Preprint
Defining Ecosystem Scale Surface Complexity of Coral Reefs Using a High-Resolution Lidar Digital Elevation Model
Social Science Research Network (SSRN) , Vol.4 October 2022
Elsevier
2022
Abstract
A decline in coral reef structural complexity may indicate that a coral reef ecosystem is approaching functional collapse. This is because structural complexity underpins many critical ecosystem processes and functions, such as post-disturbance recovery, greater fish biomass, coastal protection services, and carbonate production. Yet, we understand very little about how structural complexity changes at ecosystem scales due to the limited spatial extents of coral reef ecological surveys. Here, we investigate the structural complexity of an entire coral reef by calculating surface roughness across multiple spatial scales on a high-resolution Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) derived digital elevation model (DEM, 0.25 m cells). We show that we can classify large areas of a coral reef into three Roughness Equivalent Habitats (REHs 1 - 3) that share similar surface roughness properties but are not necessarily geographically contiguous regions. REH-1 contained zones with high surface roughness that are typically considered regions of high primary productivity and structural complexity (e.g., fore-reef slopes). REHs 2 and 3 contain some features of high surface roughness (e.g., lagoonal patch reefs) but also include roughness magnitudes that were expressed over large spatial scales of 100s to 1000s of metres. These results suggest that there may be processes that operate on large spatial scales that are not quantified and in environments that are often overlooked when monitoring coral reefs. By applying a multi-scale measurement of roughness on a high-resolution reef scale DEM – and defining REHs – we present a new approach that can categorize and describe the structural complexity of coral reefs at ecosystem scales. The quantification of three-dimensional coral reef structure is becoming increasingly important and our approach and findings here can be used for future management and research efforts, such as monitoring of coral reef ecosystem response to environmental change and reef restoration and adaptation programs.
Details
- Title
- Defining Ecosystem Scale Surface Complexity of Coral Reefs Using a High-Resolution Lidar Digital Elevation Model
- Authors
- Daniel Lee Harris (Corresponding Author)Jody M. Webster (Author) - University of SydneyAna Vila-Concejo (Author) - University of SydneyStephanie Duce (Author) - James Cook UniversityJavier Leon (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringJorg Hacker (Author)
- Publication details
- Social Science Research Network (SSRN) , Vol.4 October 2022
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- DOI
- 10.2139/ssrn.4237283
- ISSN
- 1556-5068
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Sustainability Research Centre
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99986692502621
- Output Type
- Preprint
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