Comparison of recent survey techniques for estimating benthic cover on Caribbean mesophotic reefs

Authors

Joseph R. Pawlik, University of North Carolina, Wilmington
Roy A. Armstrong, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez
Stephanie Farrington, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution
John Reed, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc
Sara Rivero-Calle, University of Georgia Skidaway Institute of Oceanography
Hanumant Singh, Northeastern University
Brian K. Walker, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Jason White, University of North Carolina, Wilmington

ORCID

0000-0001-8385-7066

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Marine Ecology Progress Series

ISSN

0171-8630

Publication Date

3-24-2022

Keywords

Remotely operated vehicle, ROV, Autonomous underwater vehicle, AUV, Technical diving, Image distortion, Sponges, Coral reefs, Photogrammetry, Sampling

Abstract

Highly divergent estimates of benthic cover of sponges have been reported for Caribbean mesophotic reefs (90-100 m) based on quadrat point-intercept data collection using 2 methods: visual surveys conducted in situ by technical divers, and analyses of photographs taken by unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). The second method has been criticized for potential errors from image distortion caused by variable camera angle relative to the substratum, but without a broader comparison of both methods. We find that studies that have used the UUV-based method are advantageous for a number of reasons, most importantly: (1) access to the full mesophotic zone, (2) higher sample replication, and (3) reduced likelihood of sampling bias. For tech diving surveys conducted at 91 m, i.e. the deepest depth reported using this method but only mid-way through the mesophotic zone, studies have reported particularly high sponge cover (~80 vs.

DOI

10.3354/meps14018

Volume

686

First Page

201

Last Page

211

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Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

NSUWorks Citation

Joseph R. Pawlik, Roy A. Armstrong, Stephanie Farrington, John Reed, Sara Rivero-Calle, Hanumant Singh, Brian K. Walker, and Jason White. 2022. Comparison of recent survey techniques for estimating benthic cover on Caribbean mesophotic reefs .Marine Ecology Progress Series : 201 -211. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/1245.