Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2017
DOI
10.1002/eap.1610
Publication Title
Ecological Applications
Volume
27
Issue
7
Pages
1-17
Abstract
The ocean is a dynamic environment inhabited by a diverse array of highly migratory species, many of which are under direct exploitation in targeted fisheries. The timescales of variability in the marine realm coupled with the extreme mobility of ocean-wandering species such as tuna and billfish complicates fisheries management. Developing ecoinformatics solutions that allow for near real-time prediction of the distributions of highly mobile marine species is an important step towards the maturation of dynamic ocean management and ecological forecasting. Using 25 years (1990-2014) of NOAA fisheries' observer data from the California drift gillnet fishery, we model relative probability of occurrence (presence-absence) and catchability (total catch) of broadbill swordfish Xiphias gladius in the California Current System (CCS). Using freely-available environmental datasets and open source software, we explore the physical drivers of regional swordfish distribution. Comparing models built upon remotely-sensed datasets with those built upon a data-assimilative configuration of the Regional Ocean Modelling System (ROMS), we explore trade-offs in model construction and address how physical data can affect predictive performance and operational capacity. Swordfish catchability was found to be highest in deeper waters (>1500m) with surface temperatures in the 14-20 degrees C range, isothermal layer depth (ILD) of 20-40m, positive sea surface height anomalies and during the new moon (
Rights
Copyright by the Ecological Society of America.
Original Publication Citation
Scales, K. L., Hazen, E. L., Maxwell, S. M., Dewar, H., Kohin, S., Jacox, M. G., . . . Bograd, S. J. (2017). Fit to predict? Ecoinformatics for predicting the catchability of a pelagic fish in near real-time. Ecological Applications, 27(7), 1-17. doi:10.1002/eap.1610
Repository Citation
Scales, Kylie L.; Hazen, Elliot L.; Maxwell, Sara M.; Dewar, Heidi; Kohin, Suzanne; Jacox, Michael G.; Edwards, Christopher A.; Briscoe, Dana K.; Crowder, Larry B.; Lewison, Rebecca L.; and Bograd, Steven J., "Fit to Predict? Ecoinformatics for Predicting the Catchability of a Pelagic Fish in Near Real-Time" (2017). Biological Sciences Faculty Publications. 219.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/biology_fac_pubs/219
ORCID
0000-0002-4425-9378 (Maxwell)