AI Article Synopsis
- Coral reefs in the South China Sea, particularly around Pulau Layang-Layang, have faced significant degradation due to human activities, coral bleaching, and Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS) outbreaks.
- This study utilized Landsat satellite images from 1989 to 2022 to assess reef cover changes and achieved high accuracy in classifying coral, rock and rubble, and sand.
- Findings reveal that while island development increased coral cover, the COTS outbreaks in 2010 and 2020 had different impacts, highlighting the need for prompt actions to control COTS spread and protect reef ecosystems.
Article Abstract
Over the years, coral reefs in the South China Sea have degraded and faced severe threats from rapid development, coral bleaching, and Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS) outbreak. There is limited knowledge relating to the effects of anthropogenic disturbances and natural events on the coral reefs of Pulau Layang-Layang. This study aims to assess reef cover changes by utilizing Landsat satellite images spanning from 1989 to 2022. Using the object-based image analysis method, this study classified the reef cover into three categories: coral, rock and rubble, and sand. The supervised classification had an overall accuracy of 86.41-87.38 % and Tau's coefficients of 0.80-0.81. The results showed island development and construction of artificial bird sanctuary have led to an increase in coral cover. Furthermore, it was illustrated that the impact of COTS outbreaks in 2010 and 2020 differed significantly, with the latter showing no signs of recovery. Our study underscores the importance of timely intervention to mitigate the spread of COTS. This study provides insights into the resilience and vulnerability of these ecosystems in the face of various stressors.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106454 | DOI Listing |
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