Inferring Cetacean Population Densities from the Absolute Dynamic Topography of the Ocean in a Hierarchical Bayesian Framework
We inferred the population densities of blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) and short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in the Northeast Pacific Ocean as functions of the water-column’s physical structure by implementing hierarchical models in a Bayesian framework. This approach allowed us...
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ftoregonstate:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:2z10wr98h 2024-09-15T17:57:19+00:00 Inferring Cetacean Population Densities from the Absolute Dynamic Topography of the Ocean in a Hierarchical Bayesian Framework Pardo, Mario A. Gerrodette, Tim Beier, Emilio Gendron, Diane Forney, Karin A. Chivers, Susan J. Barlow, Jay Palacios, Daniel M. https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/articles/2z10wr98h English [eng] eng unknown Public Library of Science https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/articles/2z10wr98h No Copyright - United States Article ftoregonstate 2024-07-22T18:06:05Z We inferred the population densities of blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) and short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in the Northeast Pacific Ocean as functions of the water-column’s physical structure by implementing hierarchical models in a Bayesian framework. This approach allowed us to propagate the uncertainty of the field observations into the inference of species-habitat relationships and to generate spatially explicit population density predictions with reduced effects of sampling heterogeneity. Our hypothesis was that the large-scale spatial distributions of these two cetacean species respond primarily to ecological processes resulting from shoaling and outcropping of the pycnocline in regions of wind-forced upwelling and eddy-like circulation. Physically, these processes affect the thermodynamic balance of the water column, decreasing its volume and thus the height of the absolute dynamic topography (ADT). Biologically, they lead to elevated primary productivity and persistent aggregation of low-trophic-level prey. Unlike other remotely sensed variables, ADT provides information about the structure of the entire water column and it is also routinely measured at high spatial-temporal resolution by satellite altimeters with uniform global coverage. Our models provide spatially explicit population density predictions for both species, even in areas where the pycnocline shoals but does not outcrop (e.g. the Costa Rica Dome and the North Equatorial Countercurrent thermocline ridge). Interannual variations in distribution during El Niño anomalies suggest that the population density of both species decreases dramatically in the Equatorial Cold Tongue and the Costa Rica Dome, and that their distributions retract to particular areas that remain productive, such as the more oceanic waters in the central California Current System, the northern Gulf of California, the North Equatorial Countercurrent thermocline ridge, and the more southern portion of the Humboldt Current System. We posit that such ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Balaenoptera musculus ScholarsArchive@OSU (Oregon State University) |
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ScholarsArchive@OSU (Oregon State University) |
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ftoregonstate |
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English unknown |
description |
We inferred the population densities of blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) and short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in the Northeast Pacific Ocean as functions of the water-column’s physical structure by implementing hierarchical models in a Bayesian framework. This approach allowed us to propagate the uncertainty of the field observations into the inference of species-habitat relationships and to generate spatially explicit population density predictions with reduced effects of sampling heterogeneity. Our hypothesis was that the large-scale spatial distributions of these two cetacean species respond primarily to ecological processes resulting from shoaling and outcropping of the pycnocline in regions of wind-forced upwelling and eddy-like circulation. Physically, these processes affect the thermodynamic balance of the water column, decreasing its volume and thus the height of the absolute dynamic topography (ADT). Biologically, they lead to elevated primary productivity and persistent aggregation of low-trophic-level prey. Unlike other remotely sensed variables, ADT provides information about the structure of the entire water column and it is also routinely measured at high spatial-temporal resolution by satellite altimeters with uniform global coverage. Our models provide spatially explicit population density predictions for both species, even in areas where the pycnocline shoals but does not outcrop (e.g. the Costa Rica Dome and the North Equatorial Countercurrent thermocline ridge). Interannual variations in distribution during El Niño anomalies suggest that the population density of both species decreases dramatically in the Equatorial Cold Tongue and the Costa Rica Dome, and that their distributions retract to particular areas that remain productive, such as the more oceanic waters in the central California Current System, the northern Gulf of California, the North Equatorial Countercurrent thermocline ridge, and the more southern portion of the Humboldt Current System. We posit that such ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Pardo, Mario A. Gerrodette, Tim Beier, Emilio Gendron, Diane Forney, Karin A. Chivers, Susan J. Barlow, Jay Palacios, Daniel M. |
spellingShingle |
Pardo, Mario A. Gerrodette, Tim Beier, Emilio Gendron, Diane Forney, Karin A. Chivers, Susan J. Barlow, Jay Palacios, Daniel M. Inferring Cetacean Population Densities from the Absolute Dynamic Topography of the Ocean in a Hierarchical Bayesian Framework |
author_facet |
Pardo, Mario A. Gerrodette, Tim Beier, Emilio Gendron, Diane Forney, Karin A. Chivers, Susan J. Barlow, Jay Palacios, Daniel M. |
author_sort |
Pardo, Mario A. |
title |
Inferring Cetacean Population Densities from the Absolute Dynamic Topography of the Ocean in a Hierarchical Bayesian Framework |
title_short |
Inferring Cetacean Population Densities from the Absolute Dynamic Topography of the Ocean in a Hierarchical Bayesian Framework |
title_full |
Inferring Cetacean Population Densities from the Absolute Dynamic Topography of the Ocean in a Hierarchical Bayesian Framework |
title_fullStr |
Inferring Cetacean Population Densities from the Absolute Dynamic Topography of the Ocean in a Hierarchical Bayesian Framework |
title_full_unstemmed |
Inferring Cetacean Population Densities from the Absolute Dynamic Topography of the Ocean in a Hierarchical Bayesian Framework |
title_sort |
inferring cetacean population densities from the absolute dynamic topography of the ocean in a hierarchical bayesian framework |
publisher |
Public Library of Science |
url |
https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/articles/2z10wr98h |
genre |
Balaenoptera musculus |
genre_facet |
Balaenoptera musculus |
op_relation |
https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/articles/2z10wr98h |
op_rights |
No Copyright - United States |
_version_ |
1810433462003302400 |