Assessing reef fish assemblage structure: how do different stereo-video techniques compare?

Quantitative sampling of benthic communities is central to a wide range of ecological research, from understanding spatial distribution and ecology to impact studies. With the need to sample deep as well as shallow regions, limited sampling capabilities of diver-based methods and the expanding footp...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Watson, D., Harvey, Euan, Fitzpatrick, B., Langlois, T., Shedrawi, G.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Springer-Verlag 2010
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/3374
_version_ 1848744213918777344
author Watson, D.
Harvey, Euan
Fitzpatrick, B.
Langlois, T.
Shedrawi, G.
author_facet Watson, D.
Harvey, Euan
Fitzpatrick, B.
Langlois, T.
Shedrawi, G.
author_sort Watson, D.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Quantitative sampling of benthic communities is central to a wide range of ecological research, from understanding spatial distribution and ecology to impact studies. With the need to sample deep as well as shallow regions, limited sampling capabilities of diver-based methods and the expanding footprint of human activity, there is a need for an effective system capable of classifying benthic assemblages and able to monitor potential anthropogenic impacts. Here we describe a remote system capable of collecting benthic photo-quadratsto depths of 100 m. A procedure for the classification of these images into 64 abiotic and biotic categories is also described. During a64-daysamplingprogramthatincludedsamplingatseven locations along 1,200 km of coastline that resulted in the collection of over 9,000 images, only one day of sampling was lost due to equipment malfunction, with 99.5% of points able to be classified to the taxonomic resolution required, demonstrating the reliability and accuracy of this system. Furthermore, the incorporation of differential GPS and ultra-short baseline positioning system allowed collected images to be geo-referenced to within 0.5 m. Such precision allows the system to be used in conjunction with hydroacoustic habitat mapping techniques and potentially for repeated monitoring of areas with a small spatial extent. Development of this system provides a cost-effective means of quantifying benthic assemblages over broad scales.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T05:57:54Z
format Journal Article
id curtin-20.500.11937-3374
institution Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T05:57:54Z
publishDate 2010
publisher Springer-Verlag
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling curtin-20.500.11937-33742017-09-13T14:44:36Z Assessing reef fish assemblage structure: how do different stereo-video techniques compare? Watson, D. Harvey, Euan Fitzpatrick, B. Langlois, T. Shedrawi, G. Benthic community composition Impact studies Remote sampling Marine habitat mapping High-resolution imagery Quantitative sampling of benthic communities is central to a wide range of ecological research, from understanding spatial distribution and ecology to impact studies. With the need to sample deep as well as shallow regions, limited sampling capabilities of diver-based methods and the expanding footprint of human activity, there is a need for an effective system capable of classifying benthic assemblages and able to monitor potential anthropogenic impacts. Here we describe a remote system capable of collecting benthic photo-quadratsto depths of 100 m. A procedure for the classification of these images into 64 abiotic and biotic categories is also described. During a64-daysamplingprogramthatincludedsamplingatseven locations along 1,200 km of coastline that resulted in the collection of over 9,000 images, only one day of sampling was lost due to equipment malfunction, with 99.5% of points able to be classified to the taxonomic resolution required, demonstrating the reliability and accuracy of this system. Furthermore, the incorporation of differential GPS and ultra-short baseline positioning system allowed collected images to be geo-referenced to within 0.5 m. Such precision allows the system to be used in conjunction with hydroacoustic habitat mapping techniques and potentially for repeated monitoring of areas with a small spatial extent. Development of this system provides a cost-effective means of quantifying benthic assemblages over broad scales. 2010 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/3374 10.1007/s00227-010-1404-x Springer-Verlag restricted
spellingShingle Benthic community composition
Impact studies
Remote sampling
Marine habitat mapping
High-resolution imagery
Watson, D.
Harvey, Euan
Fitzpatrick, B.
Langlois, T.
Shedrawi, G.
Assessing reef fish assemblage structure: how do different stereo-video techniques compare?
title Assessing reef fish assemblage structure: how do different stereo-video techniques compare?
title_full Assessing reef fish assemblage structure: how do different stereo-video techniques compare?
title_fullStr Assessing reef fish assemblage structure: how do different stereo-video techniques compare?
title_full_unstemmed Assessing reef fish assemblage structure: how do different stereo-video techniques compare?
title_short Assessing reef fish assemblage structure: how do different stereo-video techniques compare?
title_sort assessing reef fish assemblage structure: how do different stereo-video techniques compare?
topic Benthic community composition
Impact studies
Remote sampling
Marine habitat mapping
High-resolution imagery
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/3374