Náttúrulegt birkilendi á Íslandi er kortlagning yfir alla náttúrulega birkiskóga og birkikjarr á Íslandi. Helstu upplýsingar eru hæð, þekja og aldur. Skilið er á milli núverandi hæðar og aldur fullvaxta birkis. Það er gert samkvæmt alþjóðlegum skilgreiningum um hæð trjágróðurs þar sem miðað er við hæð fullvaxta skógar. Birki var fyrst kortlagt á árunum 1972-1975 og var unnin leiðrétting á gögnunum og gerðar frekari greiningar á árunum 1987-1991. Gögnin voru því komin nokkuð til ára sinna þegar ákveðið var að hefja endurkortlagningu á öllu náttúrulegu birki á Íslandi. Fór sú vinna fram á árunum 2010-2014 og er núverandi þekja því afrakstur þeirrar vinnu. Flatarmál náttúrulegs birkis á Íslandi er 150.600 ha. Frá árinu 1987 hefur flatarmál birkis með sjálfsáningu aukist um 9% og nemur 13.000 ha. Gögnin voru upphaflega hugsuð fyrir mælikvarða 1:15.000, hins vegar var talsvert stór hluti landsins kortlagður í mælikvarða 1:5000 – 1:10.000.

Atlantic salmon postsmolts were surveyed via surface trawling during 2001 and 2003. These data were provided to the Coastal Oceanography and Ecosystem Research section of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. These data, and information from subsequent tagging studies were considered to estimate the likelihood of presence of Atlantic salmon within the Area Response Plan regions. Atlantic salmon presence varies seasonally and this spatial information should be used in conjunction with the temporal information in the attribute table. A version of this dataset was created for the National Environmental Emergency Center (NEEC) following their data model and is available for download in the Resources section. Cite this data as: Lazin, G., Hamer, A.,Corrigan, S., Bower, B., and Harvey, C. Data of: Likelihood of presence of Atlantic Salmon in Area Response Planning pilot areas. Published: June 2018. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. Andrews, N.B. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/436cdf90-9d6b-4784-938b-feec48844a67

Likelihood of Presence of Harbour Porpoise in the Bay of Fundy and Port Hawkesbury Area Response Plan. The Coastal Oceanography and Ecosystem Research section (DFO Science) reviewed reported opportunistic whale sightings and local knowledge sources to estimate areas where Harbour Porpoises are seasonally present and delineate these areas. A version of this dataset was created for the National Environmental Emergency Center (NEEC) following their data model and is available for download in the Resources section. Cite this data as: Lazin, G., Hamer, A.,Corrigan, S., Bower, B., and Harvey, C. Data of: Likelihood of Presence of Harbour Porpoise in Area Response Planning Pilot Areas. Published: June 2018. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. Andrews, N.B. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/58ea48ab-f052-48ab-9c18-4353e51b8bea

The National Ecological Framework for Canada's "Surficial Geology by Ecoprovince” dataset contains tables that provide surficial geology information with the ecoprovince framework polygons. It provides codes that characterize surficial geology (unconsolidated geologic materials) and their English and French-language descriptions as well as information about the area and percentage of the polygon that the material occupies.

