A geospatial layer identifying the likely distribution of whiting (Merlangius merlangus) spawning in the North Sea. The data was generated by Gonzalez-Irusta and Wright in 2017, accounting for environmental influences and density-dependent effects. It uses an 'Index of Persistence' ranging from 0 (never suitable) to 1 (suitable for all study years).
Use Cases
- Modeling marine species habitat suitability based on environmental influences mentioned in the description.
- Analyzing the persistence of spawning grounds over time using the provided Index of Persistence.
- Assessing potential density-dependent effects on fish distribution as referenced in the description.
- Supporting marine spatial planning by identifying key areas for whiting reproduction.
Strengths
- Data is derived from a published scientific study (Gonzalez-Irusta and Wright 2017).
- Includes a defined 'Index of Persistence' metric with clear interpretation (0 to 1).
- Considers multiple factors, including environmental influences and density-dependent effects.
Limitations
- Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
- Row count and spatial resolution are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
- Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.
Provenance
- Source
- Government Digital Service (via eu_open_data platform), based on work by Gonzalez-Irusta and Wright.
- Collection Method
- Generated to identify likely distribution, accounting for environmental influences.
- Geography
- North Sea