The Line Intercept Transect (LIT) method was applied to record coral on three transect lines of 30 m each held parallel to the coastline in each station, whereby megabenthic organisms under the line transect were recorded at the centimeter level along 30 meters. Reference books were used for coral identification. Benthic assemblages data obtained from LIT observations were used to assess the condition and live hard-corals coverage as damaged/poor, moderate, good, or excellent (Decree of the Minister of Environment of the Republic of Indonesia Number 04 of 2001 concerning Standard Criteria for Coral Reef Damage. Giyanto et al.
Evaluation of live coral cover criteria approached by Gomez & Yap is: 1) 75 – 100%: very good; 2) 50 – 74.9%: good; 3) 25 – 49.9%: moderate; 4) 0−24.9%: damaged. Meanwhile, the Decree of the Minister of Environment of the Republic of Indonesia number 4/2001 about Standard Criteria for Coral Reef Damage categorised the damage as follows:
Author(s) Details:
Norma Afiati
Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Diponegoro University, Tembalang, Semarang, Indonesia.
Pujiono W. Purnomo
Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Diponegoro University, Tembalang, Semarang, Indonesia.
Recent Global Research Developments in Assessment of Coral Reef Condition Using Line Intercept Transect (LIT) Method
“Which Method for Which Purpose? A Comparison of Line Intercept Transect and Underwater Photogrammetry Methods for Coral Reef Surveys” by Isabel Urbina-Barreto et al. compares the traditional LIT method with three methods derived from underwater photogrammetry: LIT on orthomosaics, photoquadrats from orthomosaics, and surface analyses on orthomosaics. The study was conducted at Reunion Island and explores coral cover estimation, structural complexity, and efficiency of these methods [1].
Another study titled “An evaluation of photo line-intercept transect (PLIT) method for coral reef monitoring” evaluates the use of LIT combined with image analysis (photo line intercept transect or PLIT). In PLIT, digital photos of corals along a transect line are taken, and the length of corals intercepting the line is measured [2].
Additionally, “Assessing the consistency and reliability of the line intercept transect method” compares estimates of coral cover using LIT, LIT on orthomosaic (LITO), and surface analyses on orthomosaic (SAO). Virtual transects on orthomosaics were also used to assess the consistency and reliability of LIT [3].
While LIT is commonly used, an alternative method for surveying reef-building corals is the Point Count Transect (PCT). PCT is presented as a suitable method for estimating biodiversity on coral reefs [4].
References
- Urbina-Barreto I, Garnier R, Elise S, Pinel R, Dumas P, Mahamadaly V, Facon M, Bureau S, Peignon C, Quod J-P, Dutrieux E, Penin L and Adjeroud M (2021) Which Method for Which Purpose? A Comparison of Line Intercept Transect and Underwater Photogrammetry Methods for Coral Reef Surveys. Front. Mar. Sci. 8:636902. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2021.636902
- Nakajima, R., Nakayama, A., Yoshida, T., Kushairi, M. R. M., Othman, B. H. R., & Toda, T. (2010). An evaluation of photo line-intercept transect (PLIT) method for coral reef monitoring. Galaxea, Journal of Coral Reef Studies, 12(1), 37-44.
- Wang, M., Lian, S., Xiong, X., Yang, J., Chen, C., & Shi, X. (2024). Assessing the consistency and reliability of the line intercept transect method in coral cover estimation using structure from motion photogrammetry techniques. Geocarto International, 39(1), 2322065.
- Roberts TE, Bridge TC, Caley MJ, Baird AH (2016) The Point Count Transect Method for Estimates of Biodiversity on Coral Reefs: Improving the Sampling of Rare Species. PLoS ONE 11(3): e0152335. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0152335
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