The role of simulated wave-height in predictions of benthic species distributions

Wave exposure is one of the most important structuring factors for benthic species in the Baltic Sea. In the present study the importance of including wave-height as an input layer in models of spatial distribution of macroalgal and fish species was evaluated for a group of offshore banks in the southern Bothnian Sea. The wave heights were simulated at 25 m-resolution with the steady-state spectral wave model STWAVE, based on wave-buoy data in 2006-2007. The biological information incorporated field data surveyed during the same time period. Depth, substrate, and sampling site were used as co-variables. Generalized additive models (GAM) statistics and the Akaike information criterion (AIC) were utilized for the model selection. The derived input layer of wave height emerged as an important predictor in all models but one. The demonstrated methodology is suitable for many geographic information system (GIS) applications within coastal management.