Photo mosaics
Meander
Photogrammetry surveys of the main study and protection area display all the artificial habitats and ropes, in a broader picture within area. The working hypothesis of constructing the “meander”, which is essentially the deployment of a rope transect 1 cm thick and 1 cm away from the sea floor, is secured with rods at regular intervals, is to create a habitat in which the seahorses can attach to with their tail. The dimensions are ten (10) meters long with the next parallel rope at a distance of six (6) meters, the next one at three (3) meters, the next one at two (2) meters and the last one halfway (0.50) . The rationale for the spacing of the parallel ropes is to observe the “sociability” of the seahorses, whether or not they want to have visual contact, a phenomenon of population density. Each line has a plastic label indicating its name “C2”, i.e. line 2.
Park 2 The second observation area, in front of the stream near the Paraty beach bar was also surveyed photogrammetry methods. The area was selected and defined with almost the same method as in the main area, a new feature is the presence of some sparse vegetation of Posidonia or Cymodocea. Artificial plant habitats were also planted. As in the “meander” of the main study and protection area, the ropes carry plastic labels that display their names.
Line 1 & 2 Following the construction of the “meander”, in the main study and protection area, we noticed the presence of a large population, in an area deeper than -11 meters to -12 meters. Thus, we proceeded to construct two (2) permanent rope transects, secured with rods at regular intervals, just at one 1 cm distance from the sea floor. The habitat in the main study and protection area was destroyed by fishing gear, where, for example, a weighted hook was caught in the rope resulting in a large part of the rope structure being torn off along with the rods holding it down. So, we then decided to construct a straight twenty (20) meter line, but with separate sections every five (5) meters so that if fishing gear became entangled it would destroy only the five (5) meters long part and not the whole construction (transect).
3D photorealistic model of the Meander [download this file – open it as a pdf file]