Alternate Title
Validation of Image-Based Species Identifications of Black Corals (Order Antipatharia) on Mesophotic Rocks
Abstract
Biodiversity, an important measure of ecosystem health, is challenging to ascertain using sampled specimens in remote deep-sea environments. As image-based identifications become a predominant method for deep-sea species characterizations, there is a need to evaluate the accuracy of species- and genus-level identifications from video and still images to provide a reliable measure of biodiversity. This study presents a validation of the ability to make accurate image-based identifications of black coral species in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico from standard-definition video collected by a remotely operated vehicle. Results indicate that the greatest number of misidentifications occurred at species-level groupings (42.2% error), whereas genus-level groupings possessed 12.0% error, and identifications to kappa groupings had no error. We recommend genus-level groupings to maintain accurate identifications while maximizing estimates of biodiversity.
Recommended Citation
Nuttall, M. F., D. M. Opresko and E. L. Hickerson.
2016.
Validation of Image-Based Species Identifications of Black Corals (Order Antipatharia) on Mesophotic Rocks.
Gulf of Mexico Science
33
(1).
Retrieved from https://aquila.usm.edu/goms/vol33/iss1/3