Mapping world-wide distributions of marine mammal species using a relative environmental suitability (RES) model
The lack of comprehensive sighting data sets precludes the application of standard habitat suitability modeling approaches to predict distributions of the majority of marine mammal species on very large scales. As an alternative, we developed an ecological niche model to map global distributions of...
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ftunivtasecite:oai:ecite.utas.edu.au:84055 2023-05-15T14:02:31+02:00 Mapping world-wide distributions of marine mammal species using a relative environmental suitability (RES) model Kaschner, K Watson, RA Trites, AW Pauly, D 2006 https://doi.org/10.3354/meps316285 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/84055 en eng Inter-Research http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps316285 Kaschner, K and Watson, RA and Trites, AW and Pauly, D, Mapping world-wide distributions of marine mammal species using a relative environmental suitability (RES) model, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 316 pp. 285-310. ISSN 0171-8630 (2006) [Refereed Article] http://ecite.utas.edu.au/84055 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences Fisheries Sciences Aquatic Ecosystem Studies and Stock Assessment Refereed Article PeerReviewed 2006 ftunivtasecite https://doi.org/10.3354/meps316285 2019-12-13T21:48:32Z The lack of comprehensive sighting data sets precludes the application of standard habitat suitability modeling approaches to predict distributions of the majority of marine mammal species on very large scales. As an alternative, we developed an ecological niche model to map global distributions of 115 cetacean and pinniped species living in the marine environment using more readily available expert knowledge about habitat usage. We started by assigning each species to broad-scale niche categories with respect to depth, sea-surface temperature, and ice edge association based on synopses of published information. Within a global information system framework and a global grid of 0.5 latitude/longitude cell dimensions, we then generated an index of the relative environmental suitability (RES) of each cell for a given species by relating known habitat usage to local environmental conditions. RES predictions closely matched published maximum ranges for most species, thus representing useful, more objective alternatives to existing sketched distributional outlines. In addition, raster-based predictions provided detailed information about heterogeneous patterns of potentially suitable habitat for species throughout their range. We tested RES model outputs for 11 species (northern fur seal, harbor porpoise, sperm whale, killer whale, hourglass dolphin, fin whale, humpback whale, blue whale, Antarctic minke, and dwarf minke whales) from a broad taxonomic and geographic range, using data from dedicated surveys. Observed encounter rates and species-specific predicted environmental suitability were significantly and positively correlated for all but 1 species. In comparison, encounter rates were correlated with <1 % of 1000 simulated random data sets for all but 2 species. Mapping of large-scale marine mammal distributions using this environmental envelope model is helpful for evaluating current assumptions and knowledge about species' occurrences, especially for data-poor species. Moreover, RES modeling can help to focus research efforts on smaller geographic scales and usefully supplement other, statistical, habitat suitability models. Inter-Research 2006. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Blue whale Fin whale Hourglass dolphin Humpback Whale Killer Whale Sperm whale Killer whale Northern fur seal eCite UTAS (University of Tasmania) Antarctic Marine Ecology Progress Series 316 285 310 |
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eCite UTAS (University of Tasmania) |
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ftunivtasecite |
language |
English |
topic |
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences Fisheries Sciences Aquatic Ecosystem Studies and Stock Assessment |
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Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences Fisheries Sciences Aquatic Ecosystem Studies and Stock Assessment Kaschner, K Watson, RA Trites, AW Pauly, D Mapping world-wide distributions of marine mammal species using a relative environmental suitability (RES) model |
topic_facet |
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences Fisheries Sciences Aquatic Ecosystem Studies and Stock Assessment |
description |
The lack of comprehensive sighting data sets precludes the application of standard habitat suitability modeling approaches to predict distributions of the majority of marine mammal species on very large scales. As an alternative, we developed an ecological niche model to map global distributions of 115 cetacean and pinniped species living in the marine environment using more readily available expert knowledge about habitat usage. We started by assigning each species to broad-scale niche categories with respect to depth, sea-surface temperature, and ice edge association based on synopses of published information. Within a global information system framework and a global grid of 0.5 latitude/longitude cell dimensions, we then generated an index of the relative environmental suitability (RES) of each cell for a given species by relating known habitat usage to local environmental conditions. RES predictions closely matched published maximum ranges for most species, thus representing useful, more objective alternatives to existing sketched distributional outlines. In addition, raster-based predictions provided detailed information about heterogeneous patterns of potentially suitable habitat for species throughout their range. We tested RES model outputs for 11 species (northern fur seal, harbor porpoise, sperm whale, killer whale, hourglass dolphin, fin whale, humpback whale, blue whale, Antarctic minke, and dwarf minke whales) from a broad taxonomic and geographic range, using data from dedicated surveys. Observed encounter rates and species-specific predicted environmental suitability were significantly and positively correlated for all but 1 species. In comparison, encounter rates were correlated with <1 % of 1000 simulated random data sets for all but 2 species. Mapping of large-scale marine mammal distributions using this environmental envelope model is helpful for evaluating current assumptions and knowledge about species' occurrences, especially for data-poor species. Moreover, RES modeling can help to focus research efforts on smaller geographic scales and usefully supplement other, statistical, habitat suitability models. Inter-Research 2006. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Kaschner, K Watson, RA Trites, AW Pauly, D |
author_facet |
Kaschner, K Watson, RA Trites, AW Pauly, D |
author_sort |
Kaschner, K |
title |
Mapping world-wide distributions of marine mammal species using a relative environmental suitability (RES) model |
title_short |
Mapping world-wide distributions of marine mammal species using a relative environmental suitability (RES) model |
title_full |
Mapping world-wide distributions of marine mammal species using a relative environmental suitability (RES) model |
title_fullStr |
Mapping world-wide distributions of marine mammal species using a relative environmental suitability (RES) model |
title_full_unstemmed |
Mapping world-wide distributions of marine mammal species using a relative environmental suitability (RES) model |
title_sort |
mapping world-wide distributions of marine mammal species using a relative environmental suitability (res) model |
publisher |
Inter-Research |
publishDate |
2006 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3354/meps316285 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/84055 |
geographic |
Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Blue whale Fin whale Hourglass dolphin Humpback Whale Killer Whale Sperm whale Killer whale Northern fur seal |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Blue whale Fin whale Hourglass dolphin Humpback Whale Killer Whale Sperm whale Killer whale Northern fur seal |
op_relation |
http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps316285 Kaschner, K and Watson, RA and Trites, AW and Pauly, D, Mapping world-wide distributions of marine mammal species using a relative environmental suitability (RES) model, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 316 pp. 285-310. ISSN 0171-8630 (2006) [Refereed Article] http://ecite.utas.edu.au/84055 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3354/meps316285 |
container_title |
Marine Ecology Progress Series |
container_volume |
316 |
container_start_page |
285 |
op_container_end_page |
310 |
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1766272823482908672 |