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Shetland’s marine environment, a diverse ecosystem, is important for various habitats and species. This report presents the results of a habitat distribution model developed for Shetlands inshore marine environment (MLWS to 12nm offshore), providing detailed potential biotope distribution information. These results provide the foundational work for...
Citations
... It can also be used to help predict future changes in blue carbon habitats under various scenarios, such as climate change, pollution, and management efforts. UHI Shetland has recently completed work on creating a high resolution map of the modelled distribution of the dominant marine habitats within Shetland's 12nm limit for this purpose 25 (Figure 2). ...
Key Messages
- Informed marine management is essential for leveraging blue carbon as a nature-based climate solution.
- Accurate mapping is crucial for identifying hotspots, guiding conservation efforts, and integrating blue carbon into marine management strategies.
- Modelling can help predict changes and inform restoration strategies.
- Local management measures in Shetland, such as closed areas, protect sensitive habitats and support blue carbon storage.
- Restoration efforts can enhance carbon sequestration and biodiversity support.
- Human activities and climate change pose threats like physical disturbance, ocean acidification, and warming.
- Mapping blue carbon facilitates informed marine management, contributing to global climate goals and coastal environment conservation.
... Distribution Models (DMs) over the years, have solidified their position in marine management, including to recently analyse marine biotopes (Rubanschi et al., 2023), including a recent comprehensive marine assessment within the Shetland Islands (Riley, Shucksmith and Mouat, 2024). Their predictive ability offers invaluable insights into potential habitat distributions, subsequently guiding relevant management directives (de la Torriente et al., 2019). ...
Positioned between the Orkney and Shetland archipelagos in the North Atlantic, the Fair Isle Demonstration and Research Marine Protected Area (DR MPA) plays a crucial role in marine management and conservation efforts. Designated under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, it offers a unique opportunity for innovative marine management strategies, focusing on sustainability, conservation, and ecotourism. Limited knowledge exists about the benthic habitats, identified as a research priority in the Fair Isle DR MPA Winter 2020/21 stakeholder consultation. This report focuses on modelling the potential benthic habitat composition within the Fair Isle DR MPA, with an emphasis on Priority Marine Features (PMFs).
Utilising Distribution Models (DMs), this study aims to address this knowledge gap by analysing biotopes with environmental data, providing a baseline for future research, and marine management initiatives. The analysis covers 28 distinct biotope groups, including PMFs, revealing their potential distribution within the Fair Isle DR MPA.
The DMs, employing MaxEnt, demonstrated robust predictive accuracy, as evidenced by high Area Under the Curve (AUC) values during validation. Eleven biotope groups and five PMF-focused subgroups were modelled within the Fair Isle DR MPA, showcasing the efficacy of DMs in delineating potential habitat distributions.
Despite the success of DMs in predicting habitat distributions, the scarcity of biotope records within the designated area underscores the need for expanded data collection efforts within the Fair Isle DR MPA. The report recommends dedicated biotope surveys, long-term monitoring, species-specific studies, and community engagement to enhance our understanding of the marine ecosystem and inform adaptive management strategies.
While the DMs provide a robust starting point, ongoing research efforts are crucial for advancing our understanding of the Fair Isle DR MPA marine environment. This study highlights the importance of localised biotope data for precise mapping and emphasises the need for comprehensive research to foster informed and sustainable marine management practices.
