Kernel density analyses of coral and sponge catches from research vessel survey data for use in identification of significant benthic areas / by E. Kenchington … [et al.].: Fs97-6/3167E-PDF

Kernel density estimation (KDE) utilizes spatially explicit data to model the distribution of a variable of interest. It is a simple non-parametric neighbour-based smoothing function that relies on few assumptions about the structure of the observed data. It has been used in ecology to identify hotspots, that is, areas of relatively high biomass/abundance, and in 2010 was used by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to delineate significant concentrations of corals and sponges. The same approach has been used successfully in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Regulatory Area. Here, we update the previous analyses with the catch records from up to 5 additional years of trawl survey data from Eastern Canada, including the Gulf of St. Lawrence. We applied kernel density estimation to create a modelled biomass surface for each of sponges, small and large gorgonian corals, and sea pens, and applied an aerial expansion method to identify significant concentrations of these taxa. We compared our results to those obtained previously and provided maps of significant concentrations as well as point data co-ordinates for catches above the threshold values used to construct the significant area polygons. The borders of the polygons can be refined using knowledge of null catches and species distribution models of species presence/absence and/or biomass.

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Publication information
Department/Agency Canada. Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Title Kernel density analyses of coral and sponge catches from research vessel survey data for use in identification of significant benthic areas / by E. Kenchington … [et al.].
Variant title Title at head of French abstract: Analyses des noyaux de densité des prises de coraux et d’éponges à partir des données des relevés par navire de recherche aux fins d’utilisation dans la détermination de zones benthiques importantes
Series title Canadian technical report of fisheries and aquatic sciences, 1488-5379 ; 3167
Publication type Series - View Master Record
Language [English]
Format Electronic
Electronic document
Note(s) Includes bibliographical references (p. 200-202).
Publishing information [Ottawa] : Fisheries and Oceans Canada, c2016.
Author / Contributor Kenchington, E., 1959-
Description viii, 207 p. : ill.
ISBN 978-0-660-05286-1
Catalogue number
  • Fs97-6/3167E-PDF
Subject terms Aquatic ecosystems
Aquatic wildlife
Biomass
Modelling
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