@article{10.3389/fmars.2020.00622,

title = {Current and Future Influence of Environmental Factors on Small Pelagic Fish Distributions in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea},

author = {M. Grazia-Pennino and M. Coll and M. Albo-Puigserver and E. Fern\'{a}ndez-Corredor and J. Steenbeek and A. Gir\'{a}ldez and M. Gonz\'{a}lez and A. Esteban and J. M. Bellido},

url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2020.00622},

doi = {10.3389/fmars.2020.00622},

issn = {2296-7745},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-07-24},

journal = {Frontiers in Marine Science},

volume = {7},

pages = {622},

abstract = {In the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea, the European sardine (Sardina pilchardus) and the European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) are the most important small pelagic fish in terms of biomass and commercial interest. During the last years, these species have experimented changes in their abundance and biomass trends in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea, in addition to changes in growth, reproduction and body condition. These species are particularly sensitive to environmental fluctuations with possible cascading effects as they play a key role in connecting the lower and upper trophic levels of marine food webs. It is therefore essential to understand the factors that most profoundly affect sardine and anchovy dynamics. This study used a two-step approach to understand how the environment influences the adult stages of these species in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea. First, we explored the effects of environmental change over time using Random Forests and available datasets of species occurrence, abundance, biomass and landings. We then applied species distribution models to test the impact of the extreme pessimistic and optimistic Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) pathway scenarios, and to identify possible climate refuges: areas where these species may be able to persist under future environmental change. Findings from the temporal modeling showed mixed effects between environmental variables and for anchovy and sardine datasets. Future pathway projections highlight that both anchovy and sardine will undergo a reduction in their spatial distributions due to future climate conditions. The future climate refuges are the waters around the Rhone River (France) and the Ebro River (Spain) for both species. This study also highlights important knowledge gaps in our understanding of the dynamics of small pelagic fish in the region, which is needed to progress towards an ecosystem approach to fisheries management.},

keywords = {Bayesian model, niche modelling, NW Mediterranean, regional study, small pelagic fish},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{santos_digital_2020,

title = {A Digital Game-Based Simulation Platform for Integrated Marine Spatial Planning: Design Challenges and Technical Innovations},

author = {C. Santos and H. Warmelink and W. Boode and P. de Groot and K. Hutchinson and M. Gon\c{c}alves and J. Steenbeek and I. Mayer},

url = {https://www.thejot.net/article-preview/},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

urldate = {2020-06-19},

journal = {The Journal of Ocean Technology},

volume = {15},

number = {2},

pages = {78--100},

abstract = {The 2014 European Union (EU) Directive on maritime spatial planning (MSP) lays down obligations for the EU member states to establish a maritime planning process, resulting in a maritime spatial plan by March 31, 2021. The EU Directive defines key principles for planning, such as evidence-based and stakeholder-oriented, for which integrative planning support systems (PSS) are needed. The main objective of the research is to contribute to the understanding and innovation of planning support systems through the use of game technology and game principles. The MSP Challenge simulation platform has been designed for participative integrated assessment (PIA) and social learning. The authors present the design and engineering challenges as well as the five innovative technical solutions of the platform: a modular client-server architecture with a Unity-based client; incorporating a large volume and variety of geospatial, marine, and maritime data; interconnecting with the ecosystem modelling platform Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE); interconnecting with simulators for shipping and energy; and providing technical functionalities to set up and moderate highly interactive multi-player game sessions. The authors discuss lessons learned and provide directions for future research and development for both the MSP Challenge simulation platform and maritime planning support systems at large.},

note = {Library Catalog: www.thejot.net},

keywords = {Ecospace, model interoperability, MSP, niche modelling, science-policy interface, serious gaming, software development},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{lewis_employing_2016,

title = {Employing ecosystem models and geographic information systems (GIS) to investigate the response of changing marsh edge on historical biomass of estuarine nekton in Barataria Bay, Louisiana, USA},

author = {K. A. Lewis and K. de Mutsert and J. Steenbeek and H. Peele and J. H. Cowan and J. Buszowski},

url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304380016300059},

doi = {10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2016.01.017},

issn = {0304-3800},

year  = {2016},

date = {2016-01-01},

urldate = {2016-01-01},

journal = {Ecological Modelling},

volume = {331},

number = {Supplement C},

pages = {129--141},

series = {Ecopath 30 years \textendash Modelling ecosystem dynamics: beyond boundaries with EwE},

abstract = {Louisiana's coastal ecosystem has a long historical record of productive fisheries. Even in light of the multiple perturbations experienced in this region, fish and shellfish landings have remained stable or increasing. These disturbances have resulted in many unforeseen ecological consequences; one such consequence is the loss of marsh vegetation in southern Louisiana (LA). Marsh habitats are thought to function as nursery habitats for post-larval and juvenile fishes, providing both refuge from predation and increased foraging opportunities. As the loss of marsh appeared to have a null effect on fish and shellfish yields, there evolved a hypothesis that described a positive effect on nekton production; increasing marsh edge distance during marsh degradation provides a potential short-term increase in marsh access for organisms. Here we used Geographic Information System (GIS) data to determine the patterns of marsh loss over a 10 year period and to create marsh edge maps for further analysis in an ecosystem model. We used the ecosystem model Ecopath with Ecosim and Ecospace (EwE) to determine if a suitable response mechanism between estuarine organisms and marsh edge distance could be developed. The scenario analysis of multiple theoretical response functions showed Ecospace's ability to model changing habitat and environmental variables over time and space. More specifically, while the results of this modeling effort revealed species-specific responses to marsh edge, the association between nekton and marsh edge may not be as tightly coupled as once thought in coastal LA.},

keywords = {Ecospace, fisheries, GIS, GIS, historical changes, land loss, marsh edge, Mississippi, niche modelling},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}