Development of low-cost image mosaics of hard-bottom sessile communities using SCUBA: comparisons of optical media and of proxy measures of community structure

H Van Rein; David S Schoeman; C J Brown; R Quinn; J Breen

doi:10.1017/S0025315411000233

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Development of low-cost image mosaics of hard-bottom sessile communities using SCUBA: comparisons of optical media and of proxy measures of community structure

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Development of low-cost image mosaics of hard-bottom sessile communities using SCUBA: comparisons of optical media and of proxy measures of community structure

H Van Rein, David S Schoeman, C J Brown, R Quinn and J Breen

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Vol.92(1), pp.49-62

2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315411000233

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Abstract

monitoring methods

image mosaics

cover estimation

community structure

subtidal rocky habitats

underwater cameras

temperate water

Underwater image-based sampling procedures, using SCUBA, are compared using imagery collected from a temperate hard-substratum community. The effectiveness of a low-budget, high-resolution image mosaicing technique is assessed by comparing the relative efficiency of data collection, extraction and analysis among sampling procedures. In addition, a manipulative experiment tested whether the sampling procedures could detect the physical removal of 10% of the reef community. Overall, four factors were explored within the data: data collection media (stills and video), cover and community composition estimation techniques (visual cover estimation, frequency of occurrence and point extraction), change detection (pre- and post-impact) and depth (8, 14, 18 and 22 m). Stills imagery sampled the reef community at a higher image resolution than the video imagery, which enabled identification of more species and less-conspicuous benthic categories. Using the visual cover estimation technique, the stills imagery also had the greatest benefit in terms of efficiency and species identification. However, the experimental impact was detected using only the point extraction technique. The recommendations are that: (1) the image mosaicing technique is applied to fixed-station monitoring; (2) the point extraction technique be used for efficient and cost-effective monitoring at coarse taxonomic resolutions; and (3) survey depths remain constant over the duration of hard-substratum community monitoring.

Details

Title: Development of low-cost image mosaics of hard-bottom sessile communities using SCUBA: comparisons of optical media and of proxy measures of community structure
Authors: H Van Rein (Author) - University of Ulster, United Kingdom
David S Schoeman (Author) - University of Ulster, United Kingdom
C J Brown (Author) - University of Ulster, United Kingdom
R Quinn (Author) - University of Ulster, United Kingdom
J Breen (Author) - Northern Ireland Environment Agency, United Kingdom
Publication details: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Vol.92(1), pp.49-62
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Date published: 2012
DOI: 10.1017/S0025315411000233
ISSN: 0025-3154
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450307202621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Marine & Freshwater Biology

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