30°) open water window.
Salinity
brackish (SAL_01) 0.5 - < 30 psu
freshwater (SAL_02) < 0.5 psu
hypersaline (SAL_03) > 40 psu
marine (SAL_04) 30-40 psu (equals MNCR Full)
Tolerance
sensitive (TOL_01) Species very sensitive to organic enrichment and present under unpolluted conditions (initial state). They include the specialist carnivores and some deposit-feeding tubicolous polychaetes. AMBI group I.
indifferent (TOL_02) Species indifferent to enrichment, always present in low densities with non-significant variations with time (from initial state, to slight unbalance). These include suspension feeders, less selective carnivores and scavengers. AMBI group II.
tolerant (TOL_03) Species tolerant to excess organic matter enrichment. These species may occur under normal conditions, but their populations are stimulated by organic enrichment (slight unbalance situations). They are surface deposit-feeding species, such as tubicolous spionids. AMBI group III.
second-order opportunist (TOL_04) Second-order opportunistic species (slight to pronounced unbalanced situations). Mainly small sized polychaetes: subsurface deposit-feeders, such as cirratulids. AMBI group IV.
first-order opportunist (TOL_05) First-order opportunistic species (pronounced unbalanced situations). These are deposit-feeders, which proliferate in reduced sediments. AMBI group V.
Origin
alien (ORI_01) Species introduced by man into places out of their natural range of distribution.
native - endemic (ORI_02) Species that is native and endemic to a country or sea area i.e. a species that is unique to a location or habitat.
native - non-endemic (ORI_03) Species that is native to an area but is not endemic to it i.e. a species that has a wide native range.
origin uncertain (ORI_04) Species whose biological status is uncertain i.e. it is uncertain if the species is native or alien to the location.
origin unknown (ORI_05) Species whose origins cannot be verified OR a species whose origin has not been specified in the source information.
Invasiveness
invasive (INV_01) Species that are known to be invasive - those species in whose cases evidence of impact has been recorded or which is spreading aggressively.
invasiveness not specified (INV_02) A species whose invasiveness has not been specified in its introduced range. The species is known to be present and has been reported but there is no comment on its invasiveness.
invasiveness uncertain (INV_03) Species whose invasiveness is uncertain.
management recorded (INV_04) Species for which some management action including prevention has been recorded in its introduced range.
not invasive (INV_05) Species that has not demonstrated any invasive traits in its introduced range.
of concern (INV_06) Species that are demonstrating aggressive spread and there is concern about its spread OR species where some concern has been recorded- this may be due to known records of its invasiveness and impacts in other areas of their known introduced range.
Impact
adverse habitat modification (INV_IMP_01) Where the species physically alters the nature of the strata/habitat.
alteration of bio-geochemical / hydrologic cycles (INV_IMP_02) Where the species alters the nature of chemical or water cycles.
alteration of trophic interactions (INV_IMP_03) Where the species alters food web dynamics.
aquatic transport (INV_IMP_04) Where the species alters boat traffic or impedes ability of boats to navigate waterways.
consumption of native species (INV_IMP_05) Where the species preys on native fauna or grazes on native flora.
damage to marine structures / archaeology (INV_IMP_06) Where the species degrades marine infrastructures or archaeological sites.
genetic impacts (INV_IMP_07) Where the species degrades native genetic resources (by hybridizing with native fauna/flora or through introgression).
human health (INV_IMP_08) Where the species impacts human health.
induces novel behavioural or eco-physiological responses (INV_IMP_09) Where the species affects the behaviour of native species.
loss of aquaculture / commercial / recreational harvest or gain (INV_IMP_10) Where the species reduces aquaculture harvest or commercial/recreational gain.
loss of public / tourist amenity (INV_IMP_11) Where the species degrades amenities associated with public/tourist sites.
other impact - undefined or uncertain (INV_IMP_12) Where the species has a known but undefined or uncertain impact.
outcompetes native species for resources and/or space (INV_IMP_13) Where the species dominates or outcompetes native species for resources and/or space.
pathogen/parasite or carrier of a pathogen/parasite (INV_IMP_14) Where the species is a pathogen/parasite of native species or carrier of a pathogen/parasite which infects/parasitizes native species.
water abstraction / nuisance fouling (INV_IMP_15) Where the species alters water levels or causes nuisance fouling on boats/water structures.
Pathways/vector
aquaculture - accidental (INV_PATH_01) Alien and potentially invasive species that have accidentally escaped from containment/ aquaculture facility into the wild.
aquaculture - deliberate (INV_PATH_02) Alien and potentially invasive species that have been intentionally introduced for aquaculture.
bio-control - accidental (INV_PATH_03) Where an introduction of a bio-control agent results in an unintentional introduction of an invasive species (which is carried directly on the bio-control agent itself or along with habitat material associated with the bio-control agent).
bio-control - deliberate (INV_PATH_04) Where a species (i.e. a bio-control agent) introduced to control a pest, weed or invasive species becomes a problem itself.
canals (INV_PATH_05) Where a man-made canal, by joining two bodies of water which were not originally naturally joined, becomes a conduit for invasive species migration to a new area/region.
debris (INV_PATH_06) Where floating rafts of man-made materials become vectors for an invasive species.
fisheries - bait (INV_PATH_07) Where an invasive species is used as a bait resulting in its introduction into a new area/region.
fisheries - accidental (INV_PATH_08) Where in the process of stocking a fishery an associated invasive species is unintentionally introduced into a new area/region.
fisheries - accidental with products, packing or substrate (INV_PATH_09) Where an invasive species is unintentionally introduced into a new area/region as a result of the movement of fishery related products or materials (ie: not the direct movement of fisheries stock).
fisheries - deliberate (INV_PATH_10) Where an invasive species is intentionally introduced into a new area/region for the purpose of stocking/replenishing/establishing a fishery industry based on the invasive species.
accidental release by individuals (INV_PATH_11) Any situation in which an invasive species is accidentally set free in the wild from aquaria sources leading to its introduction into a new area/region.
deliberate release by individuals (INV_PATH_12) Any situation in which an invasive species is intentionally planted or set free in the wild leading to its introduction into a new area/region.
natural dispersal (INV_PATH_13) Where an invasive species migrates from a known introduced location to a new area/region using a natural mode/mechanism of dispersal; as the original location is part of its introduced range this pathway is included here.
other (INV_PATH_14) In cases where pathway/vector is not specified/cases of novel pathways/vectors.
unknown (INV_PATH_15) Unknown mechanisms of introduction.
recreational equipment (INV_PATH_16) Where the movement of recreational equipment by humans results in the introduction of an invasive species into a new area/region.
scientific research - accidental (INV_PATH_17) Where research activities result in the unintentional release of an invasive species into a new area/region.
scientific research - deliberate (INV_PATH_18) Where research activities result in the intentional release of an invasive species into a new area/region.
ships - fouling (INV_PATH_19) Invasive species which exist as sessile or motile organisms on the hull of a ship.
ships - cargo (INV_PATH_20) Invasive species which are associated with internal ship cargo.
ships - ballast water (INV_PATH_21) Invasive species which exist in various life stages in ballast of a fluid nature.
ships - solid ballast (INV_PATH_22) Invasive species which exist in various life stages in ballast of a solid nature.
ships - general (INV_PATH_23) Invasive species which has been vectored by a ship but the exact mechanism of action (ie: ballast, hull or cargo) is unknown.