SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1984
STP35229S

The Use of Small-Format Aerial Photography in Aquatic Macrophyton Sampling

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Standard 35- and 70-mm low altitude aerial photography provides a low cost, effective means for sampling aquatic macrophyte communities. Both color and color infrared (CIR) film have been used successfully. A haze filter should be used with color film, and a Wratten® 12 or 15 filter should be used with color infrared. Adequate water penetration is provided by color film in waters with high turbidity and suspended matter while CIR film may be preferable in low turbidity waters. Ground coverage tables provide scale and areal coverage in tabular form at various altitudes, focal lengths, and appropriate time intervals to ensure 60% stereo overlap. Various cameras and lens combinations can be used; however, a 28-mm lens with the 35-mm single-lens reflex (SLR) camera and a 40- or 80-mm lens with a 70-mm camera have proven very effective and allow maximum areal coverage at lower altitudes. This flexibility allows photo missions to be flown below cloud bases in less than optimum conditions while still obtaining good quality photography.

When combined with appropriate ground surveys and knowledgeable photointerpretation, small-format photography can provide detailed documentation of the areal extent of macrophyte communities and, in many instances, of species composition as well.

Author Information

Breedlove, BW
Breedlove Associates Inc., Environmental Consultants, Orlando, FL
Dennis, WM
Breedlove Associates Inc., Environmental Consultants, Orlando, FL
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Details
Developed by Committee: D19
Pages: 100–111
DOI: 10.1520/STP35229S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4909-0
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0204-0