| Generalised Linear Models, combined with a Geographic Information System, were used to map the habitats of ten demersal elasmobranch taxa (five skates, four sharks and a stingray) in the eastern English Channel, based on an annual fishery-independent bottom trawl survey conducted each October, and covering 21 years. Habitat models showing mean density levels were developed for the most frequently occurring species, whilst binomial occurrence habitat models were built for less frequent species. The main predictors of elasmobranch habitats in the eastern English Channel were depth, bed shear stress and salinity, followed by seabed sediment type and temperature. Habitat maps highlighted contrasting habitat utilisation across species. Raja clavata, and to a... |
