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Methods Ecol Evol - 2025 - Langlois - Benthic Observation Survey System BOSS for surveys of marine benthic habitats3.05 MB
Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Benthic Observation Survey System (BOSS) for surveys of marine benthic habitats
Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Vol.16(6), pp.1116-1125
2025
Abstract
1. Most platforms for collecting images to characterise marine benthic habitats involve a downward or forward-facing field of view that is relatively constrained (~70°), covering a relatively small area of benthos (downward ~1 m2, forward ~25 m2).
2. Here we propose the use of a four-camera platform having a wide combined field of view (~280°), covering a much greater area (up to 100 m2). We also present a stereo-camera configuration that has the added benefit of being able to ac-accurately measure sample area and dimensions of benthic biota. The design pro-posed is robust and self-righting, facilitating rapid deployment and retrieval from a range of vessels, depths and environments.
3. We present an exemplar workflow to generate a habitat map (~100 km2) within a no-take National Park Zone within the South-west Corner Marine Park, Australia and demonstrate the benefit of increasing the field of view to estimate habitat heterogeneity.
4. The relatively broad sample unit of this wide field drop camera is well suited to estimating coverage (e.g. of a seagrass bed) and habitat mapping. It is time-efficient in the field, enabling spatially balanced sampling designs to acquire ground-truthing data for medium- to large-scale habitat mapping projects. This platform is a practical tool to monitor change in marine environments and assess the environmental impact (e.g. sea bed alteration) of activities such as offshore energy or fishing gears
Details
- Title
- Benthic Observation Survey System (BOSS) for surveys of marine benthic habitats
- Authors
- Tim Langlois - The University of Western AustraliaClaude Spencer (Corresponding Author) - The University of Western AustraliaBrooke A. Gibbons - The University of Western AustraliaKingsley J. Griffin - The University of Western AustraliaKye Adams - Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and AttractionsCharlotte Aston - The University of Western AustraliaNeville Barrett - University of TasmaniaAshlee Bastiaansen - University of TasmaniaDonna Beach - Esperance Tjaltjraak Aboriginal CorporationAnt Bernard - South African Institute for Aquatic BiodiversityTodd Bond - The University of Western AustraliaGenevieve R. Carey - Esperance Tjaltjraak Aboriginal CorporationJennifer E. Caselle - University of California, Santa BarbaraKatie Cieri - Moss Landing Marine LaboratoriesGabrielle H. Cummins - The University of Western AustraliaKatherine Cure - Australian Institute of Marine ScienceSimon de Lestang - Department of Primary Industries and Regional DevelopmentJohn Fitzhardinge - Southerly Designs (Australia)Anita Giraldo-Ospina - The University of Western AustraliaGretchen Grammer - South Australian Research and Development InstituteDavid R. Guilfoyle - Esperance Tjaltjraak Aboriginal CorporationChristopher Henderson - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringSharyn Hickey - The University of Western AustraliaJamie Hicks - South Australian Department for Environment and Water (Australia)Renae Hovey - The University of Western AustraliaCharlie Huveneers - Flinders UniversityDaniel Ierodiaconou - Deakin UniversityJohn Keesing - Curtin UniversityNathan Knott - New South Wales Department of Primary IndustriesJennifer L. Lavers - The University of Western AustraliaSteve Lindfield - University of Technology SydneyJames Lindholm - Moss Landing Marine LaboratoriesStanley Mastrantonis - The University of Western AustraliaKinsey Matthews - Moss Landing Marine LaboratoriesMatthew L. Navarro - The University of Western AustraliaJulian Partridge - The University of Western AustraliaDominique Pelletier - IfremerCamilla V. H. Piggott - Environment AgencyRachel Przeslawski - New South Wales Department of Primary IndustriesBen Radford - The University of Western AustraliaMatthew Rees - New South Wales Department of Primary IndustriesRon (Doc) Reynolds - Esperance Tjaltjraak Aboriginal CorporationFernanda A. Rolim - Universidade Federal de São PauloAdam Smith - Massey UniversityFelix Spencer - Groundswell Designs (Australia)Rick Starr - Moss Landing Marine LaboratoriesSamuel Thompson - The University of Western AustraliaIszaac Webb - Undalup Association Incorporated (Australia)Wayne Webb - Undalup Association Incorporated (Australia)Sasha Whitmarsh - Deakin UniversityJoel Williams - University of TasmaniaJacquomo Monk - University of Tasmania
- Publication details
- Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Vol.16(6), pp.1116-1125
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1111/2041-210X.70010
- ISSN
- 2041-210X
- Copyright note
- This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2025 The Author(s). Methods in Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Ecological Society.
- Grant note
- Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, Grant/Award Number: 2019-099; Parks Australia; Australian Government National Environmental Science Program; Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited (BHP)
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991127095902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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