DCSMM2018 - OM- D1C4 - Spatial distribution of birds at sea ("Medium Terns - Sterna hirundo & Sterna paradisaea", 2012)

Spatial distribution is one of the criteria for defining good environmental status for the seabird component of descriptor 1 on biodiversity under the MSFD (D1C4). The good ecological status of seabirds is achieved when the biological diversity of this ecosystem component is conserved. To do so, the species’ range must comply with the prevailing physiographic, geographical and climatic conditions.
Spatial distribution maps of seabirds have been obtained from data from SAMM aerial campaigns and constitute the current state of play that will serve as a baseline for comparisons with future aerial campaigns.
The geographical units of assessment are the marine sub-regions of the MSFD. The species groups used for the assessment are those listed in Table 2 ‘Seabird species groups’ (Decision 2017/848/EU). The data is presented in the form of tiff-type georeferenced files.