ARS | Publication request: Use of archive aerial photography for monitoring black mangrove populations

Submitted to: Journal of Coastal Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: February 15, 2009
Publication Date: July 10, 2010
Citation: Everitt, J.H., Yang, C., Davis, M.R. 2010. Use of archive aerial photography for monitoring black mangrove populations. Journal of Coastal Research. 26(4):649-653.

Interpretive Summary: Mangrove communities are an important vegetation component of coastal areas of the tropics and subtropics where they prevent shore erosion and provide wildlife habitat. A study was conducted on the lower south Texas Gulf Coast to evaluate archive aerial color-infrared (CIR) photography and supervised image analysis to quantify changes in black mangrove populations over a 26-year period on two study sites (sites 1 and 2). Site 1 photographs from 1976, 1988, and 2002 showed black mangrove populations made up 5.1%, 13.3%, and 16.9% of the study site, respectively. Site 2 photographs from 1976 and 2002 showed that black mangrove populations made up 0.7% and 1.6% of the study site, respectively. These results indicate that archive CIR photographs and image analysis techniques are useful tools to monitor and quantify changes in black mangrove populations over time. These findings should be of interest to coastal zone resource managers.

Technical Abstract: A study was conducted on the south Texas Gulf Coast to evaluate archive aerial color-infrared (CIR) photography combined with supervised image analysis techniques to quantify changes in black mangrove [Avicennia germinans (L.) L.] populations over a 26-year period. Archive CIR film from two study sites (sites 1 and 2) was studied. Photographs of site 1 from 1976, 1988, and 2002 showed black mangrove populations made up 5.1%, 13.3% and 16.9% of the study site, respectively. Photographs of site 2 from 1976 and 2002 showed that black mangrove populations made up 0.7% and 1.6% of the study site, respectively. These results indicate that aerial photographs coupled with image analysis techniques can be useful tools to monitor and quantify black mangrove populations over time.