Case study: season 2018

 

Observed conditions

The first row shows average SST (°C) in each month of the season (December-March), the second row shows the SST anomaly (°C) compared to the average SST for that month over the 20-year period 1995-2014, and the third row shows average chlorophyll a (mg/m3). The number in the top right corner gives the mean over the whole area. The dark grey, black and light grey lines indicate the 100 m, 200 m and 1000 m depth contours.

Case study observed

 

 

Habitat preferences

The maps below show areas of preferred habitat for SBT of age 2 and age 3-4 in each month of the season (December-March), based on habitat models using only SST and using SST and chlorophyll combined (SST+CHL). Keep in mind that even in areas where preference values are < 1, fish may still be present, but we expect them to be in lower abundance.

Sightings of SBT from commercial spotting operations (COM) are overlaid to help evaluate model performance, with symbol size proportional to total biomass of the sighting. For the age 2 preference maps, only sightings with fish estimated to be <15 kg on average (mostly age 2) are included. For the age 3-4 preference maps, only sightings with fish estimated to be ≥15 kg on average (mostly age 3-4) are included. If the size of fish was not recorded, the sighting is still included but indicated with a '?' in the figure legend.

*Note that the scientific aerial survey ceased after 2017.

 

Age 2 preferences

  • SST only
  • Case study 2018 prefs

     

  • SST + CHL
  • Case study 2018 prefs

     

     

    Age 3-4 preferences

  • SST only
  • Case study 2018 prefs

     

  • SST + CHL
  • Case study 2018 prefs

     

     

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