Comparing Approaches to Benthic Habitat Mapping

Researchers at the Graduate School of Oceanography and Department of Geosciences at the University of Rhode Island have compared top-down and bottom-up approaches to benthic habitat mapping, as a response to increased interest in ocean renewables in the United States.

The research was conducted at two sites offshore Rhode Island considered for wind farm development.

According to a published abstract of the project, this comparison was undertaken to improve understanding of mapping methodologies and their applicability, including of the bottom-up approach in offshore environments where data density tends to be lower, as well as to provide case studies for scientists and managers to consider for their own areas of interest.

The traditional top-down mapping approach identifies biological community patterns based on communities occurring within geologically defined habitat map units, under the concept that geologic environments contain distinct biological assemblages. Alternatively, the bottom-up approach aims to establish habitat map units centered on biological similarity and then uses statistics to identify relationships with associated environmental parameters and determine habitat boundaries.

While both studies were found to be suited for mapping and classifying benthic habitats, the top-down approach was better suited for this particular study.

With no established objectives for mapping and classification for renewable energy development, the best-suited approach primarily depends on mapping objectives, resource availability, data quality and coverage, and geographical location.