Objective stratification and sampling-effort allocation of ground-truthing in benthic-mapping surveys

Annika J. Clements, James A. Strong, Clare Flanagan, Matthew Service

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The application of statistical procedures for objective stratification of sampling effort during map ground-truthing is presented. Marine benthic mapping is usually undertaken in two stages: a remotely sensed acoustic survey followed by ground-truthing to confirm ground-type and habitat classification. The objective of this study was to assess the application of optimum allocation analysis (OAA) through the use of remotely sensed data to direct expensive ground-truthing sampling effort. At an offshore site in the Irish Sea, classification of remotely sensed data, namely bathymetry and slope angle, generated six predicted ground-types. Calculated data variances within each ground-type were assumed to be a predictor of substratum heterogeneity, and these were used in an OAA to apportion ground-truthing effort objectively within each ground-type in order to achieve a set level of sampling precision. The sampling effort recommended by the OAA was realistic and practical with regard to video footage, but the collection of grabs was limited by resource constraints. The coefficient of variation (CV) of the video ground-truthing data matched that estimated by OAA, but the inability to collect all the recommended grabs resulted in CVs greater than expected for sediment grain-size parameters. The efficient identification of substratum classes using OAA represents a first stage whereby this method could direct ground-truthing that could ultimately be used for habitat mapping.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)628-637
Number of pages10
JournalICES Journal of Marine Science
Volume67
Issue number4
Early online date20 Dec 2009
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Benthic habitat mapping
  • Ground-truthing
  • Optimum allocation analysis
  • Remote sensing
  • Stratified sampling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oceanography
  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Aquatic Science
  • Ecology

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