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Comparison of small remotely operated vehicles and diver-operated video of circalittoral benthos

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Abstract

Underwater video transect methods using small remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and diver-operated 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.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the captain and crew of R/V Pagrus (CCMAR) and Ranger (OCEANA), and of XEGUE dive boat provided by Subnauta. We are particularly thankful to the CCMAR ROV pilots Frederico Oliveira and Luis Bentes for the efficiency in resolving technical problems with Calappa during field surveys. We also acknowledge the many volunteer divers of Entrada dive club, CPAS, project Deep Reefs, and independent divers, especially Luís Magro, Delfim Machado, João Pedro Fonseca, Ricardo Constantino, Pieter Truter, Diogo Paulo, and Bartek Cyperling. We greatly appreciate the useful comments of José Nuno Pereira, Diogo Paulo and Rui Coelho and the help given by several people in species identification: Algae: Mafalda Tavares (CCMAR) and Estibaliz Berecibar (EMEPC); Porifera: Francisco Pires (University of Algarve, CIBIO) and Joana Xavier (CIBIO-Azores); Eunicella filiformis: Stephane Sartoreto (IFREMER); Ellisella paraplexauroides: Pedro Monteiro (CCMAR); Savalia savaglia: Andreia Braga-Henriques (IMAR); Holothurians: Mercedes Wangüemert (CCMAR); and Mollusks: Carlos Afonso (University of Algarve) and João Pedro Silva (IN + Instituto Superior Técnico). We also thank the anonymous referee and editor for their suggestions to improve the manuscript. This research was supported with funding from the Inaqua Conservation Fund by Oceanário de Lisboa and National Geographic Channel through project Deep Reefs, a National Geographic/Waitt Grant (No. W153-11), MeshAtlantic project, ASSEMBLE grant agreement no. 227799 and OCEANA (Expedition Portugal 2011) and additional support for field expenses by Subnauta. JB was supported by a doctoral Grant (SFRH/72501/2010) awarded by “Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia” (FCT).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Marine Sciences, CCMAR, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal

    Joana Boavida, Jorge Assis, Ester A. Serrão & Jorge M. S. Gonçalves

  2. Cooperative Institute of Ocean Research, Exploration and Technology, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, 5600 U.S. 1 North, Fort Pierce, FL, 34949, USA

    John Reed

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  1. Joana Boavida
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Correspondence to Joana Boavida.

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Boavida, J., Assis, J., Reed, J. et al. Comparison of small remotely operated vehicles and diver-operated video of circalittoral benthos. Hydrobiologia 766, 247–260 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-015-2459-y

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