Spatial Transferability of Habitat Suitability Models of Nephrops norvegicus among Fished Areas in the Northeast Atlantic: Sufficiently Stable for Marine Resource Conservation?

摘要: Knowledge of the spatial distribution and habitat associations species in relation to environment is essential for their management conservation. Habitat suitability models are useful quantifying species-environment relationships predicting patterns. Little known, however, about stability performance when projected into new areas (spatial transferability) how this can inform resource management. The aims study were model Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) five fished Northeast Atlantic (Aran ground, Irish Sea, Celtic Scotland Inshore Fladen ground), test transferability among multiple regions. Nephrops burrow density was modelled using generalised additive (GAMs) with predictors selected from four environmental variables (depth, slope, sediment rugosity). Models evaluated tested areas. optimum (lowest AICc) different always included depth as predictors. Burrow densities generally greater at finer sediments, but individual sometimes more complex. Aside an inclusion sediment, differed between When it came tests transferability, most able predict other Furthermore, not dependent on use since competing also achieve a similar level A degree decoupling ‘fitting’ supports simpler extrapolating maps Differences form may supply further information processes shaping species’ distributions. Spatial be used support fishery scarce caution needs applied making inference multi-area analysis preferable bilateral comparisons