Identification of significant concentrations of sponges in the Gulf of St. Lawrence biogeographic unit using Kernel density estimation (KDE).

This method was applied to create a modelled biomass surface for each taxa and an aerial expansion method was permitted to identify significant concentrations. Only geo-referenced biomass data have been used to identify the “hot spots”. The borders of the areas were refined using knowledge of null catches and species distribution models. Predictive models were produced using a random forest machine-learning technique. For more details, please refer to this report:

Kenchington, E., L. Beazley, C. Lirette, F.J. Murillo, J. Guijarro, V. Wareham, K. Gilkinson, M. Koen Alonso, H. Benoît, H. Bourdages, B. Sainte-Marie, M. Treble, and T. Siferd. 2016. Delineation of Coral and Sponge Significant Benthic Areas in Eastern Canada Using Kernel Density Analyses and Species Distribution Models. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2016/093. vi + 178 p.

http://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/40577806.pdf

The present layer only contains the analysis results for sponges.

Purpose:

As part of the Canada's commitment to the identification and protection of sensitive benthic marine ecosystems, maps of the location of significant concentrations of corals and sponges on the east coast of Canada were produced through quantitative analyses of research vessel trawl survey data, supplemented with other data sources where available. The taxa analyzed are sponges (Porifera), large and small gorgonian corals (Alcyonacea), and sea pens (Pennatulacea). However, only the sponges (Porifera) and sea pens (Pennatulacea) have been considered in the analysis concerning the Gulf of St. Lawrence biogeographic unit.