SGIG

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HABITAT
Intensive evaluation of the evolution of a
protected benthic habitat
Steven Degraer, Vera Van Lancker, Geert
Moerkerke, Gert Van Hoey, M. Vincx, J.P. Henriet
P. Jacobs
SGIG
Financed by
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Area of interest
e.g. common scoter Melanitta nigra
Special protection area
Food resource macrobenthos
Site of Community Interest
Importance of benthic habitat
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HABITAT
Intensive evaluation of the evolution of a
protected benthic habitat
Steven Degraer, Vera Van Lancker, Geert
Moerkerke, Gert Van Hoey, M. Vincx, J.P. Henriet
P. Jacobs
SGIG
Financed by
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Bathymetric-morphological map
Schematic presentation of the HABITAT project
Sedimentological map
Hydrodynamical map
Macrobenthic map
PRELIMINARY MAPS
Selection subarea
sampling campaign spatial variation (macrobenthos
, physico-chemical environment)
sampling campaign temporal variation (macrobentho
s, physico-chemical environment)
HABITAT STRUCTURE MAP
DEVELOPMENT OF QUICK AND LOW-COST EVALUATION
TOOLS HABITAT-model and Macrobenthic Side-Scan
Sonar Interpretation
Sampling campaign test (macrobenthos,
physico-chemical environment)
DEVELOPMENT OF MONITORINGS STRATEGIES AND
METHODOLOGIES TO EVALUATE THE MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Study area
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Part 1. Review of the benthic habitat
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Background information
Geomorphology
Sedimentology
Hydrodynamics
Macrobenthos
No spatial extrapolation possible
Detailed investigation necessary
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Part 2. Habitat structure map
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Sampling campaigns
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Variables taken into account
Biology (120 stations) Macrobenthic species
composition, density and biomass Macrobenthic
community structure Physico-chemical environment
(120 stations) Pigment content of the water
column and sediment Nutrient content of the
water column and sediment Grain-size
distribution Temperature, oxygen concentration
and salinity Remote sensing (3/5 of
area) Side-scan sonar recordings Bathymetry
(single- and multibeam) October 1999, March
2000, November 2000
Ground truthing sampling points
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Sedimentological map
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Bathymetrical settings
Digital terrain model from multibeam registrations
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Side-scan sonar mosaics
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3D presentation side-scan sonar multibeam
VHR multiparameter image on the basis of combined
multibeam side-scan sonar imagery
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Macrobenthos composition
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Macrobenthos community structure
Ophelia limacina Glycera lapidum community
Abra alba Mysella bidentata community
Magelona mirabilis species association
Nephtys cirrosa community
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Macrobenthos spatial distribution
Abra alba Mysella bidentata community
Nephtys cirrosa community
Ophelia limacina Glycera lapidum community
Magelona mirabilis species association
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Habitat structure map
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Part 3. Time- and cost-efficient evaluation tools
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Part 3a. Macrobenthic side-scan
sonar interpretation
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CONCEPT
SEDIMENTOLOGY
Macrobenthic habitat preferences
Sedimentological interpretation
SIDE-SCAN SONAR RECORDINGS
MACROBENTHOS
MACROBENTHIC SIDE-SCAN SONAR INTERPRETATION
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Macrobenthic habitat preferences sedimentology
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Sedimentological interpretation of side-scan
sonar recordings
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Macrobenthic side-scan sonar interpretation Biohe
rm structures
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Macrobenthos Lanice conchilega
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Macrobenthic side-scan sonar interpretation Sedim
entological habitat preferences (1)
Area representative for A. alba M. bidentata
community
Area representative for M. mirabilis species
association
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Macrobenthic side-scan sonar interpretation Sedim
entological habitat preferences (1)
Area representative for N. cirrosa or O. limacina
G. lapidum community

• Area representative for
• A. alba M. bidentata community

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Macrobenthic side-san sonar interpretation
Full-coverage delineation of ecological relevant
strata
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Part 3b. HABITAT model
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HABITAT model
CONCEPT
Biology
MODELING Quantified linking of environmental and
macrobenthic parameters using multiple discrimant
analysis
Physical environment
HABITAT model
Chemical environment
Based on macrobenthic habitat preferences
Quantified linking
Identification of ecological relevant variables
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Part 4. Implications for future management
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Strategies for future monitoring
1. Selection of strata, based on remote
sensing end-user and budget-dependent
2. Follow-up of monitoring stations Macrobenthos E
cological relevant environmental variables (cf.
HABITAT model)
3. Full-coverage monitoring of the benthic
environment e.g. side-scan sonar