ENDEAVOUR HYDROTHERMAL VENTS MPA ERAF METADATA

1.1. Introduction

The Pacific Region ERAF provides a comprehensive approach for assessing all threats to marine ecosystems by evaluating cumulative risk from multiple activities

to multiple ecosystem components for ecosystem-based management (EBM), improving upon international and national best practices in risk assessment that focus

solely on single activities (e.g., ERAFs for assessing fisheries impacts) or single ecosystem-components (e.g., habitat-based risk assessments). This project applies

the Level 2 Risk Assessment framework (O et al. 2015) to the Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents Marine Protected Area (EHV MPA) to determine the relative risk to

the EHV MPA ecosystem from anthropogenic activities.

1.2. File Descriptions

CSV File Name	Description	Research Document Reference
Species SEC Scoping	A list of species derived from published records of species observed at or within the vicinity of EHV MPA. The six ERAF Scoping Criteria were scored based on: role in the ecosystem, uniqueness, and sensitivity. Endemic species are indicated as such in the “Distribution” column. This species list was last updated February 2014. Note: for the purposes of this species information database, some text in the “Ecological Justification” column may be copied directly from abstracts and reports – please consult original references provided for the citation.	Appendix E
SEC-Stressor Interactions	List of all possible SEC-Activity/Stressor interactions. A “1” indicates a possible negative interaction between SEC and stressor, a “0” indicates no negative interaction is expected. The number of 1’s in this file should equal the number of data rows in the SEC Risk Scoring Table. Note: only negative interactions are scored in the ERAF.	Appendix F
SEC Risk Scoring Table	This table can be used directly in the associated R script to estimate risk to each SEC, cumulative risk across all stressors by SEC and potency of each stressor across all SECs. The script can also reproduce the figures found in the research document.	Appendix G
SEC Risk Scoring Rationale	This file lists the justifications and references used to arrive at the risk scores for each SEC’s risk terms in the risk assessment.	Appendix G

1.3. Field Descriptions for CSV Files

1.3.1. Species SEC Scoping (Research document section in parentheses)

Column Heading	Description
MPA Zone	Area within the MPA where species is found. One of: Near vents, Vents only, Vent visitor.
Category	Main species classification (e.g. Genus): Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Macrophytes, Marine Mammals, Phytoplankton, Sharks and Rays.
Sub-Category	Species sub-classification (e.g. Family): specific to each classification.
Species	Latin species name, where possible. Some species were not identified to this taxonomic level (marked as [unid] or unidentified species).
Common name	Common names are provided where available.
Feeding/Ecological Guild	Provided where possible. One or more of: Filter feeder, Primary producer, Primary consumer, Secondary consumer, Tertiary consumer, Top-level consumer.
ERAF1: Nutrient Importer/exporter	Research document Table 3.1: Species criteria from O et al. (2015), and how they were applied to EHV MPA.
ERAF2: Specialized/ Keystone role	Research document Table 3.1: Species criteria from O et al. (2015), and how they were applied to EHV MPA.
ERAF3: Habitat creating species	Research document Table 3.1: Species criteria from O et al. (2015), and how they were applied to EHV MPA.
ERAF4: Rare, unique or endemic species	Research document Table 3.1: Species criteria from O et al. (2015), and how they were applied to EHV MPA.
ERAF5: Sensitive species	Research document Table 3.1: Species criteria from O et al. (2015), and how they were applied to EHV MPA.
ERAF6: Depleted species	Research document Table 3.1: Species criteria from O et al. (2015), and how they were applied to EHV MPA.
Ecological justification/Notes	Justification, observations and references to inform the scoping assessment.
Symbiotic relationship with chemosynthetic bacteria?	Does this species have a symbiotic relationship with chemosynthetic bacteria? Yes = “1”; No = “0” or blank. (3.1.1.1.)
Dependent on vent?	Does this species depend on vent conditions for any of its life functions?
Distribution	Published range observed for species.
Include in species counts?	To maintain focus on those species crucial to the functioning of the EHV MPA ecosystem, the final species list only includes benthic invertebrates and chordates. (Species included in the species count summaries are indicated by a 1.)
Candidate SEC?	Candidate Species SECs are indicated by a 1.

1.3.2. SEC-Stressor Interactions (Research document section in parentheses)

Column Heading	Description
SEC.Type	One of: Species, Habitat or Community
SEC.No	SEC number
SEC	Significant Ecosystem Component name. (2.1.1.)
Activity	Primary activity (2.1.2.)
Stressor	Stressor name (2.1.2.)
Interaction	SEC-stressor interactions to be considered for risk scoring are indicated by a “1”. Non-negative or non-existent interactions are indicated by a “0”. (2.2.1.)

