Sains Malaysiana 43(9)(2014): 1363–1371

Coral Reef and Associated Habitat Mapping Using ALOS Satellite Imagery

(Pemetaan Terumbu Karang dan Habitat Persekitarannya Menggunakan Imej Satelit ALOS)

M.A. MUSTAPHA^1,2*, T. LIHAN¹ & L.I. KHALID¹

¹School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

²Research Centre for Tropical Climate Change System, Faculty of Science and Technology

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Received: 11 March 2013/Accepted: 8 January 2014

ABSTRACT

Coral reefs are rich in biodiversity and ecosystem services. However increase in degradation are still occurring at an alarming rate. In management of this ecosystem, determination of its spatial distribution is of importance. Satellite imageries can be used to map distribution extent using spectral characteristics which is a fundamental parameter in mapping. The aims of this study were to determine the spectral characteristics of corals and associated habitats and to map its spatial distribution using 2009 ALOS advanced visible and near infrared radiometer type 2 (AVNIR-2) satellite imagery. Results indicated that coral and habitats surrounding the area display variation in the spectral characteristics magnitude but displays similar spectral curve. Spectral characteristics from the corals and surrounding habitats were determined by presence of benthic microalgae and calcium carbonate. Maximum likelihood classification on the image produced five main classes. Spatial distribution of coral and associated habitats indicated five main zones which are sandy shore zone, sandy intertidal zone, seagrass zone, coral/submerged sandy zone and rocky zone. Distribution of live corals indicated coverage of 0.54 km2, sea grass (0.94 km²), sandy bottom (1.31 km²) and rocky shores (0.19 km²). The results of this study indicated that ALOS satellite data was able to determine variation in spectral characteristics of coral reefs and other habitats thus is capable of mapping the ecosystems spatial distribution.

Keywords: ALOS satellite imagery; mapping; reef habitat; spatial distribution; spectral characteristics

ABSTRAK

Terumbu karang merupakan ekosistem yang kaya dengan kepelbagaian biologi. Walau bagaimanapun degradasi ekosistem ini semakin meningkat. Penentuan taburan reruang ekosistem ini amat penting dalam membantu pengurusan. Data satelit berupaya memetakan taburan menggunakan ciri spektrum yang merupakan parameter asas dalam pemetaan. Objektif kajian ini adalah penentuan ciri spektrum karang dan habitat persekitarannya dan memeta taburan reruangnya menggunakan imej satelit ALOS (kemaraan ketara dan inframerah dekat radiometer jenis 2 (AVNIR-2) tahun 2009. Hasil menunjukkan karang dan habitat persekitarannya mempunyai variasi dalam magnitud spektrum tetapi mempunyai lekuk spektrum yang sama. Ciri spektrum karang dan habitat persekitarannya ditentukan oleh kehadiran mikroalga bentik dan kalsium karbonat. Pengelasan kebolehjadian maksimum ke atas imej menghasilkan sejumlah lima kelas. Taburan reruang karang dan habitat persekitarannya menunjukkan lima zon utama iaitu zon pantai berpasir, zon pasang surut berpasir, zon rumput laut, zon karang berpasir dan zon berbatu. Taburan karang hidup meliputi 0.54 km², rumput laut (0.94 km²), habitat berpasir (1.31 km²) dan pantai berbatu (0.19 km²). Hasil kajian menunjukkan satelit ALOS berupaya menentukan variasi ciri spektrum terumbu karang dan habitat persekitarannya, dengan itu berpotensi digunakan dalam pemetaan taburan reruang ekosistem terumbu karang.

Kata kunci: Ciri spektrum; habitat karang; imej satelit ALOS; pemetaan; taburan reruang

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*Corresponding author; email: muzz@ukm.edu.my