Sometimes we get fortunate enough to conduct field studies in quite pleasant locations. Below are a few examples of those experience in which we were able to find that delicate balance between work and pleasure.
In studies funded by National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center we tested imaging sonar methods for assessing fish use of habitats in south Florida. In Biscayne Bay we conducted pilot tests to determine how effective imaging sonar could be for sampling fish in mangrove habitats by placing a DIDSON within a few meters of a mangrove island.
It was surprising to see how DIDSON allowed for detecting fish inside the dense mangrove thicket:
We also tested the use of a kayak-mounted DIDSON as an alternative to snorkeling methods for assessing fish abundance along edges of mangrove habitat.
Additionally, we used DIDSON to assess use of small island habitats off Long Pine Key by juvenile Atlantic goliath grouper, a critically endangered species.
The juvenile goliath groupers are characterized by their over-sized heads and large pectoral fins: