Habitat suitability modelling of economically important fish species with commercial fisheries data

Abstract In this study we used catch and effort data from a commercial fishery to generate habitat suitability models for Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia. Species modelled were King George whiting (Sillaginodes punctata), greenback flounder (Rhombosolea tapirina), Australian salmon (Arripis trutta and A. truttaceus), and snapper (Pagrus auratus). Locations of commercial catches were reported through a grid system of fishing blocks. Spatial analyses in a Geographic Information System (GIS) were applied to describe each fishing block by its habitat area. A multivariate approach was adopted to group each fishing block by its dominant habitats. Standardized catch per unit effort values were overlaid on these groups to identify those that returned high or low catches for each species. A simple set of rules was then devised to predict the habitat suitability for each habitat combination in a fishing block. The spatial distribution of these habitats was presented in a GIS. These habitat suitability models were consistent with existing anecdotal information and expert opinion. While the models require testing, we have shown that in the absence of adequate fishery-independent data, commercial catch and effort data can be used to produce habitat suitability models at a bay-wide scale.

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Assessing Habitat Suitability Models for the Deep Sea: Is Our Ability to Predict the Distributions of Seafloor Fauna Improving?

Frontiers in Marine Science ◽

10.3389/fmars.2021.632389 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

David A. Bowden ◽

Owen F. Anderson ◽

Ashley A. Rowden ◽

Fabrice Stephenson ◽

Malcolm R. Clark

Keyword(s):

Habitat Suitability ◽

Cross Validation ◽

Environmental Gradients ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Benthic Invertebrate ◽

Environmental Research ◽

Taxonomic Resolution ◽

Independent Data ◽

Habitat Suitability Models ◽

Practical Applications

Methods that predict the distributions of species and habitats by developing statistical relationships between observed occurrences and environmental gradients have become common tools in environmental research, resource management, and conservation. The uptake of model predictions in practical applications remains limited, however, because validation against independent sample data is rarely practical, especially at larger spatial scales and in poorly sampled environments. Here, we use a quantitative dataset of benthic invertebrate faunal distributions from seabed photographic surveys of an important fisheries area in New Zealand as independent data against which to assess the usefulness of 47 habitat suitability models from eight published studies in the region. When assessed against the independent data, model performance was lower than in published cross-validation values, a trend of increasing performance over time seen in published metrics was not supported, and while 74% of the models were potentially useful for predicting presence or absence, correlations with prevalence and density were weak. We investigate the reasons underlying these results, using recently proposed standards to identify areas in which improvements can best be made. We conclude that commonly used cross-validation methods can yield inflated values of prediction success even when spatial structure in the input data is allowed for, and that the main impediments to prediction success are likely to include unquantified uncertainty in available predictor variables, lack of some ecologically important variables, lack of confirmed absence data for most taxa, and modeling at coarse taxonomic resolution.

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Development and evaluation of catch per unit effort indices for southern blue whiting (Micromesistius australis) on the Campbell Island Rise, New Zealand

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1016/j.icesjms.2005.04.011 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 62 (6) ◽

pp. 1131-1138 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Stuart M. Hanchet ◽

Ron G. Blackwell ◽

Alistair Dunn

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Stock Assessment ◽

Independent Data ◽

Catch Per Unit Effort ◽

Age Composition ◽

Commercial Catch ◽

Fourfold Increase ◽

Fishing Strategies ◽

Acoustic Surveys ◽

Campbell Island

Abstract This paper develops standardized commercial cpue indices for a highly aggregated spawning fishery in New Zealand waters, and verifies the indices using fishery-independent data. Indices were calculated for all vessels using three different measures of effort, and for vessel subsets based on processing type (surimi and dressed), and relative experience in the fishery. Trends in cpue were consistent with trends in fishery-independent acoustic surveys, age composition of the commercial catch, and recent stock assessment results. In particular, the cpue indices tracked the more than fourfold increase in abundance from 1993 to 1996 associated with the recruitment of the strong 1991 year class, and the decline in relative abundance as this year class was fished down. Despite this being a highly aggregated spawning fishery, there was little evidence for hyperstability. There were also significant differences in fishing strategies of the fleets between periods of high and low fish abundance.

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Why less complexity produces better forecasts: An independent data evaluation of kelp habitat models

10.31230/osf.io/u76hf ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Edward J Gregr ◽

Daniel M. Palacios ◽

Allison Thompson ◽

Kai M. A. Chan

Keyword(s):

