Researchers Capturing Drone Data & Images to Study Kelp Forests at Fort Foster - Thursday, June 22, 2023

On Thursday, June 22, 2023, researchers from UMass Boston and the Woods Hole Oceanic Institute will be operating a drone over parts of Fort Foster, between 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM.  Park attendees may see drone activity and on-water sampling as researchers work to develop maps and study kelp forest ecosystems in the Gulf of Maine.

Kelps - large brown algae that dominate the shallow subtidal and provide a host of ecosystem services, are currently declining throughout New England.  Their decline is often, but not always linked to direct and/or indirect impacts of climate shifts.  One of the challenges in studying kelps is that they occur underwater.  Most estimates of kelp abundances come from divers working with limited supplies of air in benign coastal conditions.

Recent advances in technology have resulted in showing that kelps forming surface canopies can be measured by satellite imaging.  For roughly 60% of kelp habitats with no surface canopies, recent methods have shown it’s possible to detect kelps or submerged vegetation down as deep as 8 m.

By using remote sensing observations via drone, researchers hope to classify kelp, and build an understanding of climate change impacts on New England kelp forests.

For more information or questions, please contact Meredith McPherson, Ph.D. at 757-871-5210.