[Coral-List] Inquiry: Remote sensing detection of zooxanthallae

[Peter J Mumby]

Dear Andrew

To add to Eric's comments, you might want to look at the following papers.

1) For the current capability of remote sensing for coral reefs:

Mumby, P. J., W. Skirving, A. E. Strong, J. T. Hardy, E. F. LeDrew, E. J.
Hochberg, R. P. Stumpf, and L. T. David. 2004. Remote sensing of coral reefs
and their physical environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin 48: 219-228.

2) The reflectance of zooxanthellae see:

Enriquez, S., E. R. Mendez, and R. Iglesias-Prieto. 2005. Multiple
scattering on coral skeletons enhances light absorption by symbiotic algae.
Limnology and Oceanography 50: 1025-1032.

Unfortunately, both papers suggest that remote sensing cannot be used to
examine zooxanthellae density or clades.

All the best

Peter

Professor Peter J Mumby
Marine Spatial Ecology Lab

School of BioSciences
Hatherly Laboratory
Prince of Wales Road
University of Exeter
Exeter
Devon
EX4 4PS
UK
tel: + 44 (0)1392 263798
fax: + 44 (0)1392 263700
e-mail: p.j.mumby at exeter.ac.uk

Research: http://www.ex.ac.uk/msel
Free video clips of coral reefs: http://www.reefvid.org
Coral Reef Group at Exeter: http://www.ex.ac.uk/celp
 

-----Original Message-----
From: coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
[mailto:coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov] On Behalf Of Eric Hochberg
Sent: 19 January 2007 22:27
To: Andrew Lewin
Cc: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Inquiry: Remote sensing detection of zooxanthallae


Andrew,

To quantify zooxanthellae density based on reflectance measurements, 
probably yes, but there is no model for that yet (that I'm aware of).

To distinguish between zooxanthellae strains, doubtful.  They all have 
the same pigments.  There would have to be predictable (and measurable) 
differences in the relative pigment concentrations between strains.

These answers are for in situ measurements.  The remote sensing answer 
is theoretically yes, but operationally no (at the current time).

Aloha,
Eric Hochberg

Andrew Lewin wrote:
> Greetings Coral-listers,
> 
> In general terms, would it be possible to detect, via reflectance,
> zooxanthallae on a coral reef?  Additionally, would it be possible to 
> identify distinct zooxanthallae species via different reflantance 
> properties?
> 
> Thank you for your time,
> 
> Andrew Lewin, M.Sc.
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Coral-List mailing list
> Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov 
> http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
_______________________________________________
Coral-List mailing list
Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list