Publication Abstract
- Title
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Distribution and dynamics of intertidal macrobenthos predicted from remote sensing: response to microphytobenthos and environment
- Publication Abstract
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Distribution and dynamics of intertidal macrobenthos predicted from remote sensing: response to microphytobenthos and environment
D. van der Wal, P.M.J. Herman, R.M. Forster*, F. Rossi
The intertidal macrobenthos community in soft-sediments may be structured by their physical environment or by the availability of food. We investigated which variables could predict the spatial distribution and dynamics of benthic macrofauna on an intertidal flat. A time-series of samples of macrobenthos and sediment grain-size were complemented by time-series of microphytobenthos and macrophytobenthos biomass and sediment grain-size from airborne hyperspectral remote sensing, and elevation from laseraltimetry. Response models were constructed to predict biomass and species diversity of macrobenthos as a function of the environmental variables. Deep deposit feeders were found to respond mainly to the mud content of the sediment, whereas surface deposit feeders responded to microphytobenthos biomass. The environmental conditions to reach maximum biomass differed for each macrobenthos species. Application of the response models to the remote sensing derived maps of the environmental variables enabled significant predictions of the spatial distribution of macrobenthos biomass, demonstrating the differences in distribution of the macrobenthos species. The models also revealed the sensitivity of the macrobenthos community to environmental change. In-situ and remote sensing data demonstrated a significant fining of the sediment and an increase in microphytobenthos biomass. Field observations also showed a significant increase in species diversity and changes in macrobenthos community, with a decrease in Bathyporeia pilosa, and an increase in Nereis diversicolor, Pygospio elegans and Heteromastus filiformis. Such changes in macrobenthos biomass and diversity were indeed predicted from the response models. The study demonstrates that the synoptic remote sensing techniques combined with field sampling allow efficient ecological mapping and monitoring.
Reference
D. van der Wal, P.M.J. Herman, R.M. Forster*, F. Rossi (2008) Distribution and dynamics of intertidal macrobenthos predicted from remote sensing: response to microphytobenthos and environment. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 367: 57-72
- Publication Internet Address of the Data
- Publication Authors
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D. van der Wal, P.M.J. Herman, R.M. Forster*, F. Rossi
- Publication Date
- September 2008
- Publication Reference
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Marine Ecology Progress Series, 367: 57-72
- Publication DOI: https://doi.org/
