Habitat maps for key species in the Murray-Darling Basin

Spatial layers are provided representing predicted habitat quality for several focal species across the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) at 3s resolution (~90 m). The species considered were: river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis); lignum (Duma sp.); royal spoonbill (Platalea regia); straw-necked ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis); Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii); golden perch (Macquaria ambigua), and; shrimp (Macrobrachium australiense, Parataya australiensis, Caridina sp.). The occurrence and habitat quality for these species was modelled by combining spatial environment layers with observations of species occurrence, abundance and physiological condition. The spatial environment layers used included variables that change over time, primarily based on a bimonthly time-series of inundation depth across the MDB, and river flow in 1km segments of major streams, but also including rainfall time-series. The habitat models were projected spatially to produce spatial layers (maps) of predicted habitat quality for each time point (bimonthly or annual) over several decades (1995-2020).\nLineage: Methods\nThe methods used to generate these data are described in full in the supporting file provided (‘MDB_HabitatMaps_Methods’). In summary, spatial environment layers that could potentially help to predict spatiotemporal patterns of occurrence and habitat quality for the focal species across the Murray-Darling Basin were obtained from a variety of sources and aligned to a common 3s resolution (~90 m) spatial grid. These included dynamic water-based predictors available at the basin scale. Biological records for each focal species were obtained from a variety of sources, including from monitoring programs funded by the Murray Darling Basin Authority.\n\nTo model the occurrence and physiological condition for the focal species, boosted regression trees were used, with environmental predictor variables selected through interactive variable selection process. For all species the probability of occurrence was modelled first. Where measures of physiological condition were available, these were also modelled, being conditional on the occurrence probability. The final models of occurrence and physiological condition for each focal species were projected spatially across the Murray Darling Basin, for each two-month period for which the predictor data were available, or each year for the two plant species.\n\nData products\nThe spatial layers of predicted occurrence and physiological condition are provided in a separate folder for each species. Within each species’ folder, there is a sub-folder containing the predicted occurrence probability, and a second subfolder containing the species predicted physiological condition (where available).\n\nAll spatial layers are in GDA94 geographic projection (EPSG:4283) and geotiff format.\n\nFor further information, also see:\nMokany, K., Peel, D., Ponce Reyes, R., Foster, S.D., Stratford, D.S., McGinness, H.M., Zampatti, B., Nicol, S., Freebairn, A.C., McInerney, P.J., Sengupta, A. (2024) Dynamic habitat modelling for water-dependent species in the Murray-Darling Basin. Ecological Indicators, 160, 111801. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.111801