effectively by applying a coastal characterization. 



Coastal areas presently being characterized and 

 anticip^iteU study completion date are: (1) the 

 Chenief Plain (Southwest Louisiana and Southeast 

 Texas^^winter 1978; (2) the Sea Islands and 

 CoastaJ Plain of Georgia and South Carolina— 

 sumn^er J979; (3) the Pacific Northwest (Northern 

 Califo><-|\ia» Oregon, and Washington)— winter 1978; 

 anc^ (4) \\y^ Rocky Coast of Maine— winter 1979. 

 These sm^y areas were delineated on the basis of 

 ecolo^i,^ characteristics; consequently the charac- 

 terizaiyp^s a^ije primarily regional in scope and are 

 not n^-q?^s^ifi;ty limited tu political or geographic 

 bounda^es;.. Sipme states, like Florida and Alaska, 

 includq. aH Qjf parts of more than one distinct 

 coastal ^OiS;ys,<?iii;i, 



The irvft'S'i characterization study areas were 

 selected ojOi \^^- Iftasis of their diversity, geographic 

 distributipj^, ^ii^ fish and wildlife value, and their 

 proximity ^9, %ctwal or proposed OCS and/or other 

 major dex^ll<3,p,i|irt?fttal activities. These criteria wuU 

 also be used| ^q^:- Si^Jecting future coastal areas fcjr 

 characterizat^(9i^\.. 



The chafla,(e^if^?:ation process requires apprrix- 

 imately 18 !<;), ^(^ months to complete, depending 

 on the ecosysteiii\ being studied. The initial impor- 

 tant steps include the development of a conceptual 

 model, data collection and synthesis, and a pilot 

 study. 



CONCEPTUAL MODEL 



A conceptual model describes and expbtins the 

 casual and obligatory relationships, interdefjcnden- 

 cies, and controlling factors among and l)etween 

 the hiatic and abiotic components of a coaistal eco- 

 system. Components of a conceptual model 

 include productivity, energy and materials, physi- 

 cal pr^ctsses, trophic structure, species diversity, 

 and socioeconomic features. 



Th^ objectives of a conceptual model as it 

 relates to a characterization study are to: 



1. Develop qualitative n-iodels to describe a 

 particular coastal ecosystem and its com- 

 ponent resources, prcpccsses, and relation- 

 ships through a hierarc hical approach. 



2. Identify, and establish priorities for, infor- 

 mation needs and data requirements. 



3. Provide framework fo r analysis and synthe- 

 sis of data, and for fin al products. 



4. Identify data deficiencies in various levels 

 of the hierarchy. 



DATA COLLECTION AND SYNTHESIS 



Although the ecological (conceptual) mod(;ls 

 are important in the formulation of data collection 

 and synthesis, the needs of users are considered 

 in the development of the characterization. Users 

 arc also important in identifying available data 

 sources. A characterization uses both standard 

 sources (books, journals, monographs, theses, and 

 dissertations, etc.) and unpublished data which are 

 not readily available to users. Compilation of 

 unpublished data represents a major task in the 

 study. Additionally, pertinent information from 

 outside the study area is used when it can effective- 

 ly be applied to the study area. Since no new field 

 or experimental data will be generated, a thorough 

 search of existing infomiation is vital to the quality 

 of the study. 



PILOT STUDY 



The pilot study or test characterization is a 

 subunit (i.e., watershed, basin, or specific region), 

 within the ecosystem being characterized. The 

 primary objective of the pilot study is to provide 

 examples of modeling techniques, data collection 

 and synthesis, and to review data portrayal and for- 

 mat being proposed for the final characterization 

 atlas and data source appendix. Examples from the 

 pilot study are reviewed by a wide range of users, 

 necessary revisions in methodologies are made, and 

 the study proceeds to completion. Pilot efforts are 

 usually completed midway through a study. 



FINAL PRODUCTS 



The final products or outputs of a characteri- 

 zation are the ecological (conceptual) mode!is, eco- 

 system characterization atlas (narratives, tables, 

 charts, and graphics), and data source appendix 

 (bibliography of all data sources, pertinent data, 

 species lists, etc.). However, the format of these 

 products varies among the present four studies. 

 For example, large-scale maps are used in one area 

 and small-scale maps in another. These differences 

 derive from user preferences, available dat;.i for the 

 ecosystem, and contractual agreements with exist- 

 ing contractors. Standardized methodoloj^ics and 

 specifications for conducting future ecological 

 characterizations are being prepared based upon 

 experience gained during the initial four studies. 



