A photographic method for quantifying habitat characteristics.
Why Hippo-HABITAT ? Hippo-ATLAS aims at gathering precious information on our coastal seahorses and pipefishes in order to understand their habitat variety. However this method does not provide the quantitative data that would allow a statistical analysis of their habitat. Hippo-HABITAT new protocol is a tool that will enable Peau-Bleue scientists to quantitatively assess these animals’ habitat from a series of photographs. With these data we will be able to determine whether there are significant habitat differences between species, places, seasons, etc. It is an essential step towards understanding seahorse and pipefish ecology and apprehending their vulnerability and the ecological factors most important to them... ...
Hippo-HABITAT has been designed for snorkelers and amateur divers: being structured in order to be quantified for a statistical analysis, your photos and habitat data will help improving the knowledge of our coastal seahorses and pipefishes.
Hippo-HABITAT protocol is derived from a method designed for the Hippo-THAU scientific program. It has been adapted to be used by amateur divers with no specific training. The only constraint is to dive with an UW digital camera (or a buddy equipped with a camera).
A few photos (taken according to a precise protocol), five data to collect and it is done! To know exactly how to proceed, click here.
After diving you only have to fill the Hippo-HABITAT form with the few associated data and download your series of pictures.
Tutorial documents
To make it easier for you, we have designed some documents providing precise information and explanation:
• A help to identify seahorses (click here, document in French) or pipefishes (click there, document in French).
• A synthetic description of the protocol (click here).
• A few tricks to help you observing and taking notes while diving (click here).
Tools to help you observe more easily
We have also created specific tools to make things more simple underwater:
• A size estimation sheet: to get printed and hot laminated (click here). NB Please make sure that you print at a 100% scale, and control the size of the printed figures before laminating.
• A memory-aid on the protocol, not to forget anything when observing: to get printed on the previous one’s verso (click here).
If you have photos and data ready to be sent, get to the Hippo-HABITAT form.
