Biological Resources Shown on ESI Maps
Under the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) method, species that are especially vulnerable to the effects of oil spills have been classified into seven general categories, such as Bird, Fish, and Marine Mammal. The categories are then further divided by grouping species together by similar taxonomy, morphology, life history, and/or sensitivity to spilled oil.
The table below lists all of the categories and subcategories for biological resources, and it also includes some information about how they are displayed on ESI maps. When a biological resource exists in a small area (such as a bird nesting site), it is indicated on an ESI map by a symbol. When a biological resource encompasses a larger area, it is represented on ESI maps by a polygon with a specific pattern and color.
Category/Sub-Category | Symbol | Locations Shown on Maps |
---|
Marine Mammal | Dolphin | | Concentration areas | Manatee | | Concentration areas, cold weather refuge areas | Polar Bear | | Concentration areas | Sea Otter | | Concentration areas | Seal/Sea Lion | | Haulouts, concentration areas | Whale | | Migratory or other concentration areas | Terrestrial Mammal | Bat | | Locations of threatened, endangered, or species of significance | Bear | | Intertidal feeding or aquatic/wetland concentration areas, areas hazardous to spill responders | Deer | | Intertidal feeding or aquatic/wetland concentration areas | Small Mammal | | Aquatic fur-bearer concentration areas, locations of threatened, endangered, or rare species | Bird | Alcid/Pelagic Bird | | Rookeries, roosting, and other concentration areas | Diving Bird | | Rookeries; forage/wintering areas; roosting concentration areas | Gull/Tern | | Nesting sites; other concentration areas | Passerine Bird | | Locations of threatened, endangered, or rare species, especially nesting areas | Raptor | | Nesting sites; migratory/feeding concentration areas | Shorebird | | Nesting sites; migratory, wintering, and roosting concentration areas | Wading Bird | | Rookeries; feeding and roosting concentration areas | Waterfowl | | Wintering and migration concentration areas; nesting sites | Reptile/Amphibian | Alligator/Crocodile | | Concentration areas, especially nesting locations | Other Reptiles/Amphibians | | Locations of threatened, endangered, or rare species, especially aquatic/wetland concentration areas | Turtle | | Nesting beaches; concentration areas | Fish | Anadromous Fish | | Spawning and nursery areas; locations of threatened, endangered, or rare species | Diadromous Fish | | Spawning and nursery areas; locations of threatened, endangered, or rare species | Estuarine Nursery Fish | | Spawning, nursery, and other concentration areas | Estuarine Resident Fish | | Spawning or other concentration areas; locations of threatened, endangered, or rare species | Freshwater Fish | | Spawning and nursery areas; locations of threatened, endangered, or rare species | Marine Benthic Fish | | Spawning and nursery areas; reefs, kelp beds, or other concentration areas | Marine Pelagic Fish | | Spawning or other concentration areas | Shellfish/Insect | Bivalve | | Harvest areas; abundant beds; locations of threatened, endangered, or rare species | Crab | | Nursery areas; areas of high concentrations | Echinoderm | | Harvest areas | Gastropod | | Harvest areas; high concentrations, locations of threatened, endangered, or rare species | Insect | | Locations of threatened, endangered, or rare species | Lobster/Crayfish | | Nursery, spawning, and harvest areas; locations of threatened, endangered, or rare species | Shrimp | | Nursery areas; locations of high concentrations | Squid/Octopus | | Harvest areas; areas of high concentrations | Habitat/Rare Plant | Coral/ Hardbottom Reef | | Generally restricted to water and tidal flats | Floating Aquatic Vegetation/Intermittent Coastal Wetlands | | Areas of floating aquatic vegetation | Rare Plant/Terrestrial Plant/Native Plant | | Locations of threatened, endangered, or rare species or communities | Submerged Aquatic Vegetation | | Areas of submerged aquatic vegetation; seagrass beds, kelp, algae |
For More Information
|
|
|
- Shoreline Sensitivity Rankings Shorelines are ranked according to their sensitivity to oil, the natural persistence of oil, and the expected ease of cleanup after an oil spill.
|
- Human-Use Resources Resources and places important to humans and sensitive to oiling, such as public beaches and parks, marine sanctuaries, water intakes, and archaeological sites.
|
|