Applications of Remote Photography to the Study of Coastal Ecology in Biscayne Bay, Florida

Résumé du livre

The use of aerial photography to study synoptic distribution of bottom biotic cover is described. Such photography is very valuable in conducting ecological surveys; it enabled locational description of the types of bottom cover, aided in understanding dynamic relationships between bottom cover, sediment distribution and currents, allowed detection and monitoring of man-made effects and pollution, and helped locate unusual or anomalous bottom features. It is concluded that aerial and satellite photography, if of sufficient resolution, may be valuable tools for the marine ecologist and coastal resource worker. However, much work is needed to provide a backlog of information on photointerpretation, and continued field work will be needed. Because of lack of information on coastal biotic distributions, the variability and complexity of the estuarine environment, and variations in the overlying water, it is felt that advanced instrumentation such as multispectral scanners, etc. cannot be optimally used without much more work using careful conventional photointerpretation. It is also argued that work is needed on temperate and turbid areas, particularly to evaluate the possibilities of studying the distribution of suspended materials using photography, image enhancement, and spectral scanning techniques. This may aid in monitoring biological productivity, pollution effluents and circulation patterns. Portions of this work were reported at the ASP- SPSE meetings, June 9-11, 1969, and are published in the seminar proceedings "New Horizons in Color Aerial Photography" American Society of Photogrammetry, p. 347-355.