IJSRED-V2I3P32

International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Development-– Volume 2 Issue 3, May –June 2019
Available at www.ijsred.com
ISSN : 2581-7175 ©IJSRED:All Rights are Reserved Page 317
Trend Analysis of Coral Reef Presence in
ST. Martin’s Island1
Md Atiqur Rahman, 2
Shoyeb Muhammad Musfique
1
Department of Oceanography, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
2
Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh
-------------------------------------------************************-----------------------------------------
Abstract:
Land use is a continuous and ever changing process. Remote sensing and GIS technique
supplemented by ground truth data have been used to prepare land use map of St. Martin’s Island. The
land use map shows the change of coral quantity of the Island. Medium scale Landsat TM, and
OLI/TIRS satellite imageries were used for this study. There are different type of land use has identified
but coral reef are found around most of the island. The land area used of coral reef decreases 0.81% has
found during analysis of land use map. This change has made in a 10 years period.
Keywords - Remote sensing and GIS, Land use, Coral reef
-------------------------------------------************************-----------------------------------------
I. Introduction
Ecologists pay considerable attention
to the land use change impacts predominantly
with respect to its effects on biodiversity and
aquatic ecosystems [1]. Coral reefs are the
primary marine ecosystem for the island
considering biodiversity, value for fisheries,
tourism, and shoreline protection. Satellite
remote sensing data effectively used to assess
the coral reef volume of the island. The GIS
technology in conjunction with remote sensing
data, can serve as a better tool for the analysis
of the island reef resources. GIS results can
serve as a test-bed for studying environmental
processes or for analyzing the resultant trends
or anticipating the possible results of planning
decisions [2]. However, the objective of this
study is to mapping the land use and analysis
the coral reef quantity based on satellite image
and intensive field survey. The information
generated as a result of this research will be
meaningful and will help in formulation of
comprehensive and effective conservation and
utilization plans for integrated reef resource
management. The study shows the process of
converting a satellite image into a map. This
technique is more economical, efficient and
time saving for data coordination. High
resolution images provide accurate
information about dimensions of physical
features regarding coral reef information. But
ground survey also required for greater
accuracy in deciding land use. The output
comes from the maps of land use to assess
coral reef with a given level of confidence
about the results. Results are not cent percent
accurate because of lesser field verifications
but still have a number of advantages over the
manual land use mapping.
II. Materials and Methods
A.Data collection
Medium scale Landsat TM, and OLI/TIRS
satellite imageries were used for this study.
The study area, St. Martin Island, is located at
the position of Path 135/Row 46 of the
Landsat Worldwide Reference System (WRS).
For time series analysis two images
downloaded from free sources [3].
Downloaded images are Landsat Level 1 Data
Products. This type of data are preprocessed
RESEARCH ARTICLE OPEN ACCESS

for standard radiometric and geometric
correction. Cloud free and good contrast
images were selected for the analysis. Images
used in the present study are listed in the table
Collected images were in the WGS 84 UTM
Zone 46 referencing system.
B. Image Processing and classification
ERDAS Imagine (Version 2014) and Arc Map
(Version 10.3) were used for the study. The images
were layer stacked using ERDAS Imagine (2014)
for further analysis. Both images were subset. For
image classification, an unsupervised classification
method was principally used. In this method
classification carried through image interpreting
software with no direction from the analyst, the
Software separates a large number of unknown
pixels in an image based on their reflectance values
into classes [4]. In this study ‘K Means’ algorithm
method was used that are available in the ERDAS
Imagine (2014) software. The images were
primarily classified into 30 classes. Spectral
signature of the layer stack images were used to
identify the land use classes. Classified images
were recoded into 5 thematic classes. Final output
was prepared using Arc Map (Version 10.3)
C. Study Area
St. Martin’s island a small island in the northeast
of the Bay of Bengal, about 9 km south of the
cox’s bazar-teknaf peninsular tip and forming the
southernmost part of Bangladesh. It is about 8 km
west of the northwest coast of Myanmar at the
mouth of the river naf. The island lies between
92°18' and 92°21'e longitudes and 20°34' and
20°39'n latitudes. The local people call it narikel
jinjira. It is almost flat and is 3.6m above the mean
sea level. The 9.66 km wide channel between the
mainland and the island is much shallower than the
open sea southwest of the island. There are reefs
from 10-15 km to the west-northwest.
Fig 1. Map of Study Area
III. Results and Discussion
According to Lea and Curtis [5], accuracy assessment
reporting requires the overall classification accuracy
above 90% and kappa statistics above 0.9 which were
successfully achieved in the present research. The
classified Land use map of St. Martin’s Island of
years 2007 and 2017 is given in Fig. 2. The results
show that major decline with respect to area coverage
in St. Martin’s Island was observed in Terrestrial
Vegetation and Coral reef whereas, the area of
mangrove habitat and Agriculture land was increased.
The comparison of each class of 2007 and 2017
showed that there has been a marked land use and
land cover change during the study period of 10
years. GIS was used for the post-classification
comparison of the detected change, producing change
map for comprehending the spatial pattern of change
between years.The classification results for 2007 and
2017 are summarized in Fig 3.
.
Respective
Year
Satellite
Sensor
Brand Spatial
Resolution
2007 Landsat
5
TM
2,3,4 30m
2017 Landsat
8 OLI
3,4,5 30m
Table 1. List of satellite image

