scholarly journals Validation of a habitat suitability index for oyster restoration

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seth Theuerkauf ◽  
Romuald Lipcius
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
Model Development ◽  
Marine Species ◽  
Eastern Oyster ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Sigmoid Function ◽  
Habitat Suitability Index ◽  
Suitability Index ◽  
Adult Oyster ◽  
Oyster Restoration

Habitat suitability index (HSI) models provide spatially explicit information on the capacity of a given habitat to support a species of interest, and their prevalence has increased dramatically in recent years. Despite caution that the reliability of HSIs must be validated using independent, quantitative data, most HSIs intended to inform terrestrial and marine species management remain unvalidated. Furthermore, of the eight HSI models developed for eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) restoration and fishery production, none has been validated. Consequently, we developed, calibrated, and validated an HSI for the eastern oyster to identify optimal habitat for restoration in a tributary of Chesapeake Bay, the Great Wicomico River (GWR). The GWR harbors an unparalleled, restored oyster population, and therefore serves as an excellent model system for assessing the validity of the HSI. The HSI was derived from GIS layers of bottom type, salinity, and water depth (surrogate for dissolved oxygen), and was tested using live adult oyster density data from a survey of high vertical relief reefs (HRR) and low vertical relief reefs (LRR) in the sanctuary network. Live adult oyster density was a statistically significant sigmoid function of the HSI, which validates the HSI as a robust predictor of suitable oyster reef habitat for rehabilitation or restoration. In addition, HRR had on average 103-116 more adults m-2than LRR at a given level of the HSI. For HRR, HSI values ≥0.3 exceeded the accepted restoration target of 50 live adult oysters m-2. For LRR, the HSI was generally able to predict live adult oyster densities that meet or exceed the target at HSI values ≥0.3. The HSI indicated that there remain large areas of suitable habitat for restoration in the GWR. This study provides a robust framework for HSI model development and validation, which can be refined and applied to other systems and previously developed HSIs to improve the efficacy of native oyster restoration.

scholarly journals Environmental requirements for three sea pen species: relevance to distribution and conservation

2014 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 576-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Greathead ◽  
J. M. González-Irusta ◽  
J. Clarke ◽  
P. Boulcott ◽  
L. Blackadder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Habitat Suitability Index ◽  
Suitability Index ◽  
Environmental Requirements ◽  
Adequacy Criterion ◽  
Suitable Area

Abstract The aim is to determine the environmental requirements, estimate the extent of suitable habitat for three sea pen species, and assess the implications for marine protected areas (MPAs). The sea pen Funiculina quadrangularis and the habitat associated with two further sea pen species, Virgularia mirabilis and Pennatula phosphorea, are of key conservation importance and are recommended for protection within MPAs. This study models their potential distributions using the MAXimum ENTropy algorithm and assesses these in relation to five possible marine protected areas (pMPAs) proposed for Scottish waters. Metrics relevant to assessing the efficacy of MPAs are also presented. Four environmental variables of prime importance for predicting the presence of all three species of sea pen were identified: mud, minimum salinity, depth, and gravel. The habitat suitability index increased with mud content. The modelled distribution of F. quadrangularis indicated a deeper distribution than V. mirabilis or P. phosphorea and was not present in sediment with gravel content above 30%. Pennatula phosphorea had the smallest area of suitable habitat, while V. mirabilis had the largest. The percentage predicted suitable area for each species that was encompassed by the five pMPAs ranged from 11% for F. quadrangularis to 15% for P. phosphorea. Some of the largest areas predicted as suitable for F. quadrangularis lay outside the pMPAs. The model results indicated differences in the environmental requirements of the three species of sea pen that can be linked to the autecology of each species. Patch sizes, calculated from a binary output of the model, were used to estimate the degree of habitat fragmentation, thereby giving a partial assessment of the adequacy criterion for these pMPAs. The results suggest that potential MPAs within the study area cover sizeable areas of potential sea pen habitat. However, further areas suitable for F. quadrangularis could be considered.

scholarly journals Integrating Larval Dispersal, Permitting, and Logistical Factors Within a Validated Habitat Suitability Index for Oyster Restoration

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon J. Puckett ◽  
Seth J. Theuerkauf ◽  
David B. Eggleston ◽  
Rodney Guajardo ◽  
Craig Hardy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
Larval Dispersal ◽  
Habitat Suitability Index ◽  
Suitability Index ◽  
Oyster Restoration

Predicting bycatch hotspots based on suitable habitat derived from fishery-independent data

2020 ◽  
Vol 641 ◽  
pp. 159-175
Author(s):  
J Runnebaum ◽  
KR Tanaka ◽  
L Guan ◽  
J Cao ◽  
L O’Brien ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Gulf Of Maine ◽  
Homarus Americanus ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
American Lobster ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Suitability Index

Bycatch remains a global problem in managing sustainable fisheries. A critical aspect of management is understanding the timing and spatial extent of bycatch. Fisheries management often relies on observed bycatch data, which are not always available due to a lack of reporting or observer coverage. Alternatively, analyzing the overlap in suitable habitat for the target and non-target species can provide a spatial management tool to understand where bycatch interactions are likely to occur. Potential bycatch hotspots based on suitable habitat were predicted for cusk Brosme brosme incidentally caught in the Gulf of Maine American lobster Homarus americanus fishery. Data from multiple fisheries-independent surveys were combined in a delta-generalized linear mixed model to generate spatially explicit density estimates for use in an independent habitat suitability index. The habitat suitability indices for American lobster and cusk were then compared to predict potential bycatch hotspot locations. Suitable habitat for American lobster has increased between 1980 and 2013 while suitable habitat for cusk decreased throughout most of the Gulf of Maine, except for Georges Basin and the Great South Channel. The proportion of overlap in suitable habitat varied interannually but decreased slightly in the spring and remained relatively stable in the fall over the time series. As Gulf of Maine temperatures continue to increase, the interactions between American lobster and cusk are predicted to decline as cusk habitat continues to constrict. This framework can contribute to fisheries managers’ understanding of changes in habitat overlap as climate conditions continue to change and alter where bycatch interactions could occur.

The Development of Habitat Suitability Index Model of Class I Endangered Wildlife, Sedirea japonica - A Case Study of Korea National Park of Dadohaehaesang -

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-172
Author(s):  
Yun-Jin Shim ◽  
Yong-Su Park ◽  
Rae-Ha Jang ◽  
Young-Jun Yoon ◽  
Sun- Ryoung Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
National Park ◽  
Class I ◽  
Habitat Suitability Index ◽  
Index Model ◽  
Suitability Index

Comparison between the biomass and habitat suitability index (HSI) of marine forest forming seaweeds

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-54
Author(s):  
Sung Il Hwang ◽  
Bong Kyun Shin ◽  
Yong Sung Kwak ◽  
Han Gil Choi
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
Habitat Suitability Index ◽  
Suitability Index
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