Bay of Quinte Fish Habitat Suitability Maps for Coolwater Species

Bay of Quinte fish habitat suitability maps model juvenile and adult stages for low vegetation association species in the coolwater guild. The assessment uses a 3-meter grid resolution and a 39-year time series from 1972 to 2011. Suitability values are scaled from 0 to 1 and classified into four categories.

Use Cases

• Train a geospatial model to predict habitat suitability values (0-1) based on depth, vegetation, and substrate variables.
• Analyze temporal changes in maximum suitability classes (very low to high) across the 39-year modeled period for a specific life stage.
• Validate temperature suitability algorithms by comparing modeled outputs with documented habitat associations for coolwater fish species.
• Assess the impact of the 75.0m ASL average water level scenario on habitat suitability for the low vegetation association species.

Strengths

• 39-year temporal coverage from 1972 to 2011 provides a long-term ecological perspective.
• High-resolution geospatial modeling at a 3-meter grid resolution for detailed habitat assessment.
• Suitability values are precisely scaled from 0 to 1 and categorized into four distinct classes (very low, low, medium, high).
• Model incorporates three key habitat variables: depth, vegetation, and substrate, modified by temperature suitabilities.

Limitations

• Data is limited to a single water level scenario (Average Water Level at 75.0m ASL) and a specific species guild (Coolwater, Low Vegetation Association).
• The dataset represents modeled outputs, not direct field observations, and may contain algorithmic uncertainties.
• Sample data and specific column structure are unavailable, complicating immediate programmatic analysis.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Collection Method

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

Time Range

1972 to 2011

Freshness

Last updated March 24, 2026.

Geography

Bay of Quinte Area of Concern, Canada