The Situation
MOP and EEA are interested in advancing our understanding of seafloor habitats in order to inform the development of a habitat classification for ocean waters in State and adjacent federal waters. Bathymetric data obtained through acoustic measurements indicate sediment type, but little data exists to confirm an accurate reading or analysis of these data. In addition, little data exists to associate species with different classes of seafloor sediments.
The Project
MOP has funded a research group at WHOI to analyze imagery of the seafloor taken with their Habitat Mapping Camera System (HabCam). WHOI researchers will process and analyze images taken in MA state waters and adjacent Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary to improve our understanding of seafloor sediments and the species that are commonly associated with these habitat types.
Role in Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning
Improved understanding of seafloor habitats and the species that are associated with these habitats are necessary to develop a habitat classification system. These data will also support the development of models of the ecosystem services that are generated by these habitat types.
Challenges & Applications
Techniques for analyzing the seafloor imagery and the statistical methods for associating species with substrate are applicable to other types of seafloor image and habitat analyses. The limited amount of seafloor that has been surveyed with imaging equipment provides a significant challenge to the confidence researchers have in the species and substrate type associations.
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The ocean floor is a dynamic place. Little is understood about the makeup of seafloor sediments in different locations and the species these sediments support. Seafloor imagery provides a window into these environments and allows researchers to associate species with different types of seafloor habitats. |
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