Species Distribution Models at Regional Scale: Cymodocea nodosa Seagrasses

Despite their ecological and socio-economic importance, seagrasses are often overlooked in comparison with terrestrial ecosystems. In the Canarian archipelago (Spain), Cymodocea nodosa is the best-established species, sustaining the most important marine ecosystem and providing ecosystem services (E...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Casas, E., Martín-García, Laura, Hernández-Leal, P., Arbelo, M.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2022
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/317790
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/317790
https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14174334
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Medio Marino
Cymodocea nodosa
Centro Oceanográfico de Canarias
Remote sensing
species distribution models
ensemble model
invest
Ecosystem services
monetary assessment
habitat suitability models
Coastal ecosystems
oceanographic variables
fish
remote sensing
maps
access
distribution
Descripción
Sumario:Despite their ecological and socio-economic importance, seagrasses are often overlooked in comparison with terrestrial ecosystems. In the Canarian archipelago (Spain), Cymodocea nodosa is the best-established species, sustaining the most important marine ecosystem and providing ecosystem services (ES) of great relevance. Nevertheless, we lack accurate and standardized information regarding the distribution of this species and its ES supply. As a first step, the use of species distribution models is proposed. Various machine learning algorithms and ensemble model techniques were considered along with freely available remote sensing data to assess Cymodocea nodosa’s potential distribution. In a second step, we used InVEST software to estimate the ES provision by this phanerogam on a regional scale, providing spatially explicit monetary assessments and a habitat degradation characterization due to human impacts. The distribution models presented great predictive capabilities and statistical significance, while the ES estimations were in concordance with previous studies. The proposed methodology is presented as a useful tool for environmental management of important communities sensitive to human activities, such as C. nodosa meadows.