A MULTIVARIATE APPROACH TO ESTABLISH HABITAT CLASSIFICATIONS IN A CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEM USING LANDSAT 7 SATELLITE IMAGERY AT TURNEFFE A TOLL, BELIZE, CENTRAL AMERICA.

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Jason Walter Rueter (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: The use of multivariate cluster and discriminant function analysis of ground truth data\r\nand LANDSAT 7 satellite imagery (23 May 2000) was examined to classify tropical\r\nmarine habitats at Tumeffe Atoll, Belize. Ground truth data were obtained using\r\nSCUBA, digital video and the global positioning system in June 2000 and July 2001.\r\nGround trothing was done by swimming along eleven 150- to 300-meter transect lines\r\nlocated on the southeastern side of the atoll and videotaping bottom habitat from 1.5 m\r\nabove the bottom at 30-meter intervals (126 sites). The still images were displayed on a\r\n21cm x 29 cm flat-screen monitor, overlaid with a 20-cell grid (5.25 cm x 5.80 cm cells),\r\nand% cover of seven bottom cover classes was computed. Using hierarchical cluster\r\nanalysis of water depth and habitat percent cover data, the 126 sites were grouped into\r\nthree distinct habitat clusters (sand, seagrass and coral reef habitats). A discriminant\r\nanalysis of the sites was performed using LANDSAT digital values in enhanced thematic\r\nmapper (ETM+) Bands 1, 2, 3, and 4 (the only ones that penetrate water) as predictors of\r\nhabitat cluster membership. When predicting the habitat class of the sites used for\r\ntraining, coral reef areas were correctly classified 100%, seagrass areas 80 %, and sand\r\ndominated areas 77 % of the time. Using the classification function from the\r\ndiscriminant analysis, the LANDSAT 7 image was recoded to create a habitat map of the\r\nregion surrounding Tumeffe Atoll, showing coral reef, seagrass, and sand-dominated\r\nregions.\r\nUsing the recoded map, new ground truth sites were visited in 2002 to record\r\ndepth and benthic classification. The recoded map had an overall accuracy of 60% and a\r\ntau coefficient of 52.47%. Such maps can be used to identify essential fish habitat areas\r\nand study changes in habitat area over time.

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Language: English

Date: 2023

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