Data for: No Model Fits All: Dynamic Ensemble Species Distribution Model Reveals Seasonal Patterns of Essential Habitat Use by Ocean Giants in the Southwest Pacific

GENERAL INFORMATION

Title of Dataset: Data for: No Model Fits All: Dynamic Ensemble Species Distribution Model Reveals Seasonal Patterns of Essential Habitat Use by Ocean Giants in the Southwest Pacific

Author Information
Name: Ingo Miller
Institution: Biopixel Oceans Foundation, James Cook University 
Address: 14-88 McGregor Rd, Cairns, 4870 Qld, Australia
Email: ingo.miller@my.jcu.edu.au

DATA & FILE OVERVIEW

File List: 

1. ext_val_data_repo.csv
   This file contains whale shark sightings used for external model validation. Sightings were acquired from several sources, including public databases, social media, and anecdotal reports from members of the public including fishers and tourism operators, as described in Miller et al. (2025). The latter dataset was extended by sightings acquired from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (https://www.gbif.org) and the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (https://obis.org)
2. model_data_repo.csv
   This file contains whale shark tracks (state-space-modelled, movemement-persistence filtered, thinned) used for habitat suitability modelling. Predictor varibales were extracted as described in main article.

REFERENCES:

Miller, I.B., Fitzpatrick, R., Abrantes, K.G., Norman, B., Pierce, S.J., Erdmann, M.V., Hoopes, L.A., Dudgeon, C., Dunbabin, M.D., Dove, A.D.M., Beaman, R.J., Reynolds, S.D., Rohner, C., Williams, S.M., Paton, D., Lewis, S., & Barnett, A. (2025). The Needle in the Haystack: Uncovering the First Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) Aggregation in the Coral Sea. Ecology and Evolution, 15(6). https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71552