engleski

Habitat suitability modeling for sardine in a highly diverse ecosystem: the Mediterranean Sea.

Information integrated from different parts of the Mediterranean was used in order to model the spatial and temporal variability of the distribution grounds of sardine. Acoustic data as recorded with a 38 kHz split beam echosounder from the Aegean Sea (Eastern Mediterranean), the Adriatic Sea (Central Mediterranean), the Sicily Channel (Central Mediterranean) and the Spanish waters (Western Mediterranean) have been analyzed along with satellite environmental and bathymetry data to model the spatial distribution of sardine during summer, autumn and early winter. Similarly, egg distribution data from the Spanish waters were used to model the potential spawning habitat of sardine during early winter. Satellite data were used as proxies to infer spatial variations of environmental factors and assess possible ecological relationships. Generalized Additive Models were applied in a presence/absence approach. Model results were evaluated based on the estimation of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves. The environmental factors that were considered to affect sardine habitat during the different periods of year were identified and discussed. Selected model was subsequently used in order to identify those regions within the entire Mediterranean basin having the higher probability of supporting sardine’s presence. Habitat suitability maps were produced for the entire Mediterranean basin for each year and period indicating suitable areas for sardine’s habitat. The temporal stability of these areas was also examined. The usefulness of such habitat suitability maps in environmental research and fisheries management in a highly diverse environment like the Mediterranean are discussed.

Small pelagics; sardine; habitat suitability modeling; Mediterranean Sea

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