Abstract

The queen conch, Strombus gigas, is an important demersal resource throughout the greater Caribbean region, both commercially and culturally. Widespread declines in both juvenile and adult stocks have led to intensive studies and the need for immediate management actions. In this study Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing were utilized in an ecological assessment of juvenile conch requirements in a near-pristine area of the Exuma Cays, Bahamas. The GIS was designed to examine trends in nursery distributions over a seven year period, and spatially associate those areas with important biological (seagrass biomass) and physical (bathymetry and tidal circulation patterns) habitat features. Image processing was integrated with the GIS to examine an historic Landsat TM image for estimation of seagrass. Results indicate that although aggregations shift from year to year, the most stable nurseries appear to be distributed about a central core. Those areas were found to be associated with a particular combination of habitat features, as well as suitable hydrographic conditions. This study showed that GIS and remote. sensing can be effective tools for addressing complex ecological questions and may provide an innovative alternative for fisheries management strategies.

PDF Preview