Mapping Posidonia oceanica (Linnaeus) Meadows in the Eastern Aegean Sea Coastal Areas of Turkey: Evaluation of Habitat Maps Produced Using the Acoustic Ground Discrimination Systems

Year 2019, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 67 - 75, 12.04.2019

Muhhamed Duman Atilla Hüsnü Eronat Tarık İlhan Ezgi Talas , Filiz Küçüksezgin

https://doi.org/10.30897/ijegeo.544695

Cited By: 8

Abstract

Coastal areas
include highly complex ecosystems that encompass many different and productive
resources worldwide. Although having such great importance, the lack of basic
knowledge concerning the marine habitat distribution and biodiversity along the
Turkish shoreline is an undeniable reality. In this study, seagrass beds in the
bays along the Eastern Aegean Sea coast were located and mapped. Traditionally,
sea-truth data used for satellite-image and other analysis are collected
through direct observations requiring scuba divers or by aquatic video-camera observation.
This study included a combination of acoustic technology, video recording and
interpretation, geomorphological, oceanographic, and sedimentological evaluation
in order to make significant contributions of current technology. The
classification of the evaluated SBP records exhibited their high discrimination
capacity between different sea-bed features, making them appropriate for ground
distinction. Linking of the SBP data sets to the SSS records (object-based
analysis) provide to full coverage, high resolution benthic habitat maps. For
this purpose, Side Scan Sonar, 3.5/10 kHz Subbottom Profiler and ADCP data were
collected to a range of 50 m water depth, the data was recorded for a total
1600 km² coastal area that consists of approximately a total 3000 km
long and 1km wide grid system for Edremit, Çandarlı, Gülbahçe, Ildır, Güllük
and Gökova Bays. In the study area, it was determined that the seagrasses are
under danger where high human influence is located. Dense distribution of
invasive plants (Caulerpa cylindracea, Stypopodium
schimperi) were seen at the southern and northern part of the study area
subjected to human activities. 

Keywords

Seagrass, Habitat Mapping, Sonar Investigation, Surface Sediments, AegeanSea

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