Seafloor Geomorphology And Benthic Habitat Of The German Bank Glaciated Shelf, Atlantic Canada

An area of 5320 km(2) in water depths of 30-250 m has been mapped on German Bank on the southern Scotian Shelf in Atlantic Canada. The Scotian Shelf is a formerly glaciated continental margin characterized by a topographically rugged inner shelf. Bedrock is exposed at the seafloor on much of German Bank. Ice-contact sediment (till) was deposited beneath or at the margins of the ice sheet directly onto bedrock during the Wisconsinan glaciation and occurs as a widespread sediment blanket. Ice-distal glaciomarine silt overlies the older till and is primarily confined to small basins on the bank. Limited accumulations of postglacial sediments are composed of well-sorted sand, grading to rounded and subrounded gravel. Analysis of seafloor photographs and underwater video revealed broadscale gradients in benthic fauna composition across the bank. Surficial geology, broad biophysical ("benthoscape"), and modeled scallop habitat suitability maps are presented for the area, generated using a variety of methods. The combined use of these different maps is offering benefits for use in fisheries management in this area.