Description of a remote still photography system for collection of benthic photo-quadrats

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...

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Main Authors: Waddington, K., Piek, B., Payne, A., Grove, S., Harvey, Euan, Kendrick, G., Taylor, H., Meeuwig, J.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Marine Technology Society 2010
Online Access:http://www.scopus.com/record/display.url?eid=2-s2.0-77952118681&origin=resultslist&sort=plf-f&src=s&nlo=&nlr=&nls=&sid=BEBDB9A901B6E61FE18603E01CEE00E0.WlW7NKKC52nnQNxjqAQrlA%3a240&sot=aut&sdt=a&sl=35&s=AU-ID%28%22Harvey%2c+Euan+S.%22+7103155088%29&relpos
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/34864
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author Waddington, K.
Piek, B.
Payne, A.
Grove, S.
Harvey, Euan
Kendrick, G.
Taylor, H.
Meeuwig, J.
author_facet Waddington, K.
Piek, B.
Payne, A.
Grove, S.
Harvey, Euan
Kendrick, G.
Taylor, H.
Meeuwig, J.
author_sort Waddington, K.
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-quadrats to depths of 100 m. A procedure for the classification of these images into 64 abiotic and biotic categories is also described. During a 64-day sampling program that included sampling at seven 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.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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publishDate 2010
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-348642017-09-13T15:26:00Z Description of a remote still photography system for collection of benthic photo-quadrats Waddington, K. Piek, B. Payne, A. Grove, S. Harvey, Euan Kendrick, G. Taylor, H. Meeuwig, J. 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-quadrats to depths of 100 m. A procedure for the classification of these images into 64 abiotic and biotic categories is also described. During a 64-day sampling program that included sampling at seven 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/20.500.11937/34864 10.4031/MTSJ.44.2.1 http://www.scopus.com/record/display.url?eid=2-s2.0-77952118681&origin=resultslist&sort=plf-f&src=s&nlo=&nlr=&nls=&sid=BEBDB9A901B6E61FE18603E01CEE00E0.WlW7NKKC52nnQNxjqAQrlA%3a240&sot=aut&sdt=a&sl=35&s=AU-ID%28%22Harvey%2c+Euan+S.%22+7103155088%29&relpos Marine Technology Society restricted
spellingShingle Waddington, K.
Piek, B.
Payne, A.
Grove, S.
Harvey, Euan
Kendrick, G.
Taylor, H.
Meeuwig, J.
Description of a remote still photography system for collection of benthic photo-quadrats
title Description of a remote still photography system for collection of benthic photo-quadrats
title_full Description of a remote still photography system for collection of benthic photo-quadrats
title_fullStr Description of a remote still photography system for collection of benthic photo-quadrats
title_full_unstemmed Description of a remote still photography system for collection of benthic photo-quadrats
title_short Description of a remote still photography system for collection of benthic photo-quadrats
title_sort description of a remote still photography system for collection of benthic photo-quadrats
url http://www.scopus.com/record/display.url?eid=2-s2.0-77952118681&origin=resultslist&sort=plf-f&src=s&nlo=&nlr=&nls=&sid=BEBDB9A901B6E61FE18603E01CEE00E0.WlW7NKKC52nnQNxjqAQrlA%3a240&sot=aut&sdt=a&sl=35&s=AU-ID%28%22Harvey%2c+Euan+S.%22+7103155088%29&relpos
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/34864