Mapping of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile Meadows Using Geographic Information Systems: A case study in Ufakdere - Kaş (Mediterranean Sea)

Year 2016, Volume: 3 Issue: 3, 92 - 97, 30.12.2016

Volkan Demir Emine Ş. Okudan Aslan , Sibel Zeki , İ. Noyan Yılmaz , Cem Gazioğlu

https://doi.org/10.30897/ijegeo.306485

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Posidonia oceanica (Linnaeus) Delile 1813 is an endemic and the most widespread seagrass species of the
Mediterranean Sea. Seagrass meadows are one of the most productive ecosystems on Earth, providing habitat to
numerous organisms. Therefore, mapping of seagrass meadows is of crucial importance for conservation and
coastal management purposes. Here we present an integrated geographic information system approach with
SCUBA diving, providing a cost effective method to monitor seagrass beds at shallow coastal habitats. In this
case study P. oceanica meadows were mapped in Ufakdere region of Kaş (Antalya) coastal area between April
– September 2015. A total of 25000 m2
are were screened to create seagrass coverage maps. Results indicate that
P. oceanica meadows cover 21200 m2
and we estimated that 520 m2 of this area is highly damaged. This
integrated approach provided one of the most detailed small-scale Posidonia mapping in Turkey and this time
and cost effective methodology can be applied to any seagrass meadow with great ease to increase our knowledge
on this important habitat.

Keywords

Posidonia oceanica, GIS, Mapping

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