Sergio Sgorbini

3-D reconstruction of biological objects using underwater video technique and image processing

This paper describes a 3-D reconstruction method which allows accurate measurements of volume, surface area and other morphometric measurements of three-dimensional biological objects, without removing them from the sea. It represents a novel approach based on multiple views (eight resulted to be sufficient) from underwater video images and a new image processing procedure (MOD3D), whose application has met the basic requirements (i.e. to work on images recorded in turbid waters, with nonuniform lighting, to investigate large areas and in reasonable time, etc.) imposed when operating in the marine environment with simple, easy-to-use and nonprofessional equipment. It is a noninvasive, nondestructive and in the field fast method, thus suitable for sampling also at relevant depth, whose applicability has specifically been set up for a range of growth forms from massive to submassive and irregularly shaped. The accuracy of the method was assessed using models with three levels of 3-D complexity: simple, moderate and complex morphology. A high accuracy of volume measurements made through MOD3D image analysis software was achieved when compared with the laboratory water displacement method, which represents the most accurate method for volume measurement, with an overall mean percent error of about 1.7% (S.D. 2.2%). For all three levels of morphologic complexity, no significant differences (p>0.05) were found. Volume measurements obtained in field based on geometric approximation resulted rough, with significant differences from the MOD3D values (p<0.05). The geometric approximation was lower than MOD3D for simple and moderate morphology, and variable for complex morphology. For all three models, MOD3D values for surface area computation were consistently lower (mean error 13%) than the foil-wrapping values (p<0.05), due to overlap error when foil wrapping. Two applications were made with the bryozoan Pentapora fascialis and the coral Cladocora caespitosa to quantify carbonate standing stock and biomass of these two carbonate framework builders, whose importance has been recently recognised among the temperate sublittoral benthic species. Time required for the 3-D reconstruction method (about 3 h) makes it suitable for routine application particularly for relatively large area investigations, with irregularly shaped objects on rough substrate and several biological objects within the area.

Pentapora fascialis (Pallas) [Cheilostomata: Ascophora] colonization of one sublittoral rocky site after sea-storm in the northwestern Mediterranean

Effects induced on the bryozoan Pentapora fascialis by a severe sea-storm which occurred in December 1993 at Tino Island (Ligurian Sea, NW Mediterranean) are described. Mortality, recruitment and growth of P. fascialis colonies have been measured directly by photographic monitoring for three and a half years. Near total mortality of the erect P. fascialis colonies in the photostation (11 m depth) was observed, while other benthic encrusting species seemed not to be affected. Many recruits were observed six months after the storm, but a clear relationship between recruitment and ovicells presence was not found. The percent cover increased and the number of colonies decreased with time following the storm: this was partly due to fusion between colonies. After three and a half years the cover of P. fascialis reached the pre-storm cover.