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MEPS 244:89-93 (2002)
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Abstract
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Comparison of abundance and spatial distribution of burrowing megafauna from diver and remotely operated vehicle observations
David M. Parry1,3,*, Lois A. Nickell4, Michael A. Kendall3, Michael T. Burrows4, Derek A. Pilgrim1, Malcolm B. Jones2
1Institute of Marine Studies, and
2School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, United Kingdom
3Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, Devon PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
4Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, Oban, Argyle PA34 4AD, Scotland, United Kingdom
*Email: dparry@plymouth.ac.uk
ABSTRACT: The standard method for collecting information on both the abundance and distribution of surface-dwelling megafauna, and biotic sediment-features associated with burrowing megafauna has been direct observation and counting by divers. However,
remote observations allow information comparable to diver observations to be applied to investigations at greater depths and over wider spatial extents than divers may achieve. The present paper compares abundance estimates of megafaunal biotic
sediment-features obtained from diver and remotely operated vehicle-mapping techniques. Results show strong agreement between estimates of total-feature and conspicuous-feature abundance, providing assurance that remote observation techniques are not
subject to systematic errors in estimation of feature abundance. The ability to detect the smallest features appeared to differ between observation techniques, but this was an artefact caused by measurement of features rather than feature detection. A
laser diode array attached to the camera to quantify image scale increased the amount of quantitative data that may be extracted from remote images.
KEY WORDS: Megafauna · SCUBA diving · Remotely operated vehicle · Spatial variation · Image scaling
Full text in pdf format
Published in MEPS Vol.
244
(2002) on November 29
Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599.
Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2002
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