Tools for modelling species distributions using marine mammal data from Seaquest Southwest recording scheme
Baker, D.J. (2024). Tools for modelling species distributions using marine mammal data from Seaquest Southwest recording scheme. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/1b9a9a48-0402-4839-9e8a-3d8c4bc35154
This package contains a number of functions required to predict spatial patterns of encounter rate, the probability of encountering the species on a survey visit under specified conditions, around the south west (Cornwall) coast.
Code supplied here can be used to analyse data collected by the Seaquest Southwest monitoring scheme organised by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust. The data is not included in the package but can be requested https://erccis.org.uk/requesting-data and the code here can be used to model encounter rates for Common Dolphin, Grey Seal, and Harbour Porpoise using a variety of methods, including calibrated Random Forest models. Data may also be adequate for modelling encounter rates for Bottlenose Dolphin and Basking Shark, although further investigation is required. The package contains all the code necessary to process the species and environmental data, run models and plot results.
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre