Potential Use of Low-Altitude Aerial Photography to Identify Submersed Macrophytes

摘要

To demonstrate the feasibility of using low-altitude aerial photography to identify submersed macrophytes, the authors obtained aerial color transparencies and collateral ground survey information about submersed macrophyte beds at 10 sites in the St. Clair-Detroit River system in September 1978. Using transparencies and ground survey information, the authors developed a dichotomous key for the identification of macrophyte beds visible on the transparencies. The key and 17 transparencies with 20 delineated areas were used to determine whether test subjects could accurately identify macrophyte beds. The percentages of macrophyte beds of five genera that were correctly identified were Heteranthera, 50; Potamogeton, 54; Chara, 58; Vallisneria, 83; and Myriophyllum, 86.