Estuarine Fish Habitat Assessment and Winter Flounder Pilot Study
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Estuarine Fish Habitat Assessment: A General Framework and Winter Flounder Pilot Studies
Additional Resources
Fish Habitat Decision Support Tool website
A similar analysis process was used to conduct an assessment of Chesapeake Bay Watershed Brook Trout Habitat and Climate Change Vulnerability. Go to the product page.
Technical description
This document describes the process used to create a modeling framework for these assessments, details of the habitat assessments, and a discussion of the lessons learned that may aid future similar efforts. We created models with predictive accuracy similar to other estuarine predictive habitat models. We also found that the relationships between habitat and winter flounder described by our predictive models were generally corroborated by previous literature. We also note the limitations of each model and suggest possibilities for overcoming these in future efforts.
The data and modeling results from this assessment were incorporated into a web-based decision support tool. This tool enables users to visualize and download data and model outputs and establish conservation priorities based on user-defined ranking criteria. Combined, the modeling results contained within this report along with the publically accessible web application will improve public awareness of conditions of the modeled estuaries and empower resource managers to implement scientifically-defensible conservation actions.
Project Contact(s):
Fritz Boettner, Downstream Strategies
LCC Staff Contact(s):
Scott Schwenk, Science Coordinator
PROJECT PAGE:
| Resource Type: | Fish |
|---|---|
| Conservation Targets: | Coastal and Marine, Freshwater aquatic |
| Conservation Framework: | Assumption-based Research |
| Threats/Stressors: | Climate Change |
| Conservation Action: | Habitat and natural process restoration, Site/area management, Species management |
