Advancing the monitoring of seagrass dynamics with hyperspectral remote sensing

Project description:
Seagrasses provide numerous ecological functions and ecosystem services, including food and refuge for fish and other marine species, sediment stabilization, and carbon sequestration. They represent the most extensive coastal blue carbon sink in southern Australia. Seagrasses currently occupy over 35,000 km2 in southern Australia but face localized losses due to anthropogenic sources, marine heatwaves and other climate change related factors.

Monitoring seagrass using traditional methods (e.g. video or diving surveys) is expensive, is limited in spatial and temporal scale, and not necessarily representative of the seascape. Further there are confounding factors whose presence in ‘dark’ benthic habitats interfere with classification (e.g. reefs, bivalve beds, macroalgae, wrack).

This project aims to overcome these monitoring challenges by utilising new remote sensing data to analyze the dynamics of seagrass cover and coral reefs across the Australian territorial waters. Emerging hyperspectral satellites provide a way forward to monitor at large spatial scales, while also providing more nuanced information on habitat type and condition. A new Australia funded hyperspectral satellite Kanyini will be tasked with acquiring imagery over Australia territorial waters for this project. The project will also use data from other hyperspectral platforms including PRISMA, ENMAP, and the recently launched NASA PACE satellite.

This is a collaborative project lead by the University of Adelaide in partnership with the University of Queensland and CSIRO, supported by the South Australian Water Corporation and the Department for Environment and Water, and managed by the SmartSat CRC.

Research objectives:
The overall objective is to map seagrass cover, distinguish live from dead seagrass, detect different genera, and the presence of epiphytes and macroalgae.

Specific objectives include:
· Evaluate the capabilities of current and planned satellite based hyperspectral sensors (e.g. Kanyini, PACE, EnMAP, EMIT, PRISMA), in addition to current multispectral sensors (e.g. Sentinel-2, Landsat 8/9, Planet Dovesats) to map and monitor seagrasses in southern Australia at scales relevant for science and ecosystem management.

· Determine the optimum and threshold spatial, spectral, radiometric and temporal resolution required for mapping seagrass habitat and differentiation of its features, e.g. live vs dead seagrass (wrack), genus, epiphytes, macroalgae, emerging recovered patches.

· Determine what additional field data and physical attributes will support and improve the mapping of seagrasses.

· Develop machine learning models and object-based image processing algorithms to differentiate and identify seagrass habitat.

Eligibility criteria:
We seek highly motivated candidates with interests in remote sensing and coastal ecology. The candidate will work closely with supervisors, but should have a strong and independent ability to advance their research. The project will use large volumes of satellite remote sensing data, and field observations. An ideal candidate will have experience with remote sensing, programming (e.g. R, Python, Earth Engine), analyzing gridded data, and a working knowledge of Earth Observation physics, ecology, and statistics. The candidate should have a keen interest in further developing good analytical skills during their PhD.

This opportunity is open to Australian citizens, permanent residents and international students who meet the requirements for PhD admission at the University of Adelaide, and who can demonstrate suitable experience in a related field (through a high quality Honours or Masters degree). The successful candidate must be able to enrol as a full-time PhD student at the University in the year of the offer. They must remain based in Adelaide, South Australia for the duration of the award.

Stipend: The scholarship package includes a University of Adelaide Research Scholarship ($34,210 per annum (indexed annually) for 3.5 years. It is likely to be tax exempt, subject to Taxation Office approval. International students will receive single overseas student health cover for the duration of candidature, and a relocation allowance (if applicable). Details of terms and benefits will be provided to the successful candidate in their Conditions of Award.

Application process:
To apply, please email the following documents to Sami Rifai (sami.rifai@adelaide.edu.au) with the name of the scholarship in the subject line:

• CV
• Cover Letter (of not more than 2 pages) outlining your interest in the PhD project and describing how your background and research area align with the project
• Degree certificates and relevant academic transcripts, with translations of non-English documentation