Abstract
 Managing Marine Resouces With the Aid of GIS Track: Ocean, Coastal, and Marine Resources Author(s): Michelle Kinzel, William Megill, Deborah Randall, Lei Lani Stelle The management of coastal resources in conjunction with increasing development use is an ongoing issue that can be addressed with effective management tools such as GIS. In this study, conducted by the non-profit research organization Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation, the ArcView extension Animal Movement provides a useful tool to assess distribution, habitat use and movement patterns of animals based on GPS sightings of 100 individual gray whales over a period of 10 years in a summering feeding ground off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. The gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus, is one of the few species of wildlife to experience a population recovery sufficient to remove it from the Endangered Species List, followed by a population increase and increasing need for undeveloped coastal feeding habitats. By combining assessment tools useful for biologists, conservation managers and coastal developers, a plan for the sustainable management of our coastal resources is possible. Michelle Kinzel Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation Research 1095 Calle Mesita Bonita , CA 91902-2405 US Phone: 619-251-5484 E-mail: kinzel@cox.net William Megill Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation General Delivery Dawson's Landing , BC V0N 1M0 CA Phone: 866-375-1321 Fax: 815 327 0183 E-mail: megillw@cerf.bc.ca Deborah Randall Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation 1095 Calle Mesita Bonita , CA 91902-2405 US Phone: 619-251-5484 E-mail: deborah.randall@zoology.oxford.ac.uk Lei Lani Stelle Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation 1095 Calle Mesita Bonita , CA 91902-2405 US Phone: 619-251-5484 E-mail: lstelle@rochester.rr.com |
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