Benthic habitat mapping using remote sensing and GIS and assessment of carrying capacity of a marine park | |
| Author | Basher, Md. Zeenatul |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.AQ-06-22 |
| Subject(s) | Marine parks and reserves--Remote sensing--Thailand Geographic information systems--Thailand Coral reef ecology--Thailand |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. AQ-06-22 |
| Abstract | Thematic maps providing baseline inventory are an important tool in assessing change in coral reef or other ecosystems in the ocean, allowing scientists to spatially document the location of habitats, percentage of habitat cover, and relative overall health of the system. However, very little information on maps showing the distribution of various benthic habitats is available for Thailand. Remote sensing technologies have great potential in overcoming this lack of information. In the present study, Landsat and ASTER satellite images were used to investigate benthic habitats and to map coral reefs in shallower reef top areas. Field survey in combination with GIS were used in this study to generate habitat maps located around three major islands namely Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Lay and Lanta. Phi Phi Islands are under protection as marine national park while Lanta is not under any kind of protection. Dead and live coral reefs and sandy-rocky substrates were identified in Phi Phi Islands while in Lanta only macroalgal beds with sandy-rocky substrates were identified as benthic habitats. Water column correction gave the improved output by eliminating the influence of depth in case of both satellite images. First three bands of both satellites were initially used to map habitats using ISODATA classification. Supervised classification carried out using training data of 9 classes derived from multivariate classification of field survey points. The output image was assessed for accuracy with ground truth data. Both of the satellite images shown lower accuracy (45-59%) in case of higher classed (6 or 9 class) classification. But Landsat showed higher accuracy (81.25%) in mapping of smaller class (4'class) of habitats while ASTER showed better performance in mapping objects with high reflectance value (rocks, sand etc.). Change detection analysis with satellite images of 2005 and 1990 in Phi Phi Don Island shows that a substantial area of live corals was lost over 15 years, indicating the ineffectiveness of protection of the coral reefs in the marine park. Carrying capacity assessment of Phi Phi Islands was carried to provide proper management guidelines for ensuring sustainable use of existing reef environment in this site and similar risk sites. No such kind of study was conducted for coral reefs in this region. Overall carrying capacity of Phi Phi Marine Park ranges from low to moderate, based on the analysis of carrying capacity determinants. Physical carrying capacity is mostly moderate to low while social carrying capacity varies from low to high, based on the condition and status of reefs around the marine park. Steps to increase the carrying capacity of the marine park could be initiated by improving monitoring and public awareness, regulating reef related activities, zoning, creating alternatives to diving and snorkeling, and proper management of sewage and solid waste disposal system |
| Year | 2006 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. AQ-06-22 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management (AQ) |
| Chairperson(s) | Gallardo, Wenresti G. ;Tripathi, Nitin Kumar (Co-Chairperson) ; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Ikejima, Kou ; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of Norway (NORAD); |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2006 |