Rocky reefs tend to be some of the most biodiverse and productive areas of the seafloor, depending on rock type and associated biogenic habitats such as kelp forests, rhodolith beds, tube worms (such as those at deep sea vents), coral reefs, and sponge gardens, and rare ‘rock pen’ sea pens. Rock provides a surface for attachment and structure to house a variety of marine life, alter water flow patterns and help dissipate wave action. Inshore rocky reefs were mapped using navigational charts from the Department of Conservation (DOC) and converted to raster grids based on overlap with cells (> 50% of polygon).

Reference:

Smith, A. N., Duffy, C., Anthony, J., and Leathwick, J. R. 2013. Predicting the distribution and relative abundance of fishes on shallow subtidal reefs around New Zealand, Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand

Rocky reefs tend to be some of the most biodiverse and productive areas of the seafloor, depending on rock type and associated biogenic habitats such as kelp forests, rhodolith beds, tube worms (such as those at deep sea vents), coral reefs, and sponge gardens, and rare ‘rock pen’ sea pens. Rock provides a surface for attachment and structure to house a variety of marine life, alter water flow patterns and help dissipate wave action. Inshore rocky reefs were mapped using navigational charts from the Department of Conservation (DOC) and converted to raster grids based on overlap with cells (> 50% of polygon).

Reference:

Smith, A. N., Duffy, C., Anthony, J., and Leathwick, J. R. 2013. Predicting the distribution and relative abundance of fishes on shallow subtidal reefs around New Zealand, Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand