Small Gorgonians Extrapolated Area

Species distribution modelling using a random forest (RF) machine learning approach was used to predict the probability of occurrence of sponges, sea pens, and large and small gorgonian corals in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region. A suite of 66 environmental predictor variables from different data sources were used. Models utilized catch records from the DFO multispecies trawl surveys, DFO/industry northern shrimp surveys and Spanish groundfish trawl surveys, DFO/industry northern shrimp surveys and Spanish groundfish trawl surveys. Most presece-absence models had good predictive capacity with cross validated Area Under the Reciever Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC) values ranging from 0.786 to 0.926. These models were used in a Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) process to delineate significant areas of cold-water corals and sponges in he Newfoundland and Labrador region. The original dataset can be found here. This data was modified to allow for some analytical capabilities for data viewers and users with ArcGIS Online. Original data presented includes Presence-absence point data: Large Gorgonians Small Gorgonians Seapens Sponges Modified layers include: 'Extrapolated Area' Data: These data are a polygon outline of the 'Extrapolated Area' raster data provided with the source data. Large Gorgonians Extrapolated Area Small Gorgonians Extrapolated Area Seapen Extrapolated Area Sponges Extrapolated Area 'Data Present' Data: These data are a polygon outline of the area that data was present. They were created by converting the 'Extrapolated Area' raster from the original source data to a polygon and erasing the portion that coincided with the 'Extrapolated Area polygon. Large Gorgonians Data Present Small Gorgonians Data Present Seapen Data Present Sponges Data Present 'Data Present' Data: These data are a polygon outline of the area of the 'Presence probability' raster from the original source data. They were created by merging the 'Extrapolated Area' and 'Data Present'. Large Gorgonians Entire Area Small Gorgonians Entire Area Seapen Data Entire Area Sponges Data Entire Area The associated document can be found: https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/40577806.pdf