Ensemble modelling to predict the distribution of vulnerable marine ecosystems indicator taxa on data‐limited seamounts of Cabo Verde (NW Africa)

作者：Beatriz Vinha, Francisco Javier Murillo, Mia Schumacher, Thor H. Hansteen, Franziska U. Schwarzkopf, Arne Biastoch, Ellen Kenchington, Stefano Piraino, Covadonga Orejas, Veerle A.I. Huvenne · 发表于：Diversity and Distributions · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1111/ddi.13896 · 被引用次数：19 · 研究领域：Species Distribution and Climate Change、Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies、Marine Biology and Ecology Research

Abstract Aim Seamounts are conspicuous geological features with an important ecological role and can be considered vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs). Since many deep‐sea regions remain largely unexplored, investigating the occurrence of VME taxa on seamounts is challenging. Our study aimed to predict the distribution of four cold‐water coral (CWC) taxa, indicators for VMEs, in a region where occurrence data are scarce. Location Seamounts around the Cabo Verde archipelago (NW Africa). Methods We used species presence–absence data obtained from remotely operated vehicle (ROV) footage collected during two research expeditions. Terrain variables calculated using a multiscale approach from a 100‐m‐resolution bathymetry grid, as well as physical oceanographical data from the VIKING20X model, at a native resolution of 1/20°, were used as environmental predictors. Two modelling techniques (generalized additive model and random forest) were employed and single‐model predictions were combined into a final weighted‐average ensemble model. Model performance was validated using different metrics through cross‐validation. Results Terrain orientation, at broad scale, presented one of the highest relative variable contributions to the distribution models of all CWC taxa, suggesting that hydrodynamic–topographic interactions on the seamounts could benefit CWCs by maximizing food supply. However, changes at finer scales in terrain morphology and bottom salinity were important for driving dif...