Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 34(11)

Published: Nov. 1, 2024

ABSTRACT In a time of ever‐increasing pressure on the coastal ocean and rising costs, development effective efficient methods for assessing health marine ecosystems is becoming essential continued conservation efforts. Taking advantage technologies such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) may be way achieving this, but quantitative check quality ROV‐derived data necessary. Here, using coralline algae reefs (maerl beds) model habitat, we compared 3D seabed reconstructions obtained from structure‐from‐motion photogrammetry surveys diver‐held ROV‐mounted camera systems. We found that both approaches achieved satisfactory alignment mm‐scale resolution, allowing small‐scale features individual organisms in maerl bed to resolved. The higher system available divers resulted generally lower modelling errors, spatial extent was highly restricted. contrast, although associated with slightly error, show much larger areas can by ROVs—we reconstructed 11,285 m 2 just 400 min ROV deployment time. Moving forward, recommend hybrid survey approach adopted: utilising large‐scale monitoring diver detail insights are informative complex fine‐scale morphologies (like reefs). even small changes complexity indicative habitat change, species size so multiscale visual assessment beneficial.

Language: Английский