Gomez peer
Highly suitable habitat for each taxa was predicted to occur throughout the Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges, with the most suitable habitat occurring in small patches on large terrain features such as seamounts, guyots, ridges, and escarpments. Models were constructed at a 1 km 2 resolution using presence and pseudoabsence data, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, phosphate, silicate, aragonite saturation state, and several measures of seafloor topography. Here, we focused on modeling the distribution of demosponges, glass sponges, and stony corals, three foundation taxa that support large assemblages of associated fauna through the creation of complex habitat structures. Species distribution models are increasingly used tools to quantify the distributions of species in data-poor environments. One obstacle to effective spatial management of the ridges is the scarcity of direct observations in deeper waters throughout the region and an accompanying understanding of the distribution of key taxa. Despite some historical fishing in the region, the seamounts are relatively pristine and represent an excellent conservation opportunity to protect a global biodiversity hotspot before it is degraded. The ridges support an exceptionally rich diversity of benthic and pelagic communities, with the highest level of endemism found in any marine environment. The Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges are two adjacent seamount chains off the west coast of South America that collectively contain more than 110 seamounts. The modeled distribution of corals and sponges surrounding the Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges with implications for high seas conservation. Cite this article Georgian S, Morgan L, Wagner D. For attribution, the original author(s), title, publication source (PeerJ) and either DOI or URL of the article must be cited. Licence This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, reproduction and adaptation in any medium and for any purpose provided that it is properly attributed. In her spare time, Dean Sánchez Gómez enjoys traveling, dancing, watching soccer, and spending time with her family.2 Conservation International, Center for Oceans, Arlington, Virginia, United States of America DOI 10.7717/peerj.11972 Published Accepted Received Academic Editor Matteo Zucchetta Subject Areas Conservation Biology, Ecology, Ecosystem Science, Marine Biology, Environmental Impacts Keywords Cold-water corals, Sponge, Deep sea, Species distribution modeling, Habitat suitability, Conservation, Areas beyond national jurisdiction Copyright © 2021 Georgian et al. Her research focuses on exploring the experiences of immigrant youth, particularly of undocumented students enrolled in higher education.
Her expertise in higher education developed through her work in the areas of STEM education, student activities, student organization and academic advising, new student orientation, and first-year experience.
She also has a master’s degree in College Student Affairs from the Graduate School of Education and is currently pursuing a PhD in higher education there. She is a proud Rutgers University alumna with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and Spanish from the RU-Newark College of Arts and Sciences. She is originally from Lima, Perú and grew up in north New Jersey.
She offers honors academic advising, coordinates honors global experiences, supports honors admissions, and advises the Artists Collective. Dean Cynthia Sánchez Gómez is the assistant dean for student engagement and is located in the SAS Honors Program Main Office at 35 College Ave.