To address these questions, the Biogeography Pro- 

 gram will continue to: 



• Update and improve the ELMR data base on a 

 regional basis, using available fishery-indepen- 

 dent survey data coupled with expert review. 



• Refine the spatial characterization of habitats for 

 parameters such as salinity, temperature, bathym- 

 etry and substrate, and use GIS to map these 

 parameters. 



• Describe the association between species and their 

 habitats by applying Habitat Suitability Model- 

 ing (HSM) and Habitat Affinity Index (HAI) meth- 

 odologies. 



• Develop an ELMR-like component for tropical 

 reef species to complement the program's coral 

 reef habitat mapping and reef fish census activi- 

 ties. 



• Conduct targeted field research to validate spe- 

 cies habitat suitability models. 



• Continue to apply available information and meth- 

 odology to special projects such as Essential Fish 

 Habitat (EFH), Environmental Sensitivity Index 

 (ESI) mapping, and defining boundaries of ma- 

 rine protected areas. 



• Make products and services available by publish- 

 ing and distributing summary reports and ana- 

 lytical papers. 



• Ensure that products and services are available in 

 a timely manner through the following Web site: 



http://biogeo.nos.noaa.gov/ 



Acknowledgments 



We would like to extend special recognition to the 

 principal investigators who have worked for NOAA's 

 ELMR Program and contributed greatly to its success 

 from 1985 to 2000: 



Linda Andreasen 

 Timothy A. Battista 

 Stephen K. Brown 

 Kenneth R. Buja 

 Christopher D. Caldow 

 John D. Christensen 

 Randall D. Clark 

 Linda C. Clements 

 Michael S. Coyne 

 Thomas E. Czapla 

 Robert L. Emmett 

 Donald W. Field 

 John D. Field 

 Tracy A. Gill 

 Susan A. Hinton 

 Carol lancu 

 Elizabeth A. Irlandi 

 Christopher F. Jeffrey 

 Steven H. Jury 

 Matthew S. Kendall 

 Tony A. Lowery 

 Mary McCann 

 Mark E. Monaco 

 David Moe Nelson 

 Mark E. Pattillo 

 Lawrence R. Settle 

 Steven L. Stone 

 Christopher D. Williams 



We also thank all of the hundreds of fisheries scien- 

 tists who have reviewed the data in each region, 

 provided comments on draft reports, and provided 

 additional information and guidance. Without their 

 efforts, a study of this magnitude and complexity 

 would not be possible. Thanks are due to Tom Minello 

 for the cover photo of San Antonio Bay, Randy Clark 

 for the maps of Galveston Bay, Ken Buja for the map 

 of Massachusetts, Chris Clement for the regional maps, 

 Pam Rubin for her editorial expertise, and Kevin 

 McMahon for his assistance with final production and 

 publication. A very special thanks goes to Dan Basta, 

 whose vision and guidance made NOAA's ELMR 

 program possible. 



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