Jenny Bueno, a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Geography, just published a new paper on "The application of unoccupied aerial systems (UAS) for monitoring intertidal oyster density and abundance." Below is a quick synopsis about her research, and the full publication can be read HERE.

Between 2021 and 2023, Jenny and the Apalachicola Bay System Initiative (ABSI) team had the opportunity to fly a drone over intertidal oyster reefs in Apalachicola Bay. They flew the drone during low tide, capturing the reefs when they were exposed and clusters of oysters were visible. Using structure-from-motion photogrammetry, they recreated the landscape and generated digital elevation models from which they extracted the oyster clusters. Ground sampling revealed that clusters had 100 times more oysters than non-cluster areas, supporting the use of these clusters as a proxy for oyster populations. There was also a linear relationship between cluster size and oyster abundance, which they used to estimate oyster populations at two sites in the Bay. The team's estimates showed that East Cove, located on St. George Island, has a higher density of oysters than Alligator Harbor, an area outside of Apalachicola Bay. More research is needed to understand the reasons for this difference, but environmental conditions, oyster recruitment, predation pressure, and wave energy can all influence oyster population dynamics. Drone surveys can cover large areas quickly and help us understand how oyster populations change in response to environmental and human impacts. Congratulations, Jenny!