Monitoring Spatial and Temporal Seaweeds Variation Using Remote Sensing Data in Al-Shoaiba Coast, Red Sea
Journal Title: International Journal of Environment and Climate Change - Year 2014, Vol 4, Issue 4
Abstract
Aims: Spatial variability and temporal dynamics of benthic seaweeds using the field investigation and Landsat Thematic Mapper images Place and Duration of Study: Al-Shoaiba area, Saudi Arabia, Red Sea was investigated and the study area was divided into four sites extending about 10 km. The study period extended seasonally from summer 2011 to spring 2012. Methodology: The assessment of seaweeds abundance and distribution were performed using quadrate method. Methodology includes analyses of the Enhanced Landsat Thematic Mapper (ETM+) images. Results: A total of 46 seaweed taxa were collected from Al-Shoaiba region belonging to three different algal phyla to extend on reef flat to hundreds of yards to open sea. The field observations showed the broad macroalgal groups as optically mixture. The main confusion was distinguished between macroalgal groups. The contribution of seaweeds varied significantly not only between seasons, but also between sites. The physical parameters showed a close relationship between air and sea water temperatures. Generally, the weather tends to be warm at the selected sites. The pH values were slightly alkaline. Water salinity was relatively high especially in summer and autumn. Diverse of macroalgal communities was shown pronounced seasonal changes. Image classifications of remote sensing data showed large visual appearance of algal vegetation in summer and autumn on the reef flat than in winter and spring. High temperature and evaporation during summer and autumn may causes decline in sea water level. In contrary, low temperature leads to increasing the sea water level to cover most of the reef flat in winter and spring. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the significant impact of seasonal variations, especially temperature, on the spatial and temporal distribution of seaweeds in Al- Shoaiba coast, Saudi Arabia, Red Sea.
Authors and Affiliations
Gihan A. El Shoubaky, Mona F. Kaiser
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP350499
- DOI 10.9734/BJECC/2014/10034
- Views 129
- Downloads 0
Effect of Hydrothermal Treatment on Macro/Micro Nutrients Extraction from Chicken Manure for Liquid Organic Fertilizer Production
In order to study the influence of the hydrothermal treatment technology (HTT) on macro/micro nutrients extraction from two types of chicken manure (broiler chicken manure (BCM) and laying hen chicken manure (LCM)), hydr...
Carbon Sequestration Potential of Agricultural Crops in Designed Plant Growth Chamber
Aim: Climate change is becoming one of the major global environment concerns. The earth’s climate is predicted to change due to release of greenhouse gases and there is an urgent need for stabilizing the increasing level...
Cascade Effect of Climate Warming: Snow Duration - Vole Population Dynamics - Biodiversity
Several recent reports have presented evidence indicating a change in arvicolid rodent dynamics from high-amplitude density cycles to acyclic fluctuations at relatively low level. The data come mostly from Northern Europ...
Challenges and Possibilities in the Multi-Parameter Characterization Techniques for Enhanced Monitoring of CO2 in Geological Carbon Sequestration
Scientific investigations and observations show that carbon dioxide is a major contributor to the increasingly damaging effects of global warming. Thus, geological sequestration of carbon dioxide in saline aquifers is al...
Evaluating Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Potential of Conservation Agriculture in Semi-arid Tropics of Southern India
Aims: As climate change related rainfall and temperature variability is being increasingly experienced in the SAT regions, we assessed climate change mitigation and adaptation potential of Conservation Agriculture (CA) b...