Integrating benthic habitat mapping and seascape ecology into marine conservation prioritization
Advances in seafloor mapping have allowed for the production of fine-scale seafloor landscape (i.e., benthoscape) maps that are analogous to terrestrial land cover maps, providing the foundation for assessing the spatial configuration of seafloor habitat patches. While many species rely on large, we...
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ftmemorialuniv:oai:research.library.mun.ca:13768 2023-10-01T03:57:37+02:00 Integrating benthic habitat mapping and seascape ecology into marine conservation prioritization Proudfoot, Beatrice 2019-05 application/pdf https://research.library.mun.ca/13768/ https://research.library.mun.ca/13768/1/thesis.pdf en eng Memorial University of Newfoundland https://research.library.mun.ca/13768/1/thesis.pdf Proudfoot, Beatrice <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Proudfoot=3ABeatrice=3A=3A.html> (2019) Integrating benthic habitat mapping and seascape ecology into marine conservation prioritization. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland. thesis_license Thesis NonPeerReviewed 2019 ftmemorialuniv 2023-09-03T06:49:26Z Advances in seafloor mapping have allowed for the production of fine-scale seafloor landscape (i.e., benthoscape) maps that are analogous to terrestrial land cover maps, providing the foundation for assessing the spatial configuration of seafloor habitat patches. While many species rely on large, well-connected patches for foraging and migration, variability in patch size and configuration can be difficult to incorporate into Marine Protected Area (MPA) design. In this thesis, I developed a novel method that considers the spatial arrangement of benthic habitat patches in MPA design. I applied the approach to the Eastport MPA and surrounding region in Newfoundland, Canada by first quantifying the composition and configuration of the benthoscape using multibeam echosounder, seafloor video surveys, and patch size and connectivity metrics. Using a reserve design algorithm, I then compared outputs that included and excluded the prioritization of benthoscape connectivity. The approach presented in this thesis results in the preferential selection of large patches within the home-range of a given species, which can be important for reducing fragmentation in conservation prioritization solutions and better supporting species and ecological processes. This approach offers potential benefits for the conservation of coastal and marine regions by increasing our understanding of how we can incorporate broad scale patterns into on-the-ground conservation decision making. Thesis Newfoundland Memorial University of Newfoundland: Research Repository Canada |
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Memorial University of Newfoundland: Research Repository |
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English |
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Advances in seafloor mapping have allowed for the production of fine-scale seafloor landscape (i.e., benthoscape) maps that are analogous to terrestrial land cover maps, providing the foundation for assessing the spatial configuration of seafloor habitat patches. While many species rely on large, well-connected patches for foraging and migration, variability in patch size and configuration can be difficult to incorporate into Marine Protected Area (MPA) design. In this thesis, I developed a novel method that considers the spatial arrangement of benthic habitat patches in MPA design. I applied the approach to the Eastport MPA and surrounding region in Newfoundland, Canada by first quantifying the composition and configuration of the benthoscape using multibeam echosounder, seafloor video surveys, and patch size and connectivity metrics. Using a reserve design algorithm, I then compared outputs that included and excluded the prioritization of benthoscape connectivity. The approach presented in this thesis results in the preferential selection of large patches within the home-range of a given species, which can be important for reducing fragmentation in conservation prioritization solutions and better supporting species and ecological processes. This approach offers potential benefits for the conservation of coastal and marine regions by increasing our understanding of how we can incorporate broad scale patterns into on-the-ground conservation decision making. |
format |
Thesis |
author |
Proudfoot, Beatrice |
spellingShingle |
Proudfoot, Beatrice Integrating benthic habitat mapping and seascape ecology into marine conservation prioritization |
author_facet |
Proudfoot, Beatrice |
author_sort |
Proudfoot, Beatrice |
title |
Integrating benthic habitat mapping and seascape ecology into marine conservation prioritization |
title_short |
Integrating benthic habitat mapping and seascape ecology into marine conservation prioritization |
title_full |
Integrating benthic habitat mapping and seascape ecology into marine conservation prioritization |
title_fullStr |
Integrating benthic habitat mapping and seascape ecology into marine conservation prioritization |
title_full_unstemmed |
Integrating benthic habitat mapping and seascape ecology into marine conservation prioritization |
title_sort |
integrating benthic habitat mapping and seascape ecology into marine conservation prioritization |
publisher |
Memorial University of Newfoundland |
publishDate |
2019 |
url |
https://research.library.mun.ca/13768/ https://research.library.mun.ca/13768/1/thesis.pdf |
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Canada |
geographic_facet |
Canada |
genre |
Newfoundland |
genre_facet |
Newfoundland |
op_relation |
https://research.library.mun.ca/13768/1/thesis.pdf Proudfoot, Beatrice <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Proudfoot=3ABeatrice=3A=3A.html> (2019) Integrating benthic habitat mapping and seascape ecology into marine conservation prioritization. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland. |
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thesis_license |
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1778529416447524864 |