Date of Award
2017
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Program
Biology, MS
First Advisor
Daniel Gonzalez-Socoloske
Second Advisor
James L. Hayward
Third Advisor
Robert Zdor
Abstract
In this study, the reliability of low cost side-scan sonar to accurately identify soft substrates such as grass and mud was tested. Benthic substrates can be hard to classify from the surface, necessitating an alternative survey approach. A total area of 11.5 km2 was surveyed with the sonar in a large, brackish mangrove lagoon system. Individual points were ground-truthed for comparison with the sonar recordings to provide a measure of accuracy. Five substrate types were identified: Dense seagrass, sparse seagrass, mangrove soil, mangrove soil with rock, and silt. A zoned benthic substrate map was created from the sonar recordings. Dense seagrass was most accurately identified. Sparse seagrass had the lowest accuracy. A bathymetric map was also created from the sonar recordings. Manatee sighting locations were overlaid on these maps to preliminarily assess habitat use. Most manatee sightings occurred in areas 2–6 m deep and characterized as mangrove soil.
Subject Area
West Indian manatee--Habitat, Habitat (Ecology)
Recommended Citation
McLarty, Mindy J., "West Indian Manatee (Trichechus Manatus) Habitat Characterization Using Side-Scan Sonar" (2017). Master's Theses. 98.
https://dx.doi.org/10.32597/theses/98/
https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/theses/98
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
DOI
https://dx.doi.org/10.32597/theses/98/
