DOI: 10.14466/CefasDataHub.197

Description

This dataset includes 1) environmental data layers, 2) Arctica islandica (marine bivalve mollusc) point data, 3) Random Forest model objects and 4) model output raster layers, used in the Ecological Solutions and Evidence paper 'Using big 'messy' data to model species distributions for spatial conservation management' (paper DOI to be added). These data are provided at the scale of the UK Continental Shelf (WGS 84; EPSG:4326). Source, preparation methodology, unit, resolution and date ranges of individual datasets are detailed in the main paper and supplementary materials.

1. Environmental data layers

Environmental modelled and satellite-derived raster data layers (TIF) ranging from 2016-2023. Study area mask (TIF)

2. Point data (Arctica islandica presence/absence)

5% prevalence point data for 6 x models (RData) Cross-validation training and testing point data for 6 x models (RData)

3. Random Forests

Fitted model objects for 6 x models (RData)

4. Outputs

Summed binary predictions for 6 x models (TIF) Environmental envelope masks for 6 x models (TIF)

A summary of data lineage is provided below, with a detailed description available in the paper.

Environmental data sources:

EMODnet Digital Bathymetry: EMODnet. (2016). EMODnet Digital Bathymetry (DTM 2016). Available at: https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/en/bathymetry Sediment predictions: Cefas Data Hub - Mitchell, P., Aldridge., J., & Diesing, M. (2019a). Predictor variables and groundtruth samples for north-west European continental shelf quantitative sediment analysis. Cefas, UK. V1. https://doi.org/10.14466/CefasDataHub.62; Mitchell, P., Aldridge., J., & Diesing, M. (2019b). Quantitative sediment composition predictions for the north-west European continental shelf. Cefas, UK. V1. https://doi.org/10.14466/CefasDataHub.63 Various Copernicus satellite-derived datasets: http://marine.copernicus.eu/ (detailed in the paper)

Arctica islandica point data sources:

Cefas OneBenthic Database: Cefas. (2023). OneBenthic Database. Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science. Available at: https://openscience.cefas.co.uk/ Cefas Fishing Survey System (available on request) Joint Nature Conservation Committee (available on request) Marine Directorate of Scottish Government (available on request)

Contributors

Noble-James, Tammy Downie, Anna-Leena / Witbaard Dr Rob. / Nolte, Dr Stefanie. / Schratzberger, Michaela

Subject

Conservation / Ecology / Habitat

Start Date

01/01/2000

End Date

31/12/2025

Year Published

2026

Version

1

Citation

Noble-James et al. (2026). UK Continental Shelf environmental spatial data layers (2016-2023), sub-sets of Arctica islandica presence/absence point data (2000-2022), fitted model objects and model output rasters. V1. doi: https://doi.org/10.14466/CefasDataHub.197

Rights List

Open Government Licence

DOI

10.14466/CefasDataHub.197