The application of Geographical Information Systems to biological studies at hydrothermal vents
In: Cahiers de Biologie Marine. Station Biologique de Roscoff: Paris. ISSN 0007-9723; e-ISSN 2262-3094, more
Also appears in:(1998). Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vent Biology: Funchal, Madeira, Portugal 20-24 October 1997. Cahiers de Biologie Marine, 39(3-4). Station Biologique de Roscoff: Roscoff. 219-392 pp., more
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| Abstract |
Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are software tools to process spatial information. The output of GIS analyses takes the form of maps, statistical summaries, and derived data sets. Such results can be used in other tasks such as modelling, hypothesis testing, or to provide easy access to attributes of the data for further analysis. Most current GIS work on biological systems is in the fields of resource management and landscape ecology. There, it aids identification and explanation of disturbance patterns, effects of intervention on landscape structure, and neighbourhood interactions in natural populations. Outside of aquaculture, there is little application of GIS capabilities to biological systems in an aquatic environment. Wright (1996) and Wright et al. (1997) demonstrate GIS utility to Geological studies of vents. An important factor that enhances uses of GIS to hydrothermal studies is the inter-disciplinary nature of Isothermal research. With the ever-increasing amount of oceanographic data collected in multi-agency, multi-disciplinary national and international research programmes, it may be more efficient to implement comprehensive data management techniques (Wright, 1996). Moreover, the difficulty and expense of sampling vents, makes it crucial to maximize the amount of data available per dive. |
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