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| Title | Digital Acoustic System to Monitor & Map Ecosystem |
| Author | Joel Hoffman, Janusz Burczynski, Bruce Sabol & Mark Heilman |
| Date | Apr-09-2002 |
| Description | Underwater acoustic technology provides powerful tools for determining size, abundance, and distribution of both fish and plankton. Recent developments in classifying bottom substrates and quantifying underwater vegetation make hydroacoustics an effective tool for monitoring and mapping habitat parameters in aquatic ecosystems. This study incorporated hydroacoustic sampling for bathymetry, substrate type, underwater vegetation, and fish distribution in Lake Washington, Seattle, USA. Data were collected using three independent echo sounder systems, to maximize data accuracy and vessel use, and geo-referenced using a Differential Global Positioning System enabling the acoustic data to be used in a Geographic Information System. Results indicated that aquatic vegetation was limited to depths less than 8 m, four different bottom substrates were identified, fish density was generally low (0.1 m -3 ) and patchy. This method proved to be an effective way to study various habitat influences on fish distribution, as well as map and monitor important physical and seasonal habitat parameters such as bathymetry, bottom character, and aquatic vegetation distribution. |
| Doc | lake_wa_assessment.pdf |
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