Table 1 The predictor variables included in the joint species distribution model of Australian humpback (Sousa sahulensis) and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) around the North West Cape, Western Australia, and their data sources. Values for predictor variables were calculated within the PyQGIS API using Python 3.8.053 and QGIS 3.8.3 Zanzibar54.
Predictor variable | Units | Data source |
|---|---|---|
Water depth | m | Water depth for each site was calculated with the Ordinary Kriging Tool (SAGA Toolbox61) from in situ measurements (n = 5024) taken with the research vessel’s depth sounder |
Distance to shore | m | Distance to shore was measured as the Euclidean distance from the centre of each site to the nearest land |
Cumulative survey effort | m2 | Daily survey effort was calculated by adding a 250Â m buffer to the recorded GPS track of the research vessel and then calculating the survey effort area within each site. Cumulative survey effort was calculated by summing the daily survey effort for each austral season (i.e., autumn, winter, and spring) |