Mapping the Habitats of the Red Sea Plume: Merging Expert and Community‐Contributed Data in a Changing Climate

ABSTRACT The red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis (common name: red sea plume) is attracting global attention because of its ability to reduce methane emissions in livestock systems. However, its habitat and distribution within the Great Barrier Reef (GBR)—one of the world's most iconic marine ecosystems—remain largely unexplored, posing challenges for conservation and the sustainable development of the seaweed industry. To help bridge this gap, we used habitat suitability modelling to identify areas in the GBR with favourable environmental conditions for A. taxiformis . We combined traditional and community‐contributed data with marine spatial datasets to generate a predictive model using a machine learning approach (MaxEnt). Our findings indicate that A. taxiformis may occupy a broad habitat range along the GBR, spanning nearshore and offshore areas from the northern to southern sectors, albeit with some gaps. These potential habitats include areas with no previous records. Highly suitable habitats were found in areas with water depth of less than 20 m, minimum average seawater velocities of 0.3–0.5 m s −1 , and minimum photosynthetically active radiation levels of 25–28 E m −2 day −1 . Future projections suggest that more areas will become more suitable by 2050, possibly indicating habitat expansion. The identification of unreported potential habitats of A. taxiformis in the GBR provides a foundation for targeted monitoring and adaptive conservation and management strategies at both species and ecosystem levels.