Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Ecosystem Approaches To Aquatic Health Assessment: Linking Subtidal Habitat Quality, Shoreline Condition And Estuarine Fish Communities, Donna M. Bilkovic, Carl Hershner, Kory Angstadt

Reports

In the Chesapeake Bay, there is currently no comprehensive assessment of aquatic habitat heterogeneity or understanding of the effects of multiple stressors on the viability of these habitats. To assess the use of side-scan sonar technology with specially designed classification software, QTC SIDEVIEW developed by Quester Tangent Corporation as a tool to define subtidal nearshore habitat, two representative watersheds of the Chesapeake Bay were surveyed. Relationships between subtidal habitat and shoreline condition as well as linkages of habitat condition to fish community indices were assessed. Side-scan technology had the ability to image habitat at a resolution of less than 1 …