Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A new towed underwater camera system for wide-range benthic surveys

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Following a short review of previous underwater camera systems, a new combined underwater camera system, consisting of a remote controlled TV- and photocamera mounted on a ship-towed steel-tubing sled, is described. The method of using this apparatus for wide-range surveys of the marine littoral benthos, and the techniques used to evaluate and quantify the observations are presented. On the basis of first results obtained in the North Adriatic Sea, the efficiency of the new system is compared with various other instruments and techniques. Advantages and disadvantages, possible improvements, and future prospects are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Barnes, H.: Underwater television. A. Rev. Oceanogr. mar. Biol. 1, 115–128 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Blacker, R.W. and P.M.J. Woodhead: A towed underwater camera. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 45, 593–597 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Boutan, L.: Memoire sur la photographie sousmarine. Archs Zool. exp. gén. 3, p. 1 (1893)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cabioch, L.: Résultats obtenus par l'emploi de la photographie sous-marine sur les fonds du large de Roscoff. Helgoländer wiss. Meereunters. 15, 361–370 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Craig, R.E. and R. Priestley: Undersea photography in marine research. Mar. Res. 1963 (1), 1–24 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Czihak, G.: Vorkommen und Lebensweise der Ophiotrix quinquemaculata in der nördlichen Adria bei Rovinj. Thalassia jugosl. 1 (7), 19–24 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  • — and M. Zei: Photography, television and the use of the bottom-sampler compared as methods for quantitative analysis of benthic populations. Rapp. P.-v. Réun. Commn int. Explor. scient. Mer Méditerr. 15, 81–83 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Greig-Smith, P.: Quantitative plant ecology, 2nd ed. London: Butterworth 1964

    Google Scholar 

  • Guille, A.: Observations fait en soucoupe plongeante à la limite inférieure d'un fond à Ophiotrix quinquemaculata D.Ch. au large de la côte du Roussilon. Rapp. P.-v. Réun. Commn. int. Explor. scient. Mer Méditerr. 18, 115–118 (1965a)

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Exploration en soucoupe plongeante Cousteau de l'entrée nord-est de la baie de Rosas (Espagne). Bull. Inst. océanogr. Monaco 63, 3–9 (1965b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Karius, P., P.M. Merifield and D.M. Rosencrantz: Stereomapping of underwater terrain from a submarine. Ocean Science and Ocean Engineering, Transactions of Joint Conference, Marine Technology Society and the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, Washington D.C., 1167–1177 1965

  • Laban, A., J.M. Pérès et J. Picard: La photographie sous-marine profonde et son exploitation scientifique. Bull. Inst. océanogr. Monaco 60, 1–32 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Laborel, J., J.M. Pérès, J. Picard et Vacelet: Etude directe des fonds parages de Marseille de 30 à 300 m avec la soucoupe plongeante Cousteau. Bull. Inst. océanogr. Monaco 58 (1206), 1–16 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Laughton, A.S.: A new deep-sea underwater camera. Deep-Sea Res. 4, 120–125 (1957)

    Google Scholar 

  • Menzies, R.J., L. Smith and K.O. Emery: A combined underwater camera and bottom grab: a new tool for investigation of deep-sea benthos. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. (Systemat. Beihefte) 48, 529–545 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Morisita, M.: Measuring the dispersion of individuals and analysis of the distributional patterns. Mem. Fac. Sci. Kyushu Univ. (Ser. E, Biol.) 2, 215–235 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  • Riedl, R.: Automatische Photographie von Meeresböden für ökologisch-faunistische Zwecke. Öst. zool. Z. 6, 532–541 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Probleme und Methoden der Erforschung des litoralen Benthos. Zool. Anz. (Suppl.) 26, 505–567 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Die Tauchmethode, ihre Aufgaben und Leistungen bei der Erforschung des Litorals; eine kritische Untersuchung. Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters. 15, 294–352 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwenke, H.: Über die Anwendung des Unterwasserfernsehens in der Meeresbotanik. Kieler Meeresforsch. 21, 101–106 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Thiel, HJ.: Ein Fotoschlitten für biologische und geologische Kartierung des Meeresbodens. Mar. Biol. 7, 223–229 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • — and R.R. Hessler: Ferngesteuertes Unterwasserfahrzeug erforscht Tiefseeboden. Umschau 74, 451–453 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vevers, H.: Photography of the sea floor. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 30, 101–111 (1951)

    Google Scholar 

  • —: A photographic survey of certain areas of sea floor near Plymouth. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 31, 215–221 (1952)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wigley, R.L. and K.O. Emery: Benthic animals, particularly Hyalinoeia (Annelida) and Ophiomusium (Echinodermata) in sea-bottom photographs from the continental slope. In: Deep sea photography, Vol. 3. pp 235–249. Ed. by J.B. Hersey (Johns Hopkins Univ. Stud. Oceanogr. 3, 235–249) 1967

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lehrkanzel für Meeresbiologie, University of Vienna, Austria

    R. Machan & K. Fedra

Authors
  1. R. Machan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. Fedra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by O. Kinne, Hamburg

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Machan, R., Fedra, K. A new towed underwater camera system for wide-range benthic surveys. Marine Biology 33, 75–84 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00395004

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00395004

Keywords

Search

Navigation