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A Model Framework For Predicting Reef Fish Distributions Across The Seascape Using Gis Topographic Metrics And Benthic Habitat Associations, Brian K. Walker
A Model Framework For Predicting Reef Fish Distributions Across The Seascape Using Gis Topographic Metrics And Benthic Habitat Associations, Brian K. Walker
Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures
Increased topographic complexity has been linked to increased species diversity and/or abundance in many ecological communities, including coral reefs. Several topographic metrics can be measured remotely in GIS using high resolution bathymetry, including elevation, surface rugosity, and seafloor volume within specified areas. Statistical relationships between these data and organismal distributions within mapped habitats can be used to make predictions across the entire bathymetric dataset. In this study a model framework is presented which utilizes statistically significant relationships between reef fish abundance and species richness and GIS topographic complexity measurements for samples within similar benthic habitats to create GIS-based prediction maps …