Descriptive Capability of Datasets as Proxy of Sea Water Temperature in Coastal Systems: An Evaluation from the Aegean Sea

Abstract

Scientific and technological progresses have introduced diverse data sources for seawater temperature over broad temporal and spatial ranges. Here, we investigated the performance of satellite and model-based seawater temperature data for different temporal composites and depths. We applied an in-situ temperature time-series obtained in a coastal bottom in the Aegean Sea over three years, as the reference. Both datasets showed largely significant relationships based on cross-correlation analyses and presented descriptive properties of the in-situ conditions at corresponding depths. Based on the results of analyses, the modeling datasets presented more reliable results and representations of in-situ conditions than the datasets obtained from satellite for the coastal region. However, the datasets obtained from the satellite also provided reliable data for all time frames investigated, particularly in the mixed surface layer. Monthly datasets were more effective in providing descriptive values in long term studies. This is the first detailed study to explore the descriptive capacities of modeling for water temperature in coastal environments. According to the results, the selection of a dataset as a proxy for seawater temperature requires careful consideration. The present study provides an extensive baseline for evaluating the suitability of the application of specific datasets as proxies in coastal ecosystems.

Environmental preferences and critical habitat for the velvet belly lanternshark (Etmopterus spinax) in Icelandic waters

“…The diet of E. spinax in Icelandic waters consists largely of teleost, crustaceans, and cephalopods, which is comparable to feeding habits observed in other areas [12,45], although the specifics vary from region to region [46][47][48]. As the diet of E. spinax was only a small component of this study, future research should aim to look into the specific feeding habits of the species in Icelandic waters.…”

Shedding light on the deep: The case of the velvet belly lanternshark in the North Aegean Sea

“…The less studied area concerning the biological traits of E. spinax is the eastern Mediterranean Sea, with studies coming from the Turkish coasts (north‐eastern Aegean Sea) where Bengil et al . (2019) studied the trophic ecology of 129 E. spinax individuals and Başusta (2016) suggested nursery grounds of the species by recording five neonates of E. spinax . The aim of the present study is to provide the first data on various population characteristics of E. spinax from Hellenic waters that may serve as the basis for comparison with other studies focusing on this species.…”