Modelling suitable estuarine habitats for Zostera noltii, using Ecological Niche Factor Analysis and Bathymetric LiDAR
Modelling suitable estuarine habitats for Zostera noltii, using Ecological Niche Factor Analysis and Bathymetric LiDAR
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DOI：
10.1016/j.ecss.2011.05.031
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发表时间：
2011-08
影响因子：
2.8
通讯作者：
M. Valle;Á. Borja;G. Chust;I. Galparsoro;J. Garmendia
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
M. Valle;Á. Borja;G. Chust;I. Galparsoro;J. Garmendia
预测物种分布和生境适宜性在支持执行环境立法、保护和养护海水以及基于生态系统的管理方面有很大的用处。与其他海草一样，在世界范围内，由于人类的压力，如富营养化和栖息地丧失，褐藻也在减少。在巴斯克地区（西班牙北部），该物种只存在于12个河口中的3个。从文献中可以得知，这些河口中至少有6个以前被这种海草所覆盖。因此，监测和恢复（潜在）生境的努力已得到加强。因此，我们的目标是：(i)以奥卡河口为基础，确定巴斯克河口内解释微孢子虫分布的主要环境变量；（ii）模拟该物种的生境适宜性，作为更广泛适用的海草恢复管理决策工具；（iii）通过内部和外部验证方法评估模型的适用性和预测精度。为此，生态位因子分析（ENFA）已被用于模拟生境适宜性，基于地形变量，从测深光探测和测距（LiDAR）获得；泥沙特征变量；还有流体动力变量。生态因子的边际度为1.00，专门化度为2.59，结果表明：研究区物种生境与平均环境条件存在较大差异；同样，物种在选择它所处的环境范围方面是有限制的。与物种分布有关的主要环境变量，按重要性排序为：平均粒径；氧化还原电位;潮间带的高度;沉积物分类;潮间带斜坡；砾石百分比；有机质含量的百分比。该模型具有较高的预测精度（Boyce指数：0.92）。利用Bidasoa河口独立数据集进行的模型验证表明，该模型在具有相似形态和生物地理特征的其他河口选择适宜移植区域时具有适用性，但也存在局限性。enfa技术与环境预测因子的精确选择相结合，有望成为预测海草生境适宜性的一种有前景的工具，为世界范围内的海草保护和恢复计划提供帮助。
Predicting species distribution and habitat suitability is of considerable use in supporting the implementation of environmental legislation, protection and conservation of marine waters and ecosystem-based management. As other seagrasses, Zosteranoltiihas declined worldwide, mainly due to human pressures, such as eutrophication and habitat loss. In the case of the Basque Country (northern Spain), the species is present only in 3 out of 12 estuaries. From the literature, it is known that at least 6 of these estuaries were formerly vegetated by this seagrass. Consequently, efforts to monitor and restore (potential) habitats have been enhanced. Therefore, we aim: (i) to determine the main environmental variables explainingZostera noltiidistribution, within the Basque estuaries based upon the Oka estuary; (ii) to model habitat suitability for this species, as a wider applicable management-decision tool for seagrass restoration; and (iii) to assess the applicability and predicted accuracy of the model by using internal and external validation methods. For this purpose, Ecological Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA) has been used to model habitat suitability, based upon topographical variables, obtained from bathymetric Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR); sediment characteristics variables; and hydrodynamic variables. The results obtained from the ecological factors of the ENFA (Marginality: 1.00; Specialization: 2.59) indicate that the species habitat differs considerably from the mean environmental conditions over the study area; likewise, that the species is restrictive in the selection of the range of conditions within which it dwells. The main environmental variables relating to the species distribution, in order of importance, are: mean grain size; redox potential; intertidal height; sediment sorting; slope of intertidal flat; percentage of gravels; and percentage of organic matter content. The model has a high predicted accuracy (Boyce index: 0.92). Model validation using an independent dataset in the Bidasoa estuary has shown the applicability but also the limitations in extrapolating the habitat suitability model to select suitable transplantation areas in other estuaries with similar morphological and biogeographical characteristics. ENFA-technique, applied with an accurate selection of environmental predictors, could be a promising tool for predicting seagrass habitat suitability which could assist on seagrass conservation and restoration programs worldwide.