The distribution of benthic ecosystems, dominated by filter-feeding communities, is highly influenced by the seabed geomorphology. However, the spatial variation in settlement of these species is also affected by near-bottom currents and any changes in light, nutrient concentration and food quality often associated with increases of suspended sediment concentrations within the water column. Detailed predictions of the geographic distribution of filter-feeder species and a deeper understanding of the physical processes influencing their distribution patterns is key for effective management and conservation. To date, predictive distribution modelling has been derived essentially from geomorphological parameters, mainly using spatially limited observations. In this study, seabed mapping, oceanographic modelling, hydrographic records and biological observations are integrated to provide high-resolution prediction of filter-feeder habitat distribution within Queen Charlotte Sound/Tōtaranui and Tory Channel/Kura Te Au, South Island of New Zealand. The aim is to evaluate potential suitable habitat areas for filter-feeders to inform where habitat restoration management should focus efforts to recover communities such as the horse mussel (Atrina zelandica) or the green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus), both of which have high economic impact in New Zealand. To accomplish this, Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) predictive modelling was used to produce Habitat Suitability (HS) maps, using geomorphological parameters and seafloor classification information. Final HS maps also incorporated oceanographic and sediment dynamic information, showing that filter-feeder habitat distribution is highly influenced by the hydrodynamics and sedimentary processes apart from the seafloor geomorphology. Filter-feeder communities inhabit quiescent areas, limited by depth, slope and sediment type; and coincide with regions presenting low near-bottom currents and low turbidity levels. Additionally, the obtained results reveal the effects of the coastal settlements and major marine traffic routes, limiting the suitable habitats to areas with less human impact. This study demonstrates that a multidisciplinary approach is crucial to better predict the spatial distribution of benthic communities, which is key to improve benthic habitat restoration and recovery assessments.

以滤食性群落为主的底栖生态系统的分布受海底地貌的影响很大。然而，这些物种的沉降空间变化也受到近底水流以及光、营养浓度和食物质量的任何变化的影响，这些变化通常与水柱内悬浮沉积物浓度的增加有关。对滤食性物种地理分布的详细预测以及对影响其分布模式的物理过程的更深入了解是有效管理和保护的关键。迄今为止，预测分布建模主要来自地貌参数，主要使用空间有限的观测。在这项研究中，海底测绘、海洋学建模、水文记录和生物观察相结合，可对新西兰南岛夏洛特皇后湾/Tōtaranui 和托利海峡/库拉特奥内的滤食动物栖息地分布进行高分辨率预测。目的是评估滤食性动物潜在的合适栖息地区域，以告知栖息地恢复管理应将重点放在恢复马贻贝等群落的地方。Atrina zelandica ) 或绿唇贻贝 ( Perna canaliculus)，这两者在新西兰都有很高的经济影响。为了实现这一点，最大熵 (MaxEnt) 预测模型被用于生成栖息地适宜性 (HS) 地图，使用地貌参数和海底分类信息。最终的 HS 地图还结合了海洋学和沉积物动态信息，表明滤食性栖息地分布受到除海底地貌之外的水动力和沉积过程的高度影响。滤食性群落栖息在静止区域，受深度、坡度和沉积物类型的限制；并且与呈现低近底水流和低浊度水平的区域相吻合。此外，获得的结果揭示了沿海定居点和主要海上交通路线的影响，将合适的栖息地限制在人类影响较小的地区。