Vital population rates across multiple spatial scales: A geostatistical analysis
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http://hdl.handle.net/11250/103712Utgivelsesdato
2005Metadata
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Population and community level processes change across multiple spatial scales. Understanding these patterns and the
factors that drive them are essential for the development of spatial approaches in fisheries management. Determining
appropriately-resolved spatial scales is further complicated in temperate marine ecosystems by the generally high
mobility and low site fidelity of temperate species compared to those in tropical reef systems. Spatial variability in per
capita vital population rates (e.g., consumption, mortality, growth, survival) can directly affect the population level
dynamics of managed species. Benthic habitat characteristics also change across spatial dimensions and may contribute
to the differential spatial variability in vital rates. We used a set of bioenergetic equations to compute the daily per
capita rate of consumption and mortality for individual groundfish species. These estimates used data from the US
National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Fisheries Science Center bottom trawls and food habits data sets. A
geographic information system (GIS) was created to map these vital rates at multiple spatial scales. The spatial
variability and spatial independence of vital rates were then explored using geostatistical techniques. Multivariate
statistical approaches were also used to examine how habitat characteristics may be influencing spatial patterns in vital
rates. Our results demonstrate the challenge of evaluating key population processes at the most appropriate spatial
scales. Yet the demonstrated ability to integrate individual, population, and habitat information across multiple spatial
scales should enhance our ability to manage our living marine resources.
Keywords: spatial statistics, consumption, mortality, groundfish, fisheries management, essential fish habitat, NW
Atlantic