Modeling Fine-Scale Cetaceans’ Distributions in Oceanic Islands: Madeira Archipelago as a Case Study

• DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2021.688248
• Publication Date: 2021-07-08T09:34:52Z
• Authors: Marc Fernandez; Filipe Alves; Rita Ferreira; Jan-Christopher F...; Paula Thake; Nuno Nunes; Rui Caldeira; Ana Dinis
• Keywords: Archipelago; Environmental niche modelling; Species distribution; Temporal scales

Species distributional estimates are an essential tool to improve and implement effective conservation management measures. Nevertheless, obtaining accurate remains a challenge in many cases, especially when looking at the marine environment, mainly due species mobility habitat dynamism. Ecosystems surrounding oceanic islands highly dynamic constitute key actor on pelagic habitats, congregating biodiversity their vicinity. The main objective of this study was obtain fine-scale spatio-temporal cetaceans islands, such as Madeira archipelago, using long-term opportunistically collected dataset. Ecological Niche Models (ENM) were built cetacean occurrence data on-board commercial whale watching activities environmental from 2003 2018 for 10 with diverse range associations. two different datasets variables temporal spatial resolutions comparison purposes. State-of-the-art techniques used iterate, build evaluate MAXENT models constructed. opportunistic dataset successfully described distribution patterns throughout area considered. Final produce grids average standard deviation suitability monthly estimates. Results provide first (both dimension) archipelago reveal seasonal/annual patterns, thus providing novel insights ecology quantitative better actions.