Description: Spatial information on ecologically important species is needed to support marine spatial planning initiatives in British Columbia’s (BC) marine environment. For data deficient taxa, such as shark species, species distribution models that integrate presence-absence data from different sources can be used to predict their coastwide distributions. Here we provide spatial estimates of the distribution of Blue Shark (Prionace glauca), Salmon Shark (Lamna ditropis), Pacific Sleeper Shark (Somniosus pacificus) and Bluntnose Sixgill Shark (Hexanchus griseus). These estimates were generated using spatial generalized linear mixed effects models and are based on data from two scientific surveys and the commercial hook and line, midwater trawl and bottom trawl fisheries. For each species, we provide predicted probability of occurrence and prediction uncertainty at a 3 km resolution for the British Columbia coast, and parameter estimates for model covariates (depth, slope, year, data source). Results show variable predicted distributions across species, with Blue Shark and Pacific Sleeper Shark showing higher probability of presence along the continental slope, while Salmon Shark show low probability of occurrence coastwide and Bluntnose Sixgill Shark show the highest probability of occurrence in the Strait of Georgia. The results from this study can support ongoing marine spatial planning initiatives in the BC and support the conservation and management of these important species. Methods: Data Sources The species distribution models (SDMs) are based on data from two fishery independent scientific surveys and from the commercial hook and line fishery, which are all conducted within Canadian Pacific waters. The scientific surveys include the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) hard bottom longline surveys and the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) fishery-independent setline survey. The study area is bound by the outer convex hull of these three data sources. Other DFO research surveys, such as the groundfish synoptic bottom trawl surveys, midwater trawl surveys and sablefish trap surveys were investigated as potential data sources, but were found to have insufficient presence observations for the species of interest to warrant their inclusion in the analysis. For more information on the details of the source data please refer to Proudfoot et al. 2024. Modelling Approach and Comparison For each species, we fit a suite of generalized linear mixed effects models (GLMMs) using the sdmTMB package (Anderson et al. 2022). For each species, we fit four models, each with a different set of fixed effects/environmental predictors. Additionally, we compared the predictive power of four models for each species, with each model having a different combination of environmental predictors (i.e., slope, depth, slope + depth, none). A summary of the candidate models is provided in Table 2 of Proudfoot et al. 2024. For each species, we selected the model with the highest predictive accuracy (assessed using the predicted log likelihood based on the cross-validation) as the best fit. Spatial Species Distribution Predictions We made predictions of species occurrence using the selected model and a 3 km resolution spatial prediction grid. Our predictions were made for the entire BC coast, and species distribution predictions were made using models fit to the full dataset, as opposed to models fit using cross-validation. We made predictions with year set to 2014 (the approximate midpoint of the dataset) and type set to IPHC (the dataset with the most even spatial distribution of data points). Uncertainties: Because limited survey and commercial catch data exists for deep areas off the continental shelf, predictions in these areas are likely more uncertain than predictions on the shelf. To illustrate this, uncertainty (standard deviation derived from the 500 simulated values from the joint precision matrix of selected models) was mapped across the full study area for each species. Additionally, because these models are based on data that likely do not span the full spatiotemporal extent of the species’ habitat (i.e., mid depths, surface waters, and data across all seasons may not be captured), these results illustrate a snapshot of occurrence but do not account for more complex migration and movement patterns undertaken by these species.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) conducts an annual summer multidisciplinary scientific survey with a bottom trawl in the Estuary and the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence since 1984. Over the years this survey has been conducted on four vessels: the MV Lady Hammond (1984-1990), the CCGS Alfred Needler (1990-2005), the CCGS Teleost (2004-2022) and the CCGS Cabot (2022-present). It is important to note that the objectives, the methods used and the identification of the species during these surveys have improved over time in response to DFO requests and mandates. The data are therefore not directly comparable between these surveys. However, comparative analyses have been carried out between vessels, and conversion factors are available on request for a number of species. The specificities of the missions onboard the CCGS Teleost are described below. Objectives: 1. Assess groundfish and northern shrimp population abundance and condition 2. Assess environmental conditions 3. Conduct a biodiversity inventory of benthic and demersal megafauna 4. Assess phytoplankton and mesozooplankton abundance 5. Monitor the pelagic ecosystem 6. Inventory marine mammals populations 7. Inventory seabirds populations 8. Collect samples for various research projects Survey description The survey covers the Estuary and the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence, that is the divisions 4R, 4S and the northern part of division 4T of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). Since 2008, coverage of division 4T has been increased in the upstream part of the Lower Estuary in order to sample the depths between 37 and 183 m. A stratified random sampling strategy is used for this survey and the area of the study area is 118,587 km². The fishing gear used on the CCGS Teleost is a four-sided Campelen 1800 shrimp trawl equipped with a Rockhopper footgear (“bicycle”). The trawl lengthening and codend are equipped with a 12.7-mm knotless nylon lining. Standard trawling tows last 15 minutes, starting from the time the trawl touches the sea floor. The target towing speed is 3 knots. Data For each fishing tow, the catch is sorted and weighed by taxa; individuals are then counted and biological data are collected on a subsample. For fish, crab and squid, size and weight are measured by individual and, for some species, sex, gonad maturity, and the weight of certain organs (stomach, liver, gonads) are also evaluated. The soft rays of the anal fin are counted for redfish, and the otoliths are sampled for several species such as Atlantic cod, Atlantic halibut, Greenland halibut, and witch flounder. A roughly 2-kg shrimp sample is sorted and weighed by species (and by stage of maturity for northern shrimp). The shrimps are measured individually. The other invertebrates are counted (no individual measurements) and photographed. The biological data are divided into 4 files: a “Metadata” file containing set information, a “Catches” file containing catches per set for fish taxa, a a “Carbio” file containing biological and morphometric measurements per individual and a “Shrimps” file containing information on shrimp catches. It's important to note that this is raw data. Only set considered successful are retained. In each set, all species are kept, with a few exceptions. For more information please contact the data management team (gddaiss-dmsaisb@dfo-mpo.gc.ca).