International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Development
ISSN : 2581-7175 ©IJSRED:All Rights are Reserved
Fig 2. . Land use map of St. Martin’s Island
Fig 3. Land use Analysis of St. Martin’s Island
192.15
0.36
128.7
37.53
334.62
693.36
Areainhectare
LAND USE ANALYSIS 2007
ntific Research and Engineering Development-– Volume 2 Issue 3, May
©IJSRED:All Rights are Reserved
Fig 2. . Land use map of St. Martin’s Island
Analysis of St. Martin’s Island
693.36
186.57
0.81
189.9
27.54
Areainhectare
LAND USE ANALYSIS 2017
3, May –June 2019
www.ijsred.com
Page 319
27.54
239.22
644.04

Moreover, the change in the total area of
Island wasalso observed. Classification
indicates that the total area covered 693.36
hectare in 2007 but area reduced to 644.04
hectare in 2017.The percentage decrease in
total landarea was 7.11%. The assessment
shows that, Coral reef area found 192.15
hectarein 2007 constituting about 27.71% of
the total area but it was reduced to 186.57
hectare in 2017 covering 26.9% of the total
land of the island. Thus, approximately
0.81% of the coral reef area diminished in
10 years.
A. Potential Threats to Coral and
Associated Resources
The main threat to future viability of coral
communities comes from direct extraction
of coral colonies. It has also been estimated
that about 30,000 coral colonies are
collected annually and current extraction
activities remove about 24% of the existing
population from the extractable areas. Coral
removal has continued since so reasonably
assume that the current status of coral at the
site is very poor, and surveys of corals are
an urgent priority [6]. The following are the
key environmental (natural and
anthropogenic) concerns in St. Martin’s
Island which pose threats to environment
and resource degradation.
Anthropogenic Threats
Overexploitation of renewable marine and
coastal resources (e.g. rocky reef fisheries,
coral and shell extraction, removal of coastal
vegetation). Large scale removal of key-
stone species from intertidal subtidal
habitats (I.e. corals, cucumbers and
molluscs). Destructive fishing practices,
mainly the use of rock weighted gill nets
over the inshore boulder reefs. Increased
water turbidity and sedimentation from
agricultural practices, deforestation and
urbanization, Waste disposal, particularly
fish offals from large number of fish dry
farms. Tourists activities (e.g. collection of
sample specimens other destructive
activities).
Natural Threats
Cyclonic storms and tidal surge probably
cause serious damage to coral communities
by shifting and overturning substrate
boulders. Silts coming with Naaf discharge
causing turbidity problems on the east coast
of the island. Resuspension of sediments
also help to increase water turbidity and
directly impeding the coral development and
survival. Increased discharge of freshwater
flood water from Naaf River during rainy
season causes salinity to fall to a suboptimal
level [7].
IV. Conclusion and Recommendation
Based on the results obtained by
employment of GIS and RS applications to
achieve the specific research objectives, it is
concluded that the coral reef quantity in the
study area have changed significantly in 10
years.The haphazard expansion of
Settlement, Agriculture and Tourist
activities in the island was main reason of
coral reef area reduction due to lack of
proper management and land use planning to
land development in the study area.By far
the most serious threat to the future viability
(ecological and economical) of coral
resources of St. Martin's Island is over
exploitation. This is serious issue throughout
the tropical regions where local
communities depend heavily on coral reef
resources for their survival and economic
well-being. However, coral viewing using
glass-bottom boat has been suggested.
Development of small scale community
based ecotourism, to satisfy national demand
for new travel destinations, is a viable option

on island that needs to be promoted.
Development of community based
ecotourism will not only benefit local
conservation efforts through community
participation but will also expose tourists to
new experiences [8].
A. Recommendation
Strengthen socioeconomic monitoring of
reef resources to provide adequate
information for coral reef management.
Identify and develop alternative livelihoods
for those dependent on reef resources.
Sustainable and long-term funding to protect
and habitat conservation activities of coral
reef resources. Promote awareness,
education and publicity on the protection of
biodiversity of the island. A complete
resource inventory of the island need to be
taken and very detailed maps with quantity
of the whole reef system are to depict.
Nations around the globe should perform
more to restrict fishing, cut pollution and
fight to control emissions of different
greenhouse gases like CO2, SO2 to protect
corals.
References:
[1] Turner, M.G., Gardnes, R.H.,O’Neill,
R.V., 2001. Lanscape Ecology in Theory
and Practice pattern and process. Spinger-
Verlag, Newyork.
[2] Burrough, P.A., 1986. Principles of
Geographic Information System for land
resources assessment. New York: Oxford
University press
[3] US Geological Survey website. [Online].
Available: http://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/
[4] Tou, J.T. & Gonzalez, R.C. 1974,
"Pattern recognition principles", Image
Rochester NY, vol. 7.
[5] Lea, C., Curtis, A.C., 2010. Thematic
accuracy assessment procedures: National
Park Service Vegetation Inventory, version
