Table 9. Benthic Community Class Descriptions
| # | Class | Detailed Class Description |
| 2 | Mixed Seagrass >50% on Deep Mud | Mud >40cm deep with >50% mixed seagrass cover (predominantly Thalassia, with some Syringodium and Halodule). Abundant calcareous green algae. Sparse green algae. |
| 5 | Mixed Seagrass 25-50% on Deep Mud | Mud >40cm deep with 25-50% mixed seagrass cover (predominantly Thalassia with some Halodule). Abundant calcareous green algae. Sparse green algae and sponges. |
| 1 | Thalassia 5-25% on Sandy Mud | Sandy mud 30-40 cm deep with 5-25% Thalassia cover. Dense calcareous green algae. Abundant red algae. Sparse green algae and sponges. |
| 3 | Mixed Seagrass 5-25% on Mud | Mud 30-40 cm deep with 5-25% mixed seagrass cover (predominantly Thalassia, with some Syringodium and Halodule). Abundant calcareous green algae. |
| 4 | Mixed Macrophytes <5% on Sandy Mud | Sandy mud 20-30 cm deep with <5% mixed seagrass cover (predominantly Thalassia, with some Halodule). Abundant calcareous green algae. Sparse green algae, red algae, and sponges. |
| 6 | Simple Hardbottom with Thalassia < 5% | Hardbottom with <5% Thalassia cover. Dense calcareous green algae and red algae. Abundant green algae and sponges. Sparse stony corals. |
| 7 | Diverse Hardbottom with Thalassia < 5% | Hardbottom with <5% Thalassia cover. Dense calcareous green algae, green algae, and red algae. Abundant sponges. Sparse brown algae, stony corals and octocorals. |
| 8 | Diverse Hardbottom | Hardbottom. Dense calcareous green algae and red algae. Abundant green algae, brown algae, and sponges. Sparse coralline red algae, stony corals and octocorals. |
| Note: the categories "Sparse", "Abundant", "Dense" are all <5% cover) |