Multiscale terrain analysis of multibeam bathymetry data for habitat mapping on the continental slope

Multibeam surveys can provide detailed bathymetry data for the continental slope from which quantitative descriptors of the seabed terrain (e.g., slope) may be obtained. We illustrate the value of these descriptors for benthic habitat mapping, and highlight the advantages of multiscale analysis. We examine the application of these descriptors as predictor variables for species distribution models, which are particularly valuable in the deep sea where opportunities to directly survey the benthic fauna remain limited. Our initial models are encouraging and suggest that wider adoption of these methods may assist the delivery of ecologically relevant information to marine resource managers.