Modeling the Probability of Overlap Between Marine Fish Distributions and Marine Renewable Energy Infrastructure Using Acoustic Telemetry Data

Understanding the spatiotemporal distributions of migratory marine species at marine renewable energy sites is a crucial step towards assessing the potential impacts of tidal stream turbines and related infrastructure upon these species. However, the dynamic marine conditions that make tidal channel...

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Main Authors: Charles W. Bangley, Daniel J. Hasselman, Joanna Mills Flemming, Fredrick G. Whoriskey, Joel Culina, Lilli Enders, Rod G. Bradford
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Marine Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.851757/full
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author Charles W. Bangley
Daniel J. Hasselman
Joanna Mills Flemming
Fredrick G. Whoriskey
Joel Culina
Lilli Enders
Rod G. Bradford
author_facet Charles W. Bangley
Daniel J. Hasselman
Joanna Mills Flemming
Fredrick G. Whoriskey
Joel Culina
Lilli Enders
Rod G. Bradford
author_sort Charles W. Bangley
collection DOAJ
description Understanding the spatiotemporal distributions of migratory marine species at marine renewable energy sites is a crucial step towards assessing the potential impacts of tidal stream turbines and related infrastructure upon these species. However, the dynamic marine conditions that make tidal channels attractive for marine renewable power development also make it difficult to identify and follow species of marine fishes with existing technologies such as hydroacoustics and optical cameras. Acoustic telemetry can resolve some of these problems. Acoustic tags provide unique individual ID codes at an ultrasonic frequency, which are then detected and recorded by acoustic receivers deployed in the area of interest. By matching detection locations of fish species with environmental conditions at proposed sites for tidal energy infrastructure, species distribution models can be developed to predict the probability of species occurrence at sites of current and planned tidal power development. This information can be used to develop statistically robust encounter rate models to aid in quantifying the risk of tidal power development to migratory fish species. We used this approach to develop a predictive model of striped bass (Morone saxatilis) distribution within Minas Passage in the upper Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia. Model results suggested increased probability of striped bass presence in Minas Passage during late ebb tide conditions and at relatively high water temperatures. We demonstrate the potential utility of species distribution modeling of acoustic tag detections in predicting interactions with renewable energy infrastructure, and show the importance of physical oceanographic variables influencing species distributions in a highly dynamic marine environment.
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spelling doaj.art-124aa03bbc7542b2b31a5ae45233bbf82022-12-22T02:07:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452022-07-01910.3389/fmars.2022.851757851757Modeling the Probability of Overlap Between Marine Fish Distributions and Marine Renewable Energy Infrastructure Using Acoustic Telemetry DataCharles W. Bangley0Daniel J. Hasselman1Joanna Mills Flemming2Fredrick G. Whoriskey3Joel Culina4Lilli Enders5Rod G. Bradford6Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, CanadaFundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy, Dartmouth, NS, CanadaDepartment of Mathematics and Statistics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, CanadaOcean Tracking Network, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, CanadaFundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy, Dartmouth, NS, CanadaAcadia University, Wolfville, NS, CanadaBedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, NS, CanadaUnderstanding the spatiotemporal distributions of migratory marine species at marine renewable energy sites is a crucial step towards assessing the potential impacts of tidal stream turbines and related infrastructure upon these species. However, the dynamic marine conditions that make tidal channels attractive for marine renewable power development also make it difficult to identify and follow species of marine fishes with existing technologies such as hydroacoustics and optical cameras. Acoustic telemetry can resolve some of these problems. Acoustic tags provide unique individual ID codes at an ultrasonic frequency, which are then detected and recorded by acoustic receivers deployed in the area of interest. By matching detection locations of fish species with environmental conditions at proposed sites for tidal energy infrastructure, species distribution models can be developed to predict the probability of species occurrence at sites of current and planned tidal power development. This information can be used to develop statistically robust encounter rate models to aid in quantifying the risk of tidal power development to migratory fish species. We used this approach to develop a predictive model of striped bass (Morone saxatilis) distribution within Minas Passage in the upper Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia. Model results suggested increased probability of striped bass presence in Minas Passage during late ebb tide conditions and at relatively high water temperatures. We demonstrate the potential utility of species distribution modeling of acoustic tag detections in predicting interactions with renewable energy infrastructure, and show the importance of physical oceanographic variables influencing species distributions in a highly dynamic marine environment.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.851757/fullspecies distribution analysistidal stream energy impactacoustic telemetryminas passageboosted regression tree (BRT) modelsstriped bass (Morone saxatilis)
spellingShingle Charles W. Bangley
Daniel J. Hasselman
Joanna Mills Flemming
Fredrick G. Whoriskey
Joel Culina
Lilli Enders
Rod G. Bradford
Modeling the Probability of Overlap Between Marine Fish Distributions and Marine Renewable Energy Infrastructure Using Acoustic Telemetry Data
Frontiers in Marine Science
species distribution analysis
tidal stream energy impact
acoustic telemetry
minas passage
boosted regression tree (BRT) models
striped bass (Morone saxatilis)
title Modeling the Probability of Overlap Between Marine Fish Distributions and Marine Renewable Energy Infrastructure Using Acoustic Telemetry Data
title_full Modeling the Probability of Overlap Between Marine Fish Distributions and Marine Renewable Energy Infrastructure Using Acoustic Telemetry Data
title_fullStr Modeling the Probability of Overlap Between Marine Fish Distributions and Marine Renewable Energy Infrastructure Using Acoustic Telemetry Data
title_full_unstemmed Modeling the Probability of Overlap Between Marine Fish Distributions and Marine Renewable Energy Infrastructure Using Acoustic Telemetry Data
title_short Modeling the Probability of Overlap Between Marine Fish Distributions and Marine Renewable Energy Infrastructure Using Acoustic Telemetry Data
title_sort modeling the probability of overlap between marine fish distributions and marine renewable energy infrastructure using acoustic telemetry data
topic species distribution analysis
tidal stream energy impact
acoustic telemetry
minas passage
boosted regression tree (BRT) models
striped bass (Morone saxatilis)
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.851757/full
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