Video Surveys
Direct insights require clear water Direct insights require clear water
based on the Procedural Guideline 3-5based on the Procedural Guideline 3-5
of the “Marine Monitoring Handbook”:of the “Marine Monitoring Handbook”:
Identifying biotopes using video recordingsIdentifying biotopes using video recordings
Purpose
identify and map habitats/biotopesidentify and map habitats/biotopes identify megafauna and macrophyte species identify megafauna and macrophyte species
(including inicator species)(including inicator species) ground truthing of acoustic surveysground truthing of acoustic surveys identify suitable stations for further identify suitable stations for further
samplingsampling baseline for future monitoringbaseline for future monitoring
Visual Indicators of Environmental Stress
dead animalsdead animals specific behaviour of animalsspecific behaviour of animals lost food pelletslost food pellets methane bubblesmethane bubbles filamentous algaefilamentous algae mats of leucothiobacteriamats of leucothiobacteria garbagegarbage
What do we need?
Two skilled and experienced persons & helmsmanTwo skilled and experienced persons & helmsman A vessel with a stable working platform and preferably a A vessel with a stable working platform and preferably a
dry cabindry cabin A consumer-grade camcorder with housing, lighting, A consumer-grade camcorder with housing, lighting,
umbilical, and board-unitumbilical, and board-unit frame or sledge for protection and positioningframe or sledge for protection and positioning (differential) GPS(differential) GPS echo-sounderecho-sounder computer/logger recording time, depth and positioncomputer/logger recording time, depth and position Power SupplyPower Supply
Survey Design
could be random or stratified random (not explicitely could be random or stratified random (not explicitely specified in guideline)specified in guideline)
standardise effort, e.g. boat drifts with the deployed standardise effort, e.g. boat drifts with the deployed camera a distance of 100 mcamera a distance of 100 m
seasonal variation of turbidity and weather conditions seasonal variation of turbidity and weather conditions restrict the time of the surveyrestrict the time of the survey
in tidal areas the survey should be conducted around in tidal areas the survey should be conducted around slack waterslack water
clocks should be carefully synchronizedclocks should be carefully synchronized handwritten field log with times and positions of handwritten field log with times and positions of
deploymentsdeployments
Data analysis
Identify as many species as possibleIdentify as many species as possible Estimate abundances and sizeEstimate abundances and size Use standardised recording sheetsUse standardised recording sheets After scoring a complete run use data to define After scoring a complete run use data to define
biotopes/habitats (lower size limit 5mbiotopes/habitats (lower size limit 5m2)2)
Compare/match identified biotopes with national Compare/match identified biotopes with national biotope classification (Connor et al. 1997) and biotope classification (Connor et al. 1997) and regional/local biotope descriptionsregional/local biotope descriptions
Quality Assurance
Guidance and Training of personnel, especially for Guidance and Training of personnel, especially for recognition of critical components of biotopesrecognition of critical components of biotopes
Regional description of national biotopesRegional description of national biotopes Second opinion, ca. 10 % of the records should be Second opinion, ca. 10 % of the records should be
double-checkeddouble-checked A reference library of video clips and stills A reference library of video clips and stills
showing variatons of confirmed biotopes should showing variatons of confirmed biotopes should be establishedbe established
Time required
10-25 deployments can be achieved per day10-25 deployments can be achieved per day One 100-m-deployment takes 10-20 minOne 100-m-deployment takes 10-20 min scoring tapes takes about two to three times scoring tapes takes about two to three times
the real-time length of the video footagethe real-time length of the video footage required time for matching identified required time for matching identified
biotopes with national biotope biotopes with national biotope classification?classification?