Submersed vascular plants: Techniques for analyzing their distribution and abundance
Orth RJ and Moore KA. 1983. Submersed vascular plants: Techniques for analyzing their distribution and abundance. Marine Technology Society Journal. 17(2):38-52
Beds of submersed vascular plants represent distinct features of shallow water environments. Examination of their distribution and abudance patterns is possible both spatially and temporally using field and remote sensing techniques. Generally used field techniques include qualitative observations and quantitative sampling with transects, completely random and stratified random analyses. Sampling must involve an adequate number of samples and sample size but also appropriate collection devices, such as corers. Remote sensing techniques rely on the acquistion of imagery, either from planes or satellites. Grass beds appearing as distinct features in imagery can be mapped and areal distributions computed. Historical photgraphs can provide information on these systems for earlier years. The acquisition of adequate imagery for mapping depends on sun angle, wind velocity, and cloud cover. A combination of remote sensing information and field survey data enables an efficient, effective and productive analysis of the distribution and abundance of submersed vascular plants. Abstract provided by author.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Orth, Robert; Moore, Kenneth
- Units
- BISC
- Keywords
- Abundance, Aerial Photography, Corers, Distribution, Ecology, Ecosystems, Grass beds, heterogeneity, Heterogeneous, Homogenous, Line intercept method, Methodologies, Percent coverage, Qualitative data, Quantitative Data, Species Composition, Submerged vascular plants, Transect analysis, Vegetation, Water environments