Participatory Coastal Resource Assessment

Himokilan Island, Hindang, Leyte

PHOTOTRANSECT METHOD November 29-30, 2018

Senona A. Cesar
Faculty, Department of Biological Sciences
 INTRODUCTION
General Objective Specific objective
Standard reef assessment • Minimize variability in
protocol to allow for data collection
comparisons of state • Standardization of
variables (e.g. hard coral data interpretation
cover and diversity,
macroalgal and other
benthic cover)
ASSESSMENT BASICS
4 to 5 divers
• 1 Team Leader
• 1 Dive Safety Officer
• 1 Science Officer
• 1-2 Auxiliary Team Members
• ~30 minutes site selection via snorkeling
• 1 to 1.5 hours dive time
SITE SELECTION
Overview Materials Needed
Site selection is • GPS
carried out, and the • Surface marker buoy
boundaries of the
• Mask, snorkel, fins
survey area are
delineated. • Dive computer
• Slate with pencil
ASSESSMENT STATION Criteria:

Well-developed fringing reef

Regular sampling area:
~1,875 m2 (25m × 75m)
Survey depth range: 2 to 5-m
(tide adjusted)
Part of reef sampled: reef
slope
Data gathered from the station
represents state of the reef
DELINEATING THE SURVEY AREA
1. Go to the selected reef (use GPS
coordinates).
2. Site select through snorkeling/skin
diving.
3. Deploy a surface marker buoy at the
appropriate transect start (5m tide-
adjusted depth). It will guide the
boatmen where to position the boat.
TRANSECT DEPLOYMENT
Overview Materials

• One 75-m belt transect

Five belt transects (50- and 75-
m) are deployed along the • Four 50-m belt transects
survey area, and photographs • Random numbers
will be taken along these • Full SCUBA gear
transects
• Dive computer
• Compass
1. Adjust the surface
marker buoy to 5-m tide-
adjusted depth, and deploy
the base transect (T1)
following the contour of the
reef
Maintain depth (dive
computer)
Maintain direction (compass)
2. Deploy four 50-m
transects on the shallower
side of the base transect,
following the random
numbers. T2-T5 are
deployed parallel to the
base transect
TRANSECT PHOTOGRAPHS
Overview
50 1×1m photographs are
taken along each transect; at
least 250 transect photos are
taken during each assessment
Materials
• Two (2) assembled PVC
tetrapods (1×1×1.2m)
• Two (2) underwater cameras
in housing
• Slates with pencil
• Random numbers
1. While descending, check for
leaking or flooding.
2. Attach the camera to the
tetrapod
3. Use the random numbers as a
guide to find the transect you
GUIDELINES

Photograph on the shallower side of each transect

Follow the meter markings to make sure that there are no
overlapped photos.
Maintain the same plane (i.e. same depth).
The base of the tetrapod should be hovering over the highest point
of the frame.