A comparison of baleen whale density estimates derived from overlapping satellite imagery and a shipborne survey
A comparison of baleen whale density estimates derived from overlapping satellite imagery and a shipborne survey
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DOI：
10.1038/s41598-020-69887-y
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发表时间：
2020-07-31
影响因子：
4.6
通讯作者：
Jackson, J. A.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Bamford, C. C. G.;Kelly, N.;Jackson, J. A.
随着鲸鱼从商业捕捞中恢复过来，它们几十年来一直缺席的栖息地数量不断增加。然而，研究鲸鱼的恢复和栖息地利用模式，特别是在偏远和交通不便的地区，经常会带来后勤和经济挑战。在这里，我们使用超高分辨率 WorldView-3 卫星图像尝试一种测量偏远地区鲸鱼密度的新方法。这种方法能够提供目击数据来补充和协助传统的目击调查。我们将海上鲸鱼密度估计值与相似时间收集的卫星图像得出的估计值进行比较，并使用吸盘档案记录器数据对表面可用性进行调整。我们证明卫星图像可以提供有关鲸鱼出现和密度的有用数据。当未根据表面可用性进行调整时，密度明显低于船舶调查估计的密度。然而，根据地表可用性和天气条件（每公里 0.13 头鲸鱼（2），CV=0.38）进行调整后，它们属于传统线样线估计得出的数量级（每公里 0.33 头鲸鱼（2），CV=0.09）。卫星调查代表了基于高分辨率图像的海上鲸目动物观测的令人兴奋的发展，特别是在难以到达的地区，为正在进行和未来的研究提供了机会。
As whales recover from commercial exploitation, they are increasing in abundance in habitats that they have been absent from for decades. However, studying the recovery and habitat use patterns of whales, particularly in remote and inaccessible regions, frequently poses logistical and economic challenges. Here we trial a new approach for measuring whale density in a remote area, using Very-High-Resolution WorldView-3 satellite imagery. This approach has capacity to provide sightings data to complement and assist traditional sightings surveys. We compare at-sea whale density estimates to estimates derived from satellite imagery collected at a similar time, and use suction-cup archival logger data to make an adjustment for surface availability. We demonstrate that satellite imagery can provide useful data on whale occurrence and density. Densities, when unadjusted for surface availability are shown to be considerably lower than those estimated by the ship survey. However, adjusted for surface availability and weather conditions (0.13 whales per km(2), CV=0.38), they fall within an order of magnitude of those derived by traditional line-transect estimates (0.33 whales per km(2), CV=0.09). Satellite surveys represent an exciting development for high-resolution image-based cetacean observation at sea, particularly in inaccessible regions, presenting opportunities for ongoing and future research.