Modelling the effects of marine aggregate extraction on benthic assemblages
In: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Cambridge University Press/Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom: Cambridge. ISSN 0025-3154; e-ISSN 1469-7769, more
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Keywords |
Abundance Aquatic communities > Benthos Species diversity Marine/Coastal |
Author keywords |
species richness and abundance; impact surveys; spatial point processes;Matern cluster process; maximum likelihood; dredging; marine aggregateextraction; benthic assemblage |
Authors | | Top |
- Barry, J.
- Boyd, S.
- Fryer, R.
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Abstract |
This paper develops models of the initial impact of marine aggregate extraction on a benthic assemblage. We predict the effect of dredging on species numbers and abundance assuming spatial randomness of individuals. We extend the model to allow for spatial clustering of individuals using a Matern process. Data from a controlled field experiment are used to develop a framework for estimating species reduction. This involves modelling the spatial pattern of individuals before dredging using a Matern process, the impact of dredging at an individual level, and the probability that a species is not seen in a post-dredging survey. The framework was used to estimate that, of the 41 species that were seen in a pre-dredging survey but not in a post-dredging survey, between 0 and 14 were eliminated (with 95% likelihood) rather than escaped detection. The most likely number eliminated was 4. |
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