A novel use of Stereo Baited Remote Underwater Video and Drop-Down Video for biodiversity and marine landscape mapping and prediction

PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0319355 April 3, 2025 17 / 23 PLOS ONE Marine landscape and biodiversity mapping using SBRUVs and DDV Although the techniques outlined in this study does give an estimation of potential changes in biodiversity, a modelling approach of biodiversity prediction would be more accurate. However, this study does provide robust predicted substrata maps as variables to feed into such models. The characteristics of substrata patches produced in this study could also be examined in conjunction with connectivity to ascertain which combination of patches, size, complexity, and their relationship to each other influences biodiversity. This study demonstrated that it is possible to broadly identify spatial variation in biodiver- sity at a landscape scale and examine patch characteristics as a potential measure of seabed fragmentation. Detailed substratum data offers a benchmark for monitoring future substra- tum changes which can lead to degradation and substratum loss. Although outside the scope of this present study, future work may be carried out to investigate the seabed composition (regarding seabed type, patch characteristics, and connectivity) which improves epiben- thic and demersal biodiversity. The advantage of this method of surveying is that relatively simple inexpensive equipment together with data processing and analysis, can be used to Fig 13. Predicted seabed throughout the MPA with four expanded areas showing higher predicted biodiversity. Map of all substratum types overlayed with

predicted Inverse Simpson’s diversity index, showing four zooned in areas with higher biodiversity. Orange boundaries denote areas of differing fishing restrictions as outlined in Fig 2. Areas of higher predicted biodiversity zoomed in to illustrate composition of substratum. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0319355.g013