Healthy coral reef - Bilangbilangan, Philippines3D Model
A healthy coral reef within a community-managed Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Bilangbilangan, in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines.
The reef was modelled using photogrammetric techniques, to assess the state of the reef and the fish community structure. This was part of a study which aimed to compare the health of reefs inside of MPAs with those outside of MPAs:
Bayley, D.T.I, Mogg, A.O.M., Purvis, A., Koldeway, H.J. (in press). Evaluating the efficacy of small-scale MPAs for preserving reef health: An application of ‘Structure from Motion’ photogrammetry. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems.
The study found fish diversity, richness and size to be significantly greater at protected sites, and fish biomass to be five times greater than at sites which were unprotected. Average reef rugosity, height, and roughness was signficantly higher in reefs which were unfished compared to those which were fished.
Comparable damaged reef can be viewed here: https://skfb.ly/6MGWx
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