The use of satellite observational technologies has enabled the mapping of coral reef diversity on a global scale, revealing that areas with high habitat diversity also have high species diversity. A research team from the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science conducted a study, stating that this new satellite mapping technique can help identify and protect highly biodiverse reefs in the future.
“With the development of remote sensing technology and the increasing use of satellite images for mapping ecological habitats, we need to understand the biological and ecological significance of these products,” said Sam Purkis, professor and chair of the Department of Marine Geology at the Rosenstiel School and the lead author of the study. “We have shown that these maps can serve as proxies for biodiversity, and thus can be used for ecosystem protection and revitalization.”
Conventional methods for measuring coral reef diversity involve conducting surveys by divers, which is time-consuming and costly. Therefore, the research team sought to find a new method that utilizes remote sensing to create habitat maps on a global scale.
In the study, scientists used a dataset from diver surveys on fish diversity and coral species within the Global Reef Expedition by the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation (KSLOF) in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. The KSLOF maps cover approximately one-fourth of the world’s shallow tropical coral reefs. Purkis serves as the chief scientist for the foundation.
The researchers then used these maps to analyze the complexity of seafloor habitats, which they found to be correlated with the species diversity of organisms living there. This relationship existed in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, suggesting that it can serve as a proxy for reef diversity.
“We demonstrate how seafloor maps can reconstruct the biological diversity of these ecosystems,” said Anna Bakker, a doctoral student in the Department of Marine Geology at the Rosenstiel School and the lead author of the study. “This discovery provides an opportunity to assess reef diversity on a global scale from orbit.”
The findings of this research can aid in spatial planning and the designation of protected areas to conserve highly biodiverse reefs. The study titled “Remotely sensed habitat diversity predicts species diversity on coral reefs” was published in the journal Remote Sensing of Environment. The authors of the study also include Arthur Gleason from the University of Miami, Alexandra Dempsey from the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, and Helen Fox and Rebecca Green from the Coral Reef Alliance.
For more information, visit the link: Anna C. Bakker et al, Remotely sensed habitat diversity predicts species diversity on coral reefs, Remote Sensing of Environment (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.rse.2024.113990.
FAQ:
1. What is the use of satellite observational technologies in studying coral reefs?
Satellite observational technologies allow for the mapping of coral reef diversity on a global scale, enabling the identification of areas with high biological diversity and influencing the protection and revitalization of ecosystems.
2. What are the advantages of satellite mapping compared to diver surveys?
Satellite mapping is less time-consuming and costly compared to traditional diver surveys.
3. What data were used in the study using satellite observational technologies?
The study utilized data from the Global Reef Expedition by the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation (KSLOF), which covers one-fourth of the world’s shallow tropical coral reefs.
4. What are the findings of the study regarding seafloor habitat complexity and species diversity?
The study revealed that seafloor habitat complexity is correlated with the species diversity of organisms living on coral reefs.
5. What are the potential applications of the study’s results?
The results of the study can aid in spatial planning and the designation of protected areas to conserve highly biodiverse reefs.
Key terms:
1. Satellite observational technologies – technologies that use satellite images to monitor and study phenomena on Earth.
2. Coral reefs – marine ecosystems primarily composed of coral polyps.
3. Biological diversity – the variety of species in a given area.
4. Proxy – an indicator or substitute for something else.
5. Remote sensing – the technique of gathering information about objects or phenomena using remote sensory tools.
Suggested related link: [Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science](https://www.rsmas.miami.edu/)
The source of the article is from the blog radardovalemg.com