1.3.3. SEC Risk Scoring Table (Research document section in parentheses)

Column Heading	Description
SEC.Type	One of: Species, Habitat or Community
SEC	Significant Ecosystem Component name (2.1.1.)
Activity	Activity name (2.1.2.)
Stressor	Stressor name (2.1.2.)
Area	Extent of SEC-stressor areal overlap (estimated as a percent, score binned). (2.2.2.)
U_Area	Uncertainty associated with estimation of SEC-stressor areal overlap.
Depth	Extent of SEC-stressor depth overlap (estimated as a percent, score binned). (2.2.2.)
U_Depth	Uncertainty associated with estimation of SEC-stressor depth overlap.
Temporal	Extent of SEC-stressor temporal overlap (estimated as a percent, score binned). (2.2.2.)
U_Temp	Uncertainty associated with estimation of SEC-stressor temporal overlap.
Intensity	Estimation of intensity (amount, level, effort or density) of the activity/stressor (measured as a percent, score binned). (2.2.2.)
U_Intensity	Uncertainty associated with estimation of stressor intensity.
Intensity2	Estimation of frequency at which the stressor occurs (measured in occurrences per year (e.g., one occurrence in 100 years or annually, score binned). (2.2.2.)
U_Int2	Uncertainty associated with estimation of stressor frequency.
AcuteChange	The percent change in: the population-wide mortality rate of a species SEC; OR, the loss of area and productive capacity of a habitat SEC; OR, the percentage of species impacted for community/ecosystem SEC, when exposed to a given stressor. Score binned 0-3. (2.2.2.)
U_AC	Uncertainty associated with estimation of acute change.
ChronicChange	The percent change in: long-term fitness (including condition and genetic diversity) of a species SEC; OR the percent change in structural integrity, condition, or loss of productive capacity of a habitat SEC; OR, the percentage of functional groups impacted for a community/ecosystem SEC. Score binned 0-3. (2.2.2.)
U_CC	Uncertainty associated with estimation of chronic change.
Fec	Fecundity. The population-wide average number of offspring produced by a female each year. Score binned 0-3. Research document Appendix C, Table C.1.
U_Fec	Uncertainty associated with fecundity assessment.
BreedingStrat	Breeding strategy. Indexed using Winemiller’s (1989) method, which provides an indication of the level of mortality expected for offspring in the first stages of life. Score binned 0-3. Research document Appendix C, Table C.1.
U_Breeding	Uncertainty associated with breeding strategy assessment.
Recruit	Natural recruitment rate. Recruitment success is defined as frequency of recruitment greater than long-term average level. Score binned 0-3. Research document Appendix C, Table C.1 (Species) and C.2 (Habitat).
U_Recruit	Uncertainty associated with recruitment rate assessment.
NatMort	Natural (instantaneous) mortality rate. Score binned 0-3. Research document Appendix C, Table C.1 (Species) and C.2 (Habitat).
U_NatMort	Uncertainty associated with mortality rate assessment.
AgeMat	Age at sexual maturity/recovery time. Score binned 0-3. Research document Appendix C, Table C.1 (Species) and C.2 (Habitat).
U_AgeMat	Uncertainty associated with age at maturity assessment.
LifeStage	Life stage. The life stage(s) affected by a stressor. Score binned 0-3. Research document Appendix C, Table C.1 (Species) and C.2 (Habitat).
U_LifeStage	Uncertainty associated with assessment of life stages affected.
Connect	Population/habitat connectivity. Based on spatial patchiness of distribution, degree of isolation, and potential dispersal capability. Score binned 0-3. Research document Appendix C, Tables C.1 (Species) and C.2 (Habitat).
U_Connect	Uncertainty associated with assessment of population connectivity.
Listed	Identifies species with a status assessment from SARA, COSEWIC, IUCN and/or BCCDC. Score binned 0-3. Research document Appendix C, Table C.1.
U_Listed	Uncertainty associated with status assessment listing.
MaxAge	Maximum age; specifically for fish SECs. Score binned 0-3. Research document Appendix C, Table C.1.
U_MaxAge	Uncertainty associated with maximum age assessment.
MaxSize	Maximum size; specifically for fish SECs. Score binned 0-3. Research document Appendix C, Table C.1.
U_MaxSize	Uncertainty associated with maximum size assessment.
VonB	Von Bertalanffy growth coefficient (k); specifically for fish SECs. Score binned 0-3. Research document Appendix C, Table C.1.
U_VonB	Uncertainty associated with von Bertalanffy growth coefficient calculation.
NatDisturb	Frequency of natural disturbances of a similar type to the stressor. Score binned 0-3. Research document Appendix C, Table C.2.
U_NatDisturb	Uncertainty associated with assessment of natural disturbance frequency.
Range	Distribution range/fragmentation. Estimated extent of occurrence and fragmentation or number of locations. Score binned 0-3. Research document Appendix C, Table C.2.
U_Range	Uncertainty associated with range assessment.

1.3.4. SEC Risk Scoring Rationale (Research Document section in parentheses)

Column Heading	Description
SEC.Type	One of: Species, Habitat or Community
SEC	Significant Ecosystem Component name (2.1.1.)
Activity	Activity name (2.1.2.)
Stressor	Stressor name (2.1.2.)
Risk Component	Identifies which term in the risk equation the variable belongs to. One of: Exposure1 [overlap], Exposure2 [intensity], Resilience, Recovery. (2.2.2.)
Variable	Risk equation term. One of: a, d, t, i, i2, ac, cc, Fec, BreedingStrat, Recruit, NatMort, AgeMat, LifeStage, Connect, Listed, MaxAge, MaxSize, VonB, NatDisturb, Range. See table 1.3.3 (above) for descriptions.
Scoring Rationale	Justifications and published literature to support score selection.
References	Published literature associated with scoring rationale.

1.4. References

O, M., Martone, R., Hannah, L., Greig, L., Boutillier, J. and Patton, S. 2015.

An Ecological Risk Assessment Framework (ERAF) for Ecosystem-based Oceans Management in the Pacific Region.

DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2014/072.vii + 59 p.