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- Title
Mapping and Quantification of the Dwarf Eelgrass Zostera noltei Using a Random Forest Algorithm on a SPOT 7 Satellite Image.
- Authors
Benmokhtar, Salma; Robin, Marc; Maanan, Mohamed; Bazairi, Hocein; Kainz, Wolfgang
- Abstract
The dwarf eelgrass Zostera noltei Hornemann (Z. noltei) is the most dominant seagrass in semi-enclosed coastal systems of the Atlantic coast of Morocco. The species is experiencing a worldwide decline and monitoring the extent of its meadows would be a useful approach to estimate the impacts of natural and anthropogenic stressors. Here, we aimed to map the Z. noltei meadows in the Merja Zerga coastal lagoon (Atlantic coast of Morocco) using remote sensing. We used a random forest algorithm combined with field data to classify a SPOT 7 satellite image. Despite the difficulties related to the non-synchronization of the satellite images with the high tide coefficient, our results revealed, with an accuracy of 95%, that dwarf eelgrass beds can be discriminated successfully from other habitats in the lagoon. The estimated area was 160.76 ha when considering mixed beds (Z. noltei-associated macroalgae). The use of SPOT 7 satellite images seems to be satisfactory for long-term monitoring of Z. noltei meadows in the Merja Zerga lagoon and for biomass estimation using an NDVI–biomass quantitative relationship. Nevertheless, using this method of biomass estimation for dwarf eelgrass meadows could be unsuccessful when it comes to areas where the NDVI is saturated due to the stacking of many layers.
- Subjects
MOROCCO; RANDOM forest algorithms; ZOSTERA noltii; REMOTE-sensing images; ZOSTERA; POSIDONIA; BIOMASS estimation; ZOSTERA marina
- Publication
ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, 2021, Vol 10, Issue 5, p313
- ISSN
2220-9964
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/ijgi10050313