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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #78534
Title: REMOTE SENSING OF OYSTER REEFS AND BLACK MANGROVE COMMUNITIES ALONG THE TEXAS GULF COAST

Author
item JUDD, FRANK - PAN-AM UT,EDINBURG,TX
item Everitt, James
item Escobar, David
item Davis, Michael
item HOCKADAY, DONALD - PAN-AM-UT,COASTAL STUDIES

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/5/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This paper presents an overview on the application of remote sensing technologies to determine the distribution and abundance of oyster reefs and black mangrove communities along the Texas Gulf Coast. Aerial photography, airborne videography, and SPOT satellite imagery are addressed. Color-infrared photography and videography were both used successfully to distinguish oyster reefs. Color-infrared photography and videography, and SPOT satellite imagery, were evaluated for distinguishing and mapping black mangrove communities. SPOT data was useful for distinguishing large stands (greater than 20 m in diameter) of mangrove, while both photography and videography were useful for distinguishing individual plants and small clumps. Computer-based image analyses of all three types of imagery showed that mangrove populations could be quantified. The integration of a global positioning system (GPS) with the video imagery permitted latitude-longitude coordinates of black mangrove populations to be recorded on each image. The GPS coordinates were entered into a geographic information system (GIS) to map black mangrove populations along the Texas Gulf Coast.