Predictions from harbor porpoise habitat association models are confirmed by long-term passive acoustic monitoring.

摘要: Survey based habitat association models provide good spatial coverage, but only a snapshot in time of species' occurrence particular area. A model for harbor porpoises was created using data from five visual surveys the Moray Firth, Scotland. Its predictions were tested over broader temporal scales static passive acoustic loggers, deployed two consecutive years. Predictions relative abundance (individuals per kilometer survey transect) obtained each 4 km × 4 km grid cell, and compared with median number hours day that acoustically detected those cells. There significant, weak, correlation between predicted estimates occurrence, this stronger when high standard errors omitted. When cells grouped into low, medium, abundance, there similarly significant differences detections, indicating more often where higher numbers. The integration added value to interpretation results each, allowing validation patterns recorded during longer scales.