A novel GIS-MCDA-based spatial habitat suitability model for Posidonia oceanica in the Mediterranean

Bakirman T., GÜMÜŞAY M. Ü.

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT, cilt.192, sa.4, 2020 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 192 Sayı: 4
  • Basım Tarihi: 2020
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s10661-020-8198-1
  • Dergi Adı: ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, ABI/INFORM, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, Aqualine, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Compendex, EMBASE, Environment Index, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, Geobase, Greenfile, MEDLINE, Pollution Abstracts, Public Affairs Index, Veterinary Science Database, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Seagrasses are extremely productive flowering plants that produce oxygen by photosynthesis in the marine environment. They are globally in decline and can become endangered due to human activities and natural hazards. In order to maintain seagrass biodiversity, suitable habitats for this species must be determined and marine protected areas must be established. Recent technology allows acoustic systems to collect accurate high resolution data of the seafloor. Additionally, cost-effective optical satellite images, which provide wide coverage, have been used in various benthic studies. In this study, a habitat suitability model was developed using acoustic and optical data for Posidonia oceanica in Gulluk Bay, Turkey, SE Mediterranean, by applying the geographic information system-multi-criteria decision analysis and remote sensing techniques. Various criteria, namely, depth, sheltered area, slope, sediment yield, and topographic position index, were weighted using the analytic hierarchy process method. The model was able to identify suitable habitats for seagrass with 76% accuracy. The proposed model in the study allows fast, temporal, cost-effective, and sustainable production of seagrass habitat maps.