Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P><SPAN><SPAN>The spatial extent of the Maritimes Region reaches far beyond the Scotian Shelf and Slope, down to ~5100 m depth. Our data observations are limited to depths above ~2900 m. Extrapolation of model predictions to areas outside of the range of data observations where the environmental conditions could be different than those used to train the model, may produce unreliable predictions in those areas. For each random forest model, we highlight those areas within the study extent where model predictions are considered extrapolated.</SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique aggregation of the glass sponge Vazella pourtalesi, first documented in the region in 1889. In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation areas encompass 259 km2. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution of V. pourtalesi on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence-absence records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the highest probability of occurrence of V. pourtalesi in the inner basins on the central Scotian Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels. Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model. Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant concentrations of V. pourtalesi, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over 99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the V. pourtalesi sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures varying by 8°C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability, possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>aggregation of the glass sponge </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Vazella pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, first documented in the region in 1889.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>areas encompass 259 km</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>2</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>absence</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>records. With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>highest probability of occurrence of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>in the inner basins on the central Scotian</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>concentrations of </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>pourtalesi</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>V</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>.</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;">pourtalesi </SPAN><SPAN>sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>varying by 8</SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>˚</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability,</SPAN><SPAN /><SPAN>possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Service Item Id: 3164e822d560470682a83904e59f210c
Copyright Text: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 4A2