Ecological niche modelling of the distribution of cold-water coral habitat using underwater remote sensing data

Guinan, Janine; Brown, Colin; Dolan, Margaret F.J.; Grehan, Anthony

doi:10.1016/j.ecoinf.2009.01.004

Cited by 77 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 71 publications

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“…Surface rugosity, surface complexity, slope, and curvature have been shown to drive vegetation distribution on terrestrial landscapes and influence the distribution, biomass and diversity of vertebrate and invertebrate species in marine systems (Friedlander and Parrish 1998, Kostylev et al 2005, Guinan et al 2009, Pittman et al 2009, Pittman and Brown 2011. We quantified these metrics for four coral species found commonly in Hawaiʻi that represent distinct morphological phenotypes (Porites lobata -massive/lobate, Porites compressa -branching, Montipora capitata -plating, Montipora flabellate -encrusting).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This process enables quantification of intricate 3D features such as surface complexity (3D/2D surface area), slope, volume and curvature. These metrics are known to be important predictors of organismal abundance, biomass and diversity, and also affect benthic current velocities associated with the food particle supply for suspension feeding corals (Kostylev et al 2005, Guinan et al 2009, Pittman et al 2009, Pittman and Brown 2011. The ability to characterize these topographic features will greatly enhance both biological and ecological investigations of coral reef ecosystems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Utilizing Underwater Three-Dimensional Modeling to Enhance Ecological and Biological Studies of Coral Reefs

Burns

Delparte

Gates

et al. 2015

Int. Arch. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci.

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ABSTRACT:The structural complexity of coral reefs profoundly affects the biodiversity, productivity, and overall functionality of reef ecosystems. Conventional survey techniques utilize 2-dimensional metrics that are inadequate for accurately capturing and quantifying the intricate structural complexity of scleractinian corals. A 3-dimensional (3D) approach improves the capacity to accurately measure architectural complexity, topography, rugosity, volume, and other structural characteristics that play a significant role in habitat facilitation and ecosystem processes. This study utilized Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry techniques to create 3D mesh models for several Hawaiian corals that represent distinct morphological phenotypes. The orthophotos and digital elevation models generated from the SfM process were imported into geospatial analysis software in order to quantify several metrics pertaining to 3D complexity that are known to affect ecosystem biodiversity and productivity. The 3D structural properties of the reconstructed coral colonies were statistically analyzed to determine if the each species represents a unique morpho-functional group. The SfM reconstruction techniques described in this paper can be utilized for an array of research purposes to improve our understanding of how changes in coral composition affect habitat structure and ecological processes in coral reef ecosystems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Utilizing Underwater Three-Dimensional Modeling to Enhance Ecological and Biological Studies of Coral Reefs

Burns

Delparte

Gates

et al. 2015

Int. Arch. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci.

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“…Since then similar models for VME indicator taxa have been made and developed for the same area and elsewhere in the NE Atlantic Ocean (Guinan et al, 2009;Howell et al, 2011;Rengstorf et al, 2012Rengstorf et al, , 2013Rengstorf et al, , 2014Tong et al, 2013;Robert et al, 2016). However, none of these studies produced abundance-based models for VME indicator taxa, nor used measures of abundance to model directly the distribution of VME habitat.…”

Section: High-resolution Habitat Suitability Mappingmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-Resolution Habitat Suitability Models for the Conservation and Management of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems on the Louisville Seamount Chain, South Pacific Ocean

et al. 2017

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Vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) are ecosystems at risk from the effects of fishing or other kinds of disturbance, as determined by the vulnerability of their components (e.g., habitats, communities, or species). Habitat suitability modeling is being used increasingly to predict distribution patterns of VME indicator taxa in the deep sea, where data are particularly sparse, and the models are considered useful for marine ecosystem management. The Louisville Seamount Chain is located within the South Pacific Regional Fishery Management Organization (SPRFMO) Convention Area, and some seamounts are the subject of bottom trawling for orange roughy by the New Zealand fishery. The aim of the present study was to produce high-resolution habitat suitability maps for VME indicator taxa and VME habitat on these seamounts, in order to evaluate the feasibility of designing within-seamount spatial closures to protect VMEs. We used a multi-model habitat suitability mapping approach, based on bathymetric and backscatter data collected by multibeam echo sounder survey, and data collected by towed underwater camera for the stony coral and habitatforming VME indicator species Solenosmilia variabilis, as well as two taxa indicative of stony coral habitat (Brisingida, Crinoidea). Model performance varied among the different model types used (Boosted Regression Tree, Random Forest, Generalized Additive Models), but abundance-based models consistently out-performed models based on presence-absence data. Uncertainty for ensemble models (combination of all models) was lower overall compared to the other models. Maps resulting from our models showed that suitable habitat for S. variabilis is distributed around the summitslope break of seamounts, and along ridges that extend down the seamount flanks. Only the flat, soft sediment summits are predicted to be unsuitable habitat for this stony coral species. We translated a definition for stony coral-reef habitat into a S. variabilis abundance-based threshold in order to use our models to map this VME habitat. These maps showed that coral-reef occurred in small and isolated patches, and that most of the seabed on these seamounts is predicted to be unsuitable Rowden et al.High-Resolution VME Habitat Suitability Maps habitat for this VME. We discuss the implications of these results for spatial management closures on the Louisville Seamount Chain seamounts and the wider SPRFMO area, and future modeling improvements that could aid efforts to use habitat suitability maps for managing the impact of fishing on VMEs.

