13 research outputs found
Comparison of small remotely operated vehicles and diver-operated video of circalittoral benthos
Underwater video transect methods using small remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and diveroperated
video (DOV) are commonly used in benthic biodiversity assessments. Constraints posed by deeper
waters have made surveys of the circalittoral zone ([30 m depth), a particularly challenging problem.
Here we compare benthic diversity metrics and cluster analyses obtained with ROV and DOV between 45 and
65 m depth off southwest Iberia, across local (tens to hundreds of meters) and regional scales (tens of
kilometers). Results showed no difference between methods in terms of the benthic species richness,
taxonomic distinctness, and beta diversity, but only minor differences in the spatial structure depicted at
the regional level. At the local scale, DOV performed better at discriminating patterns likely because of the
divers visual acuity. We found that small ROV and DOV are reliable and comparable methods for the
study of circalittoral benthic assemblages and can be used in a complimentary way to detect the greatest
amount of variation in benthic ecosystems. Our study facilitates the understanding of capabilities and limitations
of two underwater video methods and provides important insight into choice of the most appropriate
technique.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio