Bay of Quinte Coldwater Fish Habitat Suitability Model (1972-2011)

Habitat suitability maps for juvenile and adult coldwater fish associated with low vegetation in the Bay of Quinte, Canada. The model uses a 3-meter grid resolution and assesses suitability from 0 to 1 across a 39-year period from 1972 to 2011. It was produced by Fisheries and Oceans Canada using the Habitat Ecosystem Assessment Tool (HEAT), incorporating depth, vegetation, substrate, and temperature variables.

Use Cases

• Analyze spatial patterns of habitat suitability values (0-1) for low-vegetation-associated coldwater fish to identify priority conservation areas.
• Model changes in habitat suitability classes (very low, low, medium, high) over the 39-year period (1972-2011) to assess long-term ecological trends.
• Integrate modeled depth, vegetation, and substrate variables with temperature suitabilities to validate or refine species distribution models.
• Use the 3-meter grid resolution geospatial data to plan habitat restoration projects targeting juvenile and adult life stages of coldwater guild species.

Strengths

• Model covers a 39-year time series from 1972 to 2011, enabling long-term trend analysis.
• Spatial analysis is performed at a high 3-meter grid resolution for detailed habitat mapping.
• Data incorporates multiple ecological variables: depth, vegetation, substrate, and temperature suitabilities.
• Suitability is quantified on a standardized 0 to 1 scale and classified into four distinct classes.

Limitations

• Data is specific to a single geographic area (Bay of Quinte) and a single fish guild (coldwater), limiting generalizability.
• Model outputs are based on documented associations and algorithms; ground-truth validation for all grid cells is not confirmed.
• The dataset focuses on a specific life stage (juvenile/adult) and vegetation association (low), not the full species lifecycle.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Collection Method

Modeled using the Habitat Ecosystem Assessment Tool (HEAT), temperature algorithms, vegetation models, and water level inputs.

Time Range

1972 to 2011

Freshness

Model period ends in 2011; last metadata update recorded in 2026.

Geography

Bay of Quinte Area of Concern, Canada