Environmental predictors of habitat suitability and occurrence of cetaceans in the western North Atlantic Ocean.

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to identify the main environmental covariates related to the abundance of 17 cetacean species/groups in the western North Atlantic Ocean based on generalized additive models, to establish a current habitat suitability baseline, and to estimate abundance that incorporates habitat characteristics. Habitat models were developed from dedicated sighting survey data collected by NOAA- Northeast and Southeast Fisheries Science Centers during July 2010 to August 2013. A group of 7 static physiographic characteristics and 9 dynamic environmental covariates were included in the models. For the small cetacean models, the explained deviance ranged from 16% to 69%. For the large whale models, the explained deviance ranged from 32% to 52.5%. Latitude, sea surface temperat

SUBMITTER: Chavez-Rosales S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6456503 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature