Coastal Environmental Research Sensor Development
Abstract
Infrastructure like cables, mines, or drones that are either moored or rest on the seafloor interact there with naturally occurringorganismal communities. Any such interaction has the potential of altering previously occurring ecological dynamics or patterns # potentially creating a biological signal for detection. When organisms respond to their environment, this often results in clearly discernible spatial and/or temporal patterning. Such patterns are not random but follow strict and well-known, fully quantifiable, rules. As organisms diffuse across the environment, they essentially follow regular physical processes, as for example described by Fick#s law. It is therefore possible to predict patterns and to verify the existence of the predicted patterns in the field. Especiallyfixed infrastructure, such as submarine cables, have the potential to either disrupt existing patterns or to create entirely new ones (for example by introduction of organisms that are favored by the cable) that may very well be specific to the type of infrastructure (growth on a cable is likely different from growth on a mine, many cables have a plastic coating). Where theory predicts that patterns should exist but they are not encountered, or deviations from the predicted patterns are observed, special interest arises. For example, ecological successions will occur on freshly deployed infrastructure (such as cables). Over time, an organized sequenceof populations and communities will settle the structure in subsequent steps. If the time of deployment of a structure is known, and the successional stage encountered on any specific part of the structure is younger than deployment date (at which ecological succession began), then this may be an indication of disruption of the natural ecological processes due to manipulation of the structure. After the disturbance of the organismal community (i.e. manipulation of the structure) has ended, succession will restart. By assessing the differential of the younger (in manipulated area) versus older (in undisturbed area) successional ecological stage, it will be possible to hindcast the timing of the manipulation, if it has gone otherwise undetected. Thus, a #clock# for understanding thetiming of disturbances can be developed.This project will use patterning in marine organisms as a detection tool of man-made infrastructure on the seafloor, and in particular of human or other interference with man-made infrastructure of special concern. Of particular interest to the project are submarine cables which can, especially in the shallow ocean, be rapidly overgrown and incorporatedinto the living benthos. Modifications of the pattern in the sessile benthos (organism growing on the seafloor) as well as in vagile organisms (fish, shrimps, etc.) can be expected to occur due to either attraction or rejection from the structure. An understanding of how to read such subtle modification in organismal patterns may assist in the detection of a structure, or allow better camouflage.Collaboration with the South Florida Ocean Measurement Center (SFOMC) gives access to a large number of submarine cables, and other infrastructure, that have been geolocated and mapped and can therefore be used as an experimental testbed for above hypotheses. The cables have a wide age-range and span a large depth-gradient, which will allow the detailed evaluation of successional ecological stages and pattern formation both on and around the cables. Decades of experience in mapping the environments and ecology of the area can be harnessed into this project to reduce the run-up time for results.The project will develop biological/ecological indicators that are useful for detection of hidden structures or to evaluate the timing and severity of manipulation and disturbance of existing structures. Operational tools for the detection of such patterns will be developed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Dec 14, 2024
- Source ID
- N000142512019
Entities
People
- Bernhard Riegl
Organizations
- Nova Southeastern University
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy