This year, I had the privilege to work with Dr. Robert Lennox and Dr. Jena Edwards for my undergraduate honours thesis. This project was designed to help bridge the gap between geospatial analysis and animal movement ecology, specifically biotelemetry. Acoustic telemetry uses transmitters and receivers to remotely monitor animal movement. Receivers are commonly deployed on the seafloor in an array, with the configuration varying depending on study objectives and logistical constraints. The data collected by receivers rely on accurate placement, yet there is currently no clear methodology to determine optimal placement locations, particularly at broad scales.

My study investigated how a Geographic Information Systems suitability analysis can be used to identify optimal locations for large-scale acoustic receiver arrays that maximise animal detections and minimise risks to the infrastructure. The southern Gulf of Saint Lawrence represents a model study site, wherein a range of environmental variables (slope, Marine Protected Areas and bottom substrate) and anthropogenic variables (bottom trawling, underwater cables, and an unexploded charge) were considered. For each of the variables, a suitability criterion was established, and weightings were defined based on a literature review and expert consultations. A tessellation with 10 km² cells was generated, with each data layer represented as a standardized suitability surface. These layers were combined to produce a cumulative suitability surface for the study area. By applying a suitability analysis, locations with the highest suitability scores were identified. The results suggest that areas with steep slope and pelitic bottom substrate – such as those observed along shorelines and the border of the Laurentian Channel – result lower overall suitability of those locations (Figure 1). This analysis integrated geospatial data into array planning, providing a novel perspective within aquatic telemetry research.

Figure 1 – Suitability analysis results map with potential locations of 200 acoustic receivers identified. Quantile distribution. Created by Julia MacFarlane on February 28th, 2026. Spatial Reference: WGS 1984 UTM Zone 19N.