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Using underwater video imaging as an assessment tool for coastal condition
Citation:
Barker, J., J. Kelly, J. Scharold, T. Corry, AND P. Yurista. Using underwater video imaging as an assessment tool for coastal condition. Presented at International Association of Great Lakes Research (IAGLR), West Lafayette, IN, June 02 - 06, 2013.
Impact/Purpose:
not applicable
Description:
As part of an effort to monitor ecological conditions in nearshore habitats, from 2009-2012 underwater videos were captured at over 400 locations throughout the Laurentian Great Lakes. This study focuses on developing a video rating system and assessing video images. This rating system provides a standard method to remove videos from analysis that are useless or introduce bias. Correlation of video rating with water quality parameters measured on site is being used to develop a protocol to determine ideal conditions for video sampling. To date, all images have been rated and examined for substrate type, vegetation presence and type, fish presence and type, and dreissenid mussel presence. Mussel presence detected in videos is currently being compared with site paired sediment grab data to determine the accuracy of both gear types in dreissenid detection. Overall, underwater video images are proving to be a valuable tool for coastal condition assessment by providing a visual snapshot that can be examined for spatial and temporal variations.