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RUcore Resource Object
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TitleImproving models of covariation between marine communities and their habitats by incorporating pelagic features captured by coastal ocean observatories
NamePalamara, Laura Jean (author), Kohut, Joshua (chair), Fuchs, Heidi (internal member), Manderson, John (outside member), Oliver, Matthew (outside member), Rutgers University, Graduate School - New Brunswick,
Degree Date2011-05
Date Created2011
SubjectOceanography,
Fisheries--Climatic factors,
Fishes--Effect of habitat modification on,
Habitat (Ecology)--Modification
DescriptionFisheries habitats are spatially and temporally variable in the Mid-Atlantic Bight. Therefore, understanding how fisheries species respond to habitat change is important for developing effective management strategies. In this study, we use canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) to determine which habitat variables are most important in explaining variation in fish and invertebrate communities sampled using bottom trawls. Using partial CCA we also quantify the relative explanatory power of benthic factors, pelagic factors measured in situ, and pelagic factors measured remotely for describing species variability. Results show that pelagic habitat factors are as important as benthic habitat factors in determining species distributions, and that remote sensing can accurately represent many characteristics of fisheries habitats. Cross-shore and seasonal variation in environmental variables were the major predictors of fisheries habitats, accounting for 71.3% of the total explained community variation. We generated seasonal spatial maps for these key gradients and fit response curves for 6 species along each gradient. Future possibilities for fisheries management are discussed.
NoteM.S.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
Noteby Laura Jean Palamara
Genretheses
Persistent URLhttp://hdl.rutgers.edu/1782.1/rucore10001600001.ETD.000061392
Languageeng
CollectionGraduate School - New Brunswick Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.