multivariate statistical analysis of distribution of deep-water gorgonian corals in relation to seabed topography on the norwegian margin多元统计分析的深水可怕的珊瑚和海底地形分布在挪威.pdfVIP

Multivariate Statistical Analysis of Distribution of Deep- Water Gorgonian Corals in Relation to Seabed Topography on the Norwegian Margin 1 1 1 2 Ruiju Tong *, Autun Purser , Vikram Unnithan , Janine Guinan 1Jacobs University Bremen, Bremen, Germany, 2 INFOMAR, Marine and Geophysics Programme, Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland Abstract Investigating the relationship between deep-water coral distribution and seabed topography is important for understanding the terrain habitat selection of these species and for the development of predictive habitat models. In this study, the distribution of the deep-water gorgonians, Paragorgia arborea and Primnoa resedaeformis, in relation to terrain variables at multiple scales of 30 m, 90 m and 170 m were investigated at Røst Reef, Traena Reef and Sotbakken Reef on the Norwegian margin, with Ecological Niche Factor Analysis applied. To date, there have been few published studies investigating this aspect of gorgonian distribution. A similar correlation between the distribution of P. arborea and P. resedaeformis and each particular terrain variable was found at each study site, but the strength of the correlation between each variable and distribution differed by reef. The terrain variables of bathymetric position index (BPI) and curvature at analysis scales of 90 m or 170 m were most strongly linked to the distribution of both species at the three geographically distinct study sites. Both gorgonian species tended to inhabit local topographic highs across all three sites, particularly at Sotbakken Reef and Traena Reef, with both species observed almost exclusively on such topographic highs. The tendency for observed P. arborea to inhabit ridge crests at