Year
2024
Season
Fall
Paper Type
Master's Thesis
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Degree Name
Master of Science in Biology (MS)
Department
Biology
NACO controlled Corporate Body
University of North Florida. Department of Biology
First Advisor
Nikki Dix
Second Advisor
Brandon Puckett
Third Advisor
Scott Jones
Department Chair
Matthew Gilg
Abstract
Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) reefs provide critical ecosystem services, including shoreline stabilization, water filtration, and habitat for diverse marine species. However, these reef habitats are declining globally due to overharvesting, disease, and environmental change. This study evaluated the effectiveness of in-situ vs drone-based methods for detecting differences in oyster reef structure focusing on percent live cover and rugosity as key indicators. We also compared these methods in terms of cost, effort, and variability. Using data collected from Northeast Florida on a variety of reef types exposed to various disturbances, we developed generalized linear models to evaluate for differences among five reefs and compared the precision and scalability of both methods. Results demonstrate that drone-based approaches detected differences in percent cover and rugosity among reefs that were expected to vary, while in-situ methods did not. We found drone-based methods to have a similar cost to in-situ based methods in long-term studies, require less personnel, and cover copious amounts of area while providing meaningful metrics. This research advances our understanding of long-term oyster reef monitoring techniques and highlights the necessity for new technology-driven conservation strategies to improve management and restoration outcomes. We conclude with recommendations for incorporating drone technology into comprehensive long-term monitoring programs, highlighting its potential as a minimally invasive, scalable solution for marine ecosystem monitoring.
Suggested Citation
Bennett, Alyah, "Assessing unoccupied aircraft and ground-based methods for detecting differences in intertidal oyster (Crassostrea virginica) reef structure" (2024). UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 1313.
https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/1313
