GIS-based multi-criteria analysis of breeding habitats for recolonising species: New Zealand sea lions
MacMillan, Hamish, Moore, Antoni, Augé, Amélie A., and Chilvers, B. Louise (2016) GIS-based multi-criteria analysis of breeding habitats for recolonising species: New Zealand sea lions. Ocean and Coastal Management, 130. pp. 162-171.
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Abstract
The New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) is a threatened endemic species, with only three breeding colonies in the sub-Antarctic islands. Since 1993, there has been evidence for recolonisation of mainland New Zealand. Yet the coast that the sea lion has returned to only has fragmented and unevenly distributed potential habitats due to coastal urbanisation and development. Therefore, the need to identify and protect potential breeding habitats for recolonisation is a priority for management.A GIS-based multi-criteria analysis was used to identify potential suitable habitats for a 1600 km length of the NZ South Island coast based on distance to anthropogenic disturbance (urban areas, roads), distance to desirable environmental features (beaches, estuaries) and presence of suitable habitat/land access. From this model, we identified preliminary suitable habitat for breeding sites on the Otago Peninsula (east coast) and Catlins Coast (south). We independently detected some of the current dominant areas used by recolonising sea lions as well as identifying some promising new sites.We discuss the limitation of the results of this case study and the need for further data to be added to the model in the face of limited data availability. Overcoming this data limitation will meet an increasing need for a New Zealand-wide study for determining potential habitat for NZ sea lions. The results of such a study would identify areas to allow real-world management (protection or restoration) of the limited potential breeding sites for New Zealand sea lions. This new method could also be used for other recolonising species and encourage management of areas most likely to be recolonized by them.
| Item ID: | 49217 |
|---|---|
| Item Type: | Article (Research - C1) |
| ISSN: | 0964-5691 |
| Keywords: | spatial analysis; environmental management; Phocarctos hookeri; analytical hierarchy process; geographic information systems; habitat suitability |
| Funders: | New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC), Otago University, New Zealand |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Jun 2017 00:02 |
| FoR Codes: | 31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310307 Population ecology @ 50% 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410407 Wildlife and habitat management @ 50% |
| SEO Codes: | 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960503 Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Coastal and Estuarine Environments @ 50% 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9613 Remnant Vegetation and Protected Conservation Areas > 961301 Protected Conservation Areas in Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Environments @ 50% |
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