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“…The more general term "multi-scale" is used in this paper to refer to both types of analysis as well as geomorphometric analysis using data of different resolutions. (Lundblad et al, 2006;Lanier et al, 2007;Micallef et al, 2012a;Dolan and Lucieer, 2014) Aspect (Galparsoro et al, 2009), northness/northerness and eastness/easterness (Monk et al, 2011) Mean curvature (Dolan et al, 2008); profile curvature (Guinan et al, 2009); plan/planimetric curvature (Ross et al, 2015); Bathymetric Position Index (BPI) (Monk et al, 2010;Pirtle et al, 2015) Rugosity (Dunn and Halpin, 2009); vector ruggedness measure (VRM) (Tempera et al, 2012); relative relief (Elvenes, 2013); fractal dimension (Wilson et al, 2007) Commonly used terrain attribute and software (algorithm reference)…”

Section: General Geomorphometry (Terrain Attributes)mentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of marine geomorphometry, the quantitative study of the seafloor

Lecours

Dolan

Micallef

et al. 2016

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

183

120

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Abstract. Geomorphometry, the science of quantitative terrain characterization, has traditionally focused on the investigation of terrestrial landscapes. However, the dramatic increase in the availability of digital bathymetric data and the increasing ease by which geomorphometry can be investigated using geographic information systems (GISs) and spatial analysis software has prompted interest in employing geomorphometric techniques to investigate the marine environment. Over the last decade or so, a multitude of geomorphometric techniques (e.g. terrain attributes, feature extraction, automated classification) have been applied to characterize seabed terrain from the coastal zone to the deep sea. Geomorphometric techniques are, however, not as varied, nor as extensively applied, in marine as they are in terrestrial environments. This is at least partly due to difficulties associated with capturing, classifying, and validating terrain characteristics underwater. There is, nevertheless, much common ground between terrestrial and marine geomorphometry applications and it is important that, in developing marine geomorphometry, we learn from experiences in terrestrial studies. However, not all terrestrial solutions can be adopted by marine geomorphometric studies since the dynamic, fourdimensional (4-D) nature of the marine environment causes its own issues throughout the geomorphometry workflow. For instance, issues with underwater positioning, variations in sound velocity in the water column affecting acousticbased mapping, and our inability to directly observe and measure depth and morphological features on the seafloor are all issues specific to the application of geomorphometry in the marine environment. Such issues fuel the need for a dedicated scientific effort in marine geomorphometry.This review aims to highlight the relatively recent growth of marine geomorphometry as a distinct discipline, and offers the first comprehensive overview of marine geomorphometry to date. We address all the five main steps of geomorphometry, from data collection to the application of terrain attributes and features. We focus on how these steps are relevant to marine geomorphometry and also highlight differences and similarities from terrestrial geomorphometry. We conclude with recommendations and reflections on the future of marine geomorphometry. To ensure that geomorphometry is used and developed to its full potential, there is a need to increase awareness of (1) marine geomorphometry amongst scientists already engaged in terrestrial geomorphometry, and of (2) geomorphometry as a science amongst marine scientists with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.

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Ecological niche modelling of the distribution of cold-water coral habitat using underwater remote sensing data

Cited by 77 publications

References 71 publications

Utilizing Underwater Three-Dimensional Modeling to Enhance Ecological and Biological Studies of Coral Reefs

Utilizing Underwater Three-Dimensional Modeling to Enhance Ecological and Biological Studies of Coral Reefs

High-Resolution Habitat Suitability Models for the Conservation and Management of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems on the Louisville Seamount Chain, South Pacific Ocean

A review of marine geomorphometry, the quantitative study of the seafloor

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