Key ecological features

The key ecological features are elements of the marine environment that are considered to be important for biodiversity or ecosystem function and integrity. Key ecological features may relate to a species or community (e.g. a predator that impacts a large biomass or number of species), an important habitat type (e.g. that supports high productivity or aggregations of nesting or breeding animals), or a unique seafloor feature that positively impacts the surrounding ecosystem (e.g. a deep canyon that stimulates upwellings of nutrient rich water).

Identifying these key ecological features is important to improve our understanding of the marine environment and inform decision-making about future development and conservation.