title: Delineating biophysical environments of the Sunda Banda Seascape, Indonesia.
abstract: The Sunda Banda Seascape (SBS), located in the center of the Coral Triangle, is a global center of marine biodiversity and a conservation priority. We proposed the first biophysical environmental delineation of the SBS using globally available satellite remote sensing and model-assimilated data to categorize this area into unique and meaningful biophysical classes. Specifically, the SBS was partitioned into eight biophysical classes characterized by similar sea surface temperature, chlorophyll a concentration, currents, and salinity patterns. Areas within each class were expected to have similar habitat types and ecosystem functions. Our work supplemented prevailing global marine management schemes by focusing in on a regional scale with finer spatial resolution. It also provided a baseline for academic research, ecological assessments and will facilitate marine spatial planning and conservation activities in the area. In addition, the framework and methods of delineating biophysical environments we presented can be expanded throughout the whole Coral Triangle to support research and conservation activities in this important region.
authors: Center for Geospatial Research, Department of Geography, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. mswang@uga.edu.|Conservation Science Program, World Wildlife Fund-US, Washington, D.C. 20037, USA. mswang@uga.edu.
authors: Mingshu
authors: M
authors: Wang
authors: Conservation Science Program, World Wildlife Fund-US, Washington, D.C. 20037, USA. Gabby.Ahmadia@gmail.com.
authors: Gabby N
authors: GN
authors: Ahmadia
authors: Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon EX4 4SB, UK. iliana.chollett@gmail.com.|Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia. iliana.chollett@gmail.com.
authors: Iliana
authors: I
authors: Chollett
authors: Conservation Science Program, World Wildlife Fund-US, Washington, D.C. 20037, USA. charleshuang80@gmail.com.
authors: Charles
authors: C
authors: Huang
authors: Conservation Science Program, World Wildlife Fund-US, Washington, D.C. 20037, USA. hfox@rare.org.
authors: Helen
authors: H
authors: Fox
authors: Coral Triangle Program, World Wildlife Fund-Indonesia, Jakarta Selatan 12540, Indonesia. awijonarno@wwf.or.id.
authors: Anton
authors: A
authors: Wijonarno
authors: Center for Geospatial Research, Department of Geography, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. mmadden@uga.edu.
authors: Marguerite
authors: M
authors: Madden
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000737:chemistry; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D007214:Indonesia; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D002734:Chlorophyll; D000077194:Chlorophyll A
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