The application of automated segmentation methods and fragmentation statistics to characterise rocky reef habitat

The techniques presented in this study remove the qualitative assessment of rocky reef patch identification by applying robust methods for automated reef delineation from sidescan sonar records using a segmentation algorithm. Object texture, shape and size are investigated to discriminate reef from sand habitat. These results are applied to spatially explicit fragmentation statistics to examine the role of scale and habitat arrangement in determining habitat distribution patterns on the east coast of Tasmania.

Keywords:

• object oriented classification
• GIS
• marine habitat mapping
• sidescan sonar
• fragmentation statistics