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Adaptive monitoring of coral health at Scott Reef where data exhibit nonlinear and disturbed trends over time
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  • Pubudu Thilan Abeysiri Wickrama Liyanaarachchige,
  • Rebecca Fisher,
  • Helen Thompson,
  • Patricia Menendez,
  • James Gilmour,
  • James McGree
Pubudu Thilan Abeysiri Wickrama Liyanaarachchige
Queensland University of Technology

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Rebecca Fisher
Australian Institute of Marine Science
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Helen Thompson
Queensland University of Technology
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Patricia Menendez
Monash University Graduate School of Business
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James Gilmour
Australian Institute of Marine Science
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James McGree
Queensland University of Technology
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Abstract

Time series data are often observed in ecological monitoring. Frequently such data exhibit nonlinear trends over time potentially due to complex relationships between observed and auxiliary variables, and there may also be sudden declines over time due to major disturbances. This poses substantial challenges for modelling such data and also for model-based adaptive monitoring. We propose novel methods for finding adaptive designs for monitoring when historical data show such nonlinear patterns and sudden declines over time. This work is motivated by a coral reef monitoring program that has been established at Scott Reef; a coral reef off the Western coast of Australia. Data collected for monitoring the health of Scott Reef are considered, and semiparametric and interrupted time series modelling approaches are adopted to describe how these data vary over time. New methods are then proposed that enable adaptive monitoring designs to be found based on such modelling approaches. These methods are then applied to find future monitoring designs at Scott Reef and form a set of recommendations for future monitoring. Through applying the proposed methods, it was found that future information gain is expected to be similar across a variety of different sites, suggesting that no particular location needed to be prioritised at Scott Reef for the next monitoring phase. In addition, it was found that omitting some sampling sites/reef locations was possible without substantial loss in expected information gain, depending upon the disturbances that were observed. The resulting adaptive designs are used to provide recommendations for future monitoring in this region, and for reefs where changes to the current monitoring practices are being sought. Furthermore, as the methods used and developed throughout this study are generic in nature, this research has the potential to improve ecological monitoring more broadly where complex data are being collected over time.
03 Aug 2021Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
03 Aug 2021Submission Checks Completed
03 Aug 2021Assigned to Editor
05 Aug 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
14 Feb 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
28 Feb 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
29 Jun 20221st Revision Received
29 Jun 2022Submission Checks Completed
29 Jun 2022Assigned to Editor
29 Jun 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
30 Jun 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
22 Jul 20222nd Revision Received
22 Jul 2022Assigned to Editor
22 Jul 2022Submission Checks Completed
22 Jul 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
28 Jul 2022Editorial Decision: Accept