A Satellite Imagery, Ecosystem-Based GIS Study of Bluefin Tuna and Right Whale Distribution and Movements in the Gulf of Marine and NW Atlantic

• Main Authors: Lutcavage, Molly, Kraus, Scott D.
• Other Authors: NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM BOSTON MA
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2002
• Subjects: Information Science; Biological Oceanography; *MARINE BIOLOGY; *GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS; *SATELLITE IMAGERY; DATA BASES; SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION; OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA; SEASONAL VARIATIONS; REMOTE DETECTORS; WORK STATIONS; ECOSYSTEMS; NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN; WHALES; MAINE GULF; TUNA; BLUEFIN TUNA; RIGHT WHALE; GIS(GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM); North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA401256; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA401256

The goals of this research were to develop a GIS workstation to examine the distribution, relative abundance, and behavior of Atlantic bluefin tuna and the Northern right whale in relation to their environment and prey. We used integrated data from NOAA remote sensing and oceanographic databases. We also developed models of bluefin aggregation, leading to assessment of population size, and forecasting of distribution and abundance, and also for predicting the seasonal and spatial distribution of right whales from oceanographic precursors. Portions of this ecosystem-oriented GIS database were formatted for exchange and distribution via an interactive website (www.marinegis.org).