Multi-temporal mapping of seagrass cover, species and biomass of the Eastern Banks, Moreton Bay

Created 23/06/2025

Updated 23/06/2025

The spatial and temporal dynamics of seagrasses have been studied from the leaf to patch (100 m2) scales. However, landscape scale (> 100 km2) seagrass population dynamics are unresolved in seagrass ecology. Previous remote sensing approaches have lacked the temporal or spatial resolution, or ecologically appropriate mapping, to fully address this issue. This paper presents a robust, semi-automated object-based image analysis approach for mapping dominant seagrass species, percentage cover and above ground biomass using a time series of field data and coincident high spatial resolution satellite imagery. The study area was a 142 km**2 shallow, clear water seagrass habitat (the Eastern Banks, Moreton Bay, Australia). Nine data sets acquired between 2004 and 2013 were used to create seagrass species and percentage cover maps through the integration of seagrass photo transect field data, and atmospherically and geometrically corrected high spatial resolution satellite image data (WorldView-2, IKONOS and Quickbird-2) using an object based image analysis approach. Biomass maps were derived using empirical models trained with in-situ above ground biomass data per seagrass species. Maps and summary plots identified inter- and intra-annual variation of seagrass species composition, percentage cover level and above ground biomass. The methods provide a rigorous approach for field and image data collection and pre-processing, a semi-automated approach to extract seagrass species and cover maps and assess accuracy, and the subsequent empirical modelling of seagrass biomass. The resultant maps provide a fundamental data set for understanding landscape scale seagrass dynamics in a shallow water environment. Our findings provide proof of concept for the use of time-series analysis of remotely sensed seagrass products for use in seagrass ecology and management.

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Additional Info

Field Value
Title Multi-temporal mapping of seagrass cover, species and biomass of the Eastern Banks, Moreton Bay
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/7ebfe0e2-7cfe-4ed7-b52e-5dfe4b93712c
Contact Point
Australian Ocean Data Network
c.roelfsema@uq.edu.au
Reference Period 17/09/2004 - 05/08/2013
Geospatial Coverage
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
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  "type": "Polygon"
}
Data Portal Australian Oceans Data Network

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Australian Oceans Data Network "Multi-temporal mapping of seagrass cover, species and biomass of the Eastern Banks, Moreton Bay". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://catalogue.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/multi-temporal-mapping-of-seagrass-cover-species-and-biomass-of-the-eastern-banks-moreton-bay