Date of Submission

6-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Environmental Science

Department

Biology and Environmental Sciences

Advisor

Sharon Kahara, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Amy L. Carlile Ph.D.

Committee Member

Walker Fuchs M.Phil

Keywords

Passive data collection, Cable Camera System, Salt Marsh, Vegetation Cover Percentage, ArcGIA Pro

LCSH

Salt marsh plants

Abstract

The growing need for non-intrusive research methods has led to a surge in passive data collection, such as audio recorders, data loggers, and camera traps, in the ecological field. This improves the capacity to observe fragile habitats without causing any harm and gives researchers new perspectives on the natural world. A non-invasive cable camera system is suggested as a means of gathering data to lessen these ecological disruptions. By taking images of the salt marsh's surface, this technique will minimize plant destruction and lower CO2 emissions brought on by foot traffic through the marsh, whilst producing data that is on par with previous methods in terms of precision and detail. The objective is to collect the vegetation cover percentage throughout the study area using the traditional method of quadrat sampling, the cable camera method, and image analysis using ArcGIS Pro, using the data to determine whether the cable camera method and image analysis yield similar results compared to the traditional method. A GoPro® Hero11 camera equipped with a WIRAL Lite® Cable Camera Motion System was used in the study to collect ultra-low elevation photos of the Branford Salt Marsh at 5-meter intervals along a 20-meter transect. The percentage cover of vegetation was calculated by dividing the percent of vegetation by the percent of bare ground in the photos. Traditional sampling was carried out after the cable-camera method to be used as the control method. Data was collected in 10 cycles, with a break of 1 week between each cycle to give the ecosystem time to recover from any disturbances. Images collected from the cable camera method were then processed in ArcGIS to determine the vegetation cover percentage. Most data from both traditional and cable camera methods were not statistically significant (P > 0.05) except at the 20-meter mark (P < 0.05), while comparison with image analysis showed overall statistical significance (P < 0.05). iii This implies that the use of a cable camera has potential to be a valid method in collecting population data on vegetation coverage. This method’s effectiveness, coupled with its reduced disruption factor, could help achieve wider conservation goals by preserving the salt marsh’s native state without compromising the validity of the data collected.

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