The National Ecological Framework for Canada's "Land Cover by Ecoprovince” dataset provides land cover information within the ecoprovince framework polygon. It provides landcover codes and their English and French language description as well as information about the percentage of the polygon that the component occupies.

In place since fall 1994, the sentinel fisheries program is the result of a collaboration between Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and Quebec and Newfoundland commercial fishermen's associations. Under this program, contracts are awarded by tender to fishermen’s associations to carry out fishing activities according to scientific protocols developed by DFO. The main objective of this survey is to collect data that will be used to calculate abundance indices for various fish stocks, including cod, Greenland halibut, Atlantic halibut and rockfish. Description of mobile survey The mobile gear sentinel fisheries of the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence are conducted in the sub-division 3Pn and the divisions 4R, 4S and the northern part of the division 4T of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). This program follows a stratified random survey plan according to depth strata, NAFO divisions and the type of substrate at the bottom. A standard tow is 30 minutes long and made at a speed of 2.5 knots. The fishing gear is a 300 Star Balloon trawl mounted on a Rock Hopper footgear. The trawl mesh size is 145 mm with a liner of 40 mm in the codend. Unless conditions at sea compromise safety during fishing activity, a retaining cable must be used to standardize the horizontal opening between vessels and the various depths fished. Data are collected by observers at sea or by technicians. The data contained in this program are divided into 4 different projects. -The summer series, carried out during the month of July -The fall series, which covers the period from 1995 to 2002 -The winter series, to study the mixing between the different stocks -The CRP (Cod reproductive potential) series, which targets the reproductive potential. Data For each trait, the total catch is sorted and weighed for each species. The number of individuals caught for each unmeasured fish species is noted. Biological data such as length, weight (sampled, per individual, gonad, liver and stomach), age, sex and maturity migth then be collected on a subsample of many species such as Atlantic halibut, Greenland halibut, lumpfish and Atlantic cod, using a variety of protocols. The biological data are divided into 4 files: a “Metadata” file containing set information, a “Catches” file containing catches per set for fish taxa, a “Carbio” file containing biological and morphometric measurements per individual, a “Freql” file containing the length frequency of fish. The data collected as part of this program is available below. It is important to note, however, that 1) only traits deemed successful have been retained; 2) historical data may contain inaccuracies; 3) the most recent survey is not available for validation purposes.

The National Ecological Framework for Canada's "Surficial Geology by Ecozone” dataset contains tables that provide surficial geology information with the ecozone framework polygons. It provides codes that characterize surficial geology (unconsolidated geologic materials) and their English and French-language descriptions as well as information about the area and percentage of the polygon that the material occupies.

The National Ecological Framework for Canada's "Land Cover by Ecodistrict” dataset provides land cover information within the ecodistrict framework polygon. It provides landcover codes and their English and French language description as well as information about the percentage of the polygon that the component occupies.