Evaluation of a Habitat Suitability Model for the Invasive European Green Crab (Carcinus maenas) Using Species Occurrence Data from Western Vancouver Island
July 14, 2008
A "habitat suitability" model constructed for the European green crab identifies potentially suitable habitats for the invasive species in coastal Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington. The model is based on shoreline attributes.
A "habitat suitability" model constructed for the European green crab identifies potentially suitable habitats for the invasive species in coastal Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington. Habitat suitability is identified on the basis of physical, geomorphic, and biological shoreline attributes in the ShoreZone Coastal Habitat Mapping Database (Harney 2007; report available for download at www.coastalandoceans.com). The model is based on the rationale that successful green crab colonization in the coastal zone is related to habitat attributes that can be rated in terms of their importance in the crab's life-history strategy.