Premium
Hierarchical methods and sampling design for conservation monitoring of tropical marine hard bottom communities
Author(s) -
Sullivan K. M.,
Chiappone M.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
aquatic conservation: marine and freshwater ecosystems
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.95
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1099-0755
pISSN - 1052-7613
DOI - 10.1002/aqc.3270030303
Subject(s) - quadrat , benthic zone , benthos , sampling (signal processing) , community structure , ecology , environmental science , sampling design , biodiversity , geography , biology , population , demography , filter (signal processing) , sociology , computer science , computer vision , shrub
1. A 4‐year study developed methods for annual monitoring of shallow‐water tropical marine benthic communities to detect changes in spatial patterning and benthic diversity. Two low‐relief sponge/octocoral communities were selected from natural colour photography to gain a broader perspective on spatial variability in the benthic community structure of similar community types. 2. Changes in benthic spatial patterning were studied using four methods: (i) substrata and lifeform coverage characterization, (ii) species inventories, (iii) belt quadrat measurements of taxa‐level (algae, sponges, octocorals and stony corals) density, area coverage and size, and (iv) belt quadrat measurements of species‐level density, area coverage and area per individual or colony. 3. A sampling hierarchy of multiple parameters was utilized to detect changes in benthic community diversity. Substrata and lifeform characterizations (at the taxa‐versus species‐level) were the least sensitive and serve as indicators of catastrophic change in community structure. 4. Changes in spatial patterning of the benthos that may be attributed to low‐level, chronic anthropogenic disturbances can be best studied utilizing belt quadrat measurements. The use of multiple study sites and a sampling hierarchy was useful in minimizing Type II errors and to determine the level of monitoring necessary to segregate natural rates of change from anthropogenic impacts.