1 / 13

Structural and Dynamic Habitat in the Suwannee Estuary

In this cooperative effort, we aim to use remotely sensed imagery to map and link the subtidal and intertidal habitats in the Suwannee Estuary. The goal is to develop a resource management tool that integrates habitat mapping with fish ecology and dynamic habitat analysis. This project will provide valuable information for the conservation and management of the unique ecological value of the estuary, as well as support the recreation and shellfish industry.

arlinek
Download Presentation

Structural and Dynamic Habitat in the Suwannee Estuary

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Structural and Dynamic Habitat in the Suwannee Estuary Ellen Raabe, Randy Edwards, and Carole McIvor

  2. Cooperative Effort • Cooperative data acquisition with FDEP • FWS/USGS cooperative • USGS Director’s Venture Capital • Integrated science

  3. Why Suwannee Estuary? • Confluence of fresh and tidal waters (MFL) • Existing Research/FWS • Unique Setting and Ecological value • Recreation and Shellfish Industry • Opportunity for Integrated Science CASI imagery Suwannee Estuary Bands 9,7,5

  4. An application of remotely sensed imagery to integrated habitat mapping • To map subtidal and intertidal habitat with hyperspectral imagery (CASI) • To link structural and dynamic habitat • To link habitat to fish ecology • To develop resource management tool

  5. H A B I T A T Submerged flats Flooded low marsh Submerged limestone and high brackish marsh Tidal creek in forest

  6. Habitat Map • CASI imagery • 4m, 12 bands • Habitats • Submerged • Emergent • Uplands • Bumblebee Creek • Barnett Creek

  7. Estuarine Fish Ecology • Similar species composition North and South • Freshwater species in south tidal creeks • Seasonal and interannual variation? • Habitat use and preferences? • Dynamic habitat and benthic biota?

  8. 0-25 ppt Tidal lag into creeks 1.5 - 2 hours Net GW discharge At low tide Strongest signal in northern creek Need data: Water flow/depth WQ and salinity Sediment load Plankton Benthic biota Accessibility, duration, stability Dynamic Habitat

  9. Flood zones • Submerged • Tidal creeks • Shallow flats • Low marsh • Brackish marsh • High marsh • Low elevation freshwater habitats

  10. Future • Strengths of remotely sensed imagery • Low impact to habitat • Objective and large geographic coverage • Varied resolution and band selection • Topography, thermal, hyperspectral • Repeatability • quantitative change versus qualitative • habitat dynamics versus snapshot • Benthic Habitats: expand new field, new technique • to basin river bed, wetlands, uplands • to water source, quality and levels

  11. Landscape Level Links • Bathymetry and topography - merge • Tidal and sea level dynamics • River discharge, groundwater and estuarine water quality • Geology and sedimentary process • from Ecosystem to Microhabitat • Wetland biota with habitat • Estuarine health and productivity

  12. Detailed habitat and substrate features Management tool (FWS) Road impact Species habitat Tide levels and flood Coordinate with hydrology, biota, & geomorphic process studies Need: comprehensive mapping effort hydrologic monitoring and models (GW) spectral signatures of select features identification of key issues Summary

  13. Potential Collaborators FWS FDEP FMRI UF USF SRWMD FGS USDA

More Related