Turning images into numbers: The case of the Gooseneck Barnacle

RPP18: Extracting information from archived pictures for a patch dynamics study in the Asturian rocky shore

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

Screen Recording 2020-06-17 at 11.56.32 AM.mov

Knowledge informs conservation and preservation.

Where are we in the world?

THE COUNTRY

THE REGION

THE COASTLINE

THE QUADRATS

What are we doing?

time series.mp4

Turning photographs into data

Every 3 months, for 2 years, photographs were taken of the same quadrats.

We used this valuable time-series data to extract information -

Information about the processes and patterns occurring within this ecosystem.

Why are we observing this species?

The gooseneck barnacle (Pollicipes pollicipes)

Commercial value

High consumer demand makes this species highly coveted by many fisherman along the Asturian coastline. Along with the market prices, the demand for goose-neck barnacle has led to its over-exploitation. As such, in order to ensure the survival of the species, we need to create effective management plans.

Biodiversity value

Organisms within an ecosystem are interdependent and interlinked. The functioning and health of the ecosystems depend upon each individual component. Removing a species from the system is likely to have knock-on effects across the entire system. These effects also effect humans, who rely on the ecosystems services provided.

Intrinsic value

The intrinsic value of a species acknowledges the inherent value that it has on its own, independent to the value of it to human beings.

How are we going to retrieve this information and use it?

In order to create measures to protect and conserve this species, we need to understand the dynamics of the system which facilitate the recruitment and development of the barnacle. This includes environmental conditions such as season as well as other species which facilitate the growth and survival of the barnacle.

SETTING THE SCENE

_Las_Llanas-T1-R2-Y2 - QGIS 2020-06-16 16-58-17.mp4

Identifying and mapping current patches of the gooseneck barnacle

Using QuantumGIS to draw polygons around the gooseneck barnacle patches

From photographs to data - extract the area of each patch.

The areas can then be used to map the changes to the sizes of the patches over time.

IDENTIFYING NEW PATCHES OF THE GOOSE NECK BARNACLE

30cm x 30cm

Searching the quadrat for a new patch.

10cm x 10cm

Taking a closer look.

2cm x 2cm

New patch found!

TURNING THE "NEW PATCH" INTO DATA

By identifying what other species have been found in the exact same spot of the new patch, before the establishment of the new patch.

This can then be used to identify which species facilitate the recruitment of the barnacle.

This helps to aid in conservation and management decisions about which areas to protect.

Commonly found species:

Barnacles (Chthamalus spp.)

Mussels (Mytilus spp.)

Encrusting coralline alga (Lithophyllum tortuosum)

Crustose brown seaweed (Ralfsia verrucosa)

TRY IT YOURSELF

Identify the species

Using the pictures above, analyze the percentage cover for each species:

0 = No appeareance

1 = Slight appearance

2 = 25% cover

3 = 50% cover

4 = 75% cover

5 = 100% cover

Next step would be to enter the data into a spreadsheet - as seen below

The numbers

Through a similar procedure which you conducted during the game above, one is able to extract valuable information from images and turn the pictures into numbers.

These values will then be taken to the next step of statistical analyses, to predict which species or other factors play the biggest role in predicting the occurence of a new barnacle patch.

What do the numbers show?

That encrusting coralline algae (Lithophyllum tortuosum) seems to be important for predicting the occurrence of a new Gooseneck barnacle patch! This information will be used by managers to decide on which areas as well as species to protect in order to conserve the over-exploited Gooseneck barnacle.

The importance of the data - Project PERCEBES

The research conducted falls part of the Biodiversa project PERCEBES.

The information gathered will be used to develop tools to forecast implications of spatial management options on productivity, biodiversity and connectivity of barnacle stands

AND

to extract information to guide marine spatial planning.

The project aims through the generation of bioeconomic models, to produce "policyscapes" to optimize the conservation/exploitation trade-off.