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Using community-based monitoring with GIS to create habitat maps for a marine protected area in Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 July 2008

Jacquomo Monk*
Affiliation:
School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, PO Box 423, Warrnambool, Victoria 3280, Australia
Daniel Ierodiaconou
Affiliation:
School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, PO Box 423, Warrnambool, Victoria 3280, Australia
Alecia Bellgrove
Affiliation:
School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, PO Box 423, Warrnambool, Victoria 3280, Australia
Laurie Laurenson
Affiliation:
School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, PO Box 423, Warrnambool, Victoria 3280, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Jacquomo MonkSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin University, PO Box 423, Warrnambool, Victoria 3280, Australia email: jacquomo.monk@deakin.edu.au

Abstract

In recent years there has been an increase in community-based monitoring programmes developed and implemented worldwide. This paper describes how the data collected from such a programme could be integrated into a Geographic Information System (GIS) to create temperate subtidal marine habitat maps. A differential Global Positioning System was utilized to accurately record the location of the trained community-based SCUBA diver data. These georeferenced data sets were then used to classify benthic habitats using an aerial photograph and digitizing techniques. This study demonstrated that trained community-based volunteers can collect data that can be utilized within a GIS to create reliable and cost-effective maps of shallow temperate subtidal rocky reef systems.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2008

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