Michael Davenport

Map Information:

Map Title:
Predicted Habitat Sustainability of Two Whale Species off the Mid-Atlantic US

Name(s) of Author(s):
Michael Davenport

Organization:
NJDEP, Fish and Wildlife, Endangered and Non-game Species Program

Email Address:
Michael.Davenport@dep.state.nj.us

Telephone Number:
609-292-3795

Software Used to Make Map:
ArcView 9.1, Biomapper 3.1

Platform on Which
Software Was Used:
Windows XP

Plotter Used to Print Map:
HP DesignJet 1055CM

Data Sources:

Duke University’s OBIS – Seamap website, Bureau of Land Management, Canadian Wildlife Service, Univ. of North Carolina at Wilmington, Univ. of Rhode Island, NASA Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center, NOAA ETOPO2 Database, Hirzel, A., Hausser, J., Perrin, N. Biomapper 3.1 Lausanne Lab for Conservation Biology - 2002

Map Description:

For several endangered whale species, NJ’s marine environment lies between the feeding or summer habitat in the north and the breeding or winter habitat in the south. Habitat usage of whales in NJ waters is poorly understood, but it is believed that the Mid-Atlantic continental shelf is an important migration corridor, particularly for coastal species such as the humpback whale and northern right whale. The goal of this pilot project was to use whale-sighting data to categorize the biological and physical characteristics of known whale habitat in order to predict likely areas of as-yet unknown habitat. The method for creating the predictive habitat maps was to overlay the sighting data with 3 ecogeographical variables (sea surface temperature, bathymetry, and slope) in order to predict core habitat areas within the Mid-Atlantic coastal region. Habitat suitability maps were produced using Biomapper, a GIS and statistical tool-kit developed for carrying out Ecological-Niche Factor Analysis by comparing a species’ distribution with a number of given ecogeographical variables. This poster was developed based on a Powerpoint presentation given to Endangered and Nongame Species Program (“ENSP”) staff in September 2005 and then displayed in poster format at the ENSP Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Workshop in April 2006.

Map Title:	Predicted Habitat Sustainability of Two Whale Species off the Mid-Atlantic US
Name(s) of Author(s):	Michael Davenport
Organization:	NJDEP, Fish and Wildlife, Endangered and Non-game Species Program
Email Address:	Michael.Davenport@dep.state.nj.us
Telephone Number:	609-292-3795
Software Used to Make Map:	ArcView 9.1, Biomapper 3.1
Platform on Which Software Was Used:	Windows XP
Plotter Used to Print Map:	HP DesignJet 1055CM
Data Sources:	Duke University’s OBIS – Seamap website, Bureau of Land Management, Canadian Wildlife Service, Univ. of North Carolina at Wilmington, Univ. of Rhode Island, NASA Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center, NOAA ETOPO2 Database, Hirzel, A., Hausser, J., Perrin, N. Biomapper 3.1 Lausanne Lab for Conservation Biology - 2002
Map Description:	For several endangered whale species, NJ’s marine environment lies between the feeding or summer habitat in the north and the breeding or winter habitat in the south. Habitat usage of whales in NJ waters is poorly understood, but it is believed that the Mid-Atlantic continental shelf is an important migration corridor, particularly for coastal species such as the humpback whale and northern right whale. The goal of this pilot project was to use whale-sighting data to categorize the biological and physical characteristics of known whale habitat in order to predict likely areas of as-yet unknown habitat. The method for creating the predictive habitat maps was to overlay the sighting data with 3 ecogeographical variables (sea surface temperature, bathymetry, and slope) in order to predict core habitat areas within the Mid-Atlantic coastal region. Habitat suitability maps were produced using Biomapper, a GIS and statistical tool-kit developed for carrying out Ecological-Niche Factor Analysis by comparing a species’ distribution with a number of given ecogeographical variables. This poster was developed based on a Powerpoint presentation given to Endangered and Nongame Species Program (“ENSP”) staff in September 2005 and then displayed in poster format at the ENSP Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Workshop in April 2006.