Habitat Suitability ◽

Cross Validation ◽

Additive Models ◽

Forecast Skill ◽

Data Evaluation ◽

Model Complexity ◽

Independent Data ◽

Habitat Suitability Models ◽

Biogenic Habitat ◽

Multiple Data Sets

Understanding how species are distributed in the environment is increasingly important for natural resource management, particularly for keystone and habitat forming species, and those of conservation concern. Habitat suitability models are fundamental to developing this understanding; however their use in management continues to be limited due to often-vague model objectives and inadequate evaluation methods. Along the Northeast Pacific coast, canopy kelps (Macrocystis pyrifera and Nereocystis luetkeana) provide biogenic habitat and considerable primary production to nearshore ecosystems. We investigated the distribution of these species by examining a series of increasingly complex habitat suitability models ranging from process-based models based on species' ecology to complex Generalised Additive Models applied to purpose-collected survey data. Seeking limits on model complexity, we explored the relationship between model complexity and forecast skill, measured using both cross-validation and independent data evaluation. Our analysis confirmed the importance of predictors used in models of coastal kelp distributions developed elsewhere (i.e., depth, bottom type, bottom slope, and exposure); it also identified additional important factors including salinity, and interactions between exposure and salinity, and slope and tidal energy. Comparative results showed that cross-validation can lead to over-fitting, while independent data evaluation clearly identified the appropriate model complexity for generating habitat forecasts. Our results also illustrate that, depending on the evaluation data, predictions from simpler models can out-perform those from more complex models. Collectively, the insights from evaluating multiple models with multiple data sets contribute to the holistic assessment of model forecast skill. The continued development of methods and metrics for evaluating model forecasts with independent data, and the explicit consideration of model objectives and assumptions, promise to increase the utility of model forecasts to decision makers.

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Evaluation of a Modified Habitat Suitability Index Model for Eastern Brook Trout: Implications for Efficient Habitat Assessment

Journal of Student Research ◽

10.47611/jsr.v4i1.195 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 90-98 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Carl Anthony Favata ◽

David R. Christensen ◽

Robert Thompson ◽

Kelly Anne McKeown ◽

Jennifer A. Hanselman

Keyword(s):

New England ◽

Habitat Suitability ◽

Brook Trout ◽

Field Research ◽

Habitat Assessment ◽

Accurate Assessment ◽

Habitat Suitability Index ◽

Catch Per Unit Effort ◽

Habitat Suitability Models ◽

Suitability Index

Species-specific habitat suitability models have potential for use in restoration efforts, but their efficiency still remains in question. As eastern brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, populations in New England have declined over the last few decades as a result of anthropogenic and natural impacts on critical habitat, habitat suitability models have become a common tool for conservation efforts. These models, however, have inherent flaws that prevent widespread and uniform use. To better adapt these models, the flaws must be properly addressed. Using a modified habitat suitability index (HSI) model developed for eastern brook trout, we explained the correlation between catch per unit effort (CPUE) of brook trout with designated HSI variables such as temperature, dominant substrate type, and percent riffle fines for nineteen reaches within the Westfield River watershed. CPUE was not significantly correlated with HSI outputs. A principal components analysis (PCA) was employed and revealed driving factors within the system. Four variables were shown to yield the highest explained variance over the first two axes: velocity, instream cover, percent pools, and thalweg depth. Evidence suggests that habitat assessment based around these core variables may lead to a more efficient and accurate assessment. Recommendations for improved methodologies include revised tolerance curves, a reworked index rating system, and revised model variables based on current field research. Alterations to existing models provide hope for more accurate assessment, and increased efficiency in conservation efforts.

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Landscape-level habitat suitability models for twelve species in southern Missouri

10.2737/nc-gtr-233 ◽

2003 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Michael A. Larson ◽

William D. Dijak ◽

Frank R. III Thompson ◽

Joshua J. Millspaugh

Keyword(s):

Habitat Suitability ◽

Habitat Suitability Models ◽

Landscape Level

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Determinants of habitat suitability models transferability across geographically disjunct populations: Insights from Vipera ursinii urs inii

Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.1002/ece3.7294 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Francesco Cerasoli ◽

Aurélien Besnard ◽

Marc‐Antoine Marchand ◽

Paola D'Alessandro ◽

Mattia Iannella ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Habitat Suitability ◽

Habitat Suitability Models ◽

Disjunct Populations

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Occurrence of jaguar (Panthera onca) in the Chinantla region, southern Mexico

Caldasia ◽

10.15446/caldasia.v43n2.91580 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 43 (2) ◽

pp. 412-415

Author(s):

José Rogelio Prisciliano-Vázquez ◽

Elena Galindo-Aguilar ◽

Mario César Lavariega ◽

María Delfina Luna-Krauletz ◽

Mayra Karen Espinoza-Ramírez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Habitat Loss ◽

Habitat Suitability ◽

Field Data ◽

Camera Trapping ◽

Panthera Onca ◽

Southern Mexico ◽

Habitat Suitability Models ◽

Pregnant Females ◽

Independent Events ◽

Considerable Range

The jaguar (Panthera onca) has been experiencing a considerable range reduction due to habitat loss and poaching. Habitat suitability models have identified areas likely to maintain populations, but field data are scarce for several of them. Between 2012 and 2017, we investigated the jaguar occurrence in 35 communities of the Chinantla region, southern Mexico, throughout camera trapping in non-systematic surveys. We recorded 124 independent events of 23 jaguars in thirteen communities. Jaguars recorded over the years, couples and pregnant females are highlighted in the Chinantla region as a stronghold to the jaguar.

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