Callum Mireault, MSc Candidate
Memorial University, Department of Geography
My background is a blend of marine biology and oceans technology where I have for the moment settled on underwater camera systems as my main focus. My interests are using a variety of cameras systems (from GoPros to professional grade cinema cameras) for applications such as surf photography, recreational underwater cinematography and more recently benthic habitat classification.
Supervisor(s): Dr. Rodolphe Devillers, Dr. Peter Lawton and Dr. Craig Brown.
Start to Finish: 05/2016 to 09/2018
CHONe Project: 1.2.6 Seabed video survey approaches for delineating & monitoring coastal EBSAs, SBAs and MPAs.
Project Title: Continuous video and image based analysis of the relationship between two sessile benthic species (B. ovifera and M. modiolus) and the surrounding physical oceanographic features in the Head Harbour/West Isles/Passages EBSA, New Brunswick, Canada.
Project Description:
I am investigating the distribution of two benthic species (Boltenia ovifera and Modiolus modiolus) within the Head Harbour/West Isles/Passages EBSA region in relation to physical oceanographic features. My research will also focus on developing a research framework that can be applied to both other shallow and deep water coastal regions using a combination of multibeam and HD/UHD cinema grade camera systems to assess species distributions and the subtle changes in benthic communities. Lastly my research will look into advantages, disadvantages and the differences between discrete and continuous video / image analysis to see which one is a better candidate for predicting benthic species distributions and identifying any possible critical features of benthic environments.
The specific project/thesis aims are:
- Evaluation of shallow-water seabed surveillance systems
- Survey protocols for cost-effective monitoring of coastal conservation areas
- To gain further information about the distribution of two benthic species within the EBSA both spatially and in relation to physical oceanographic features
This project fits within the larger CHONe goal of assessing and refining scientific methodologies and science based criteria. Hopefully through the results of this project, potential changes to how coastal benthic environments are sampled can be made in order to yield more accurate representations of species distributions on the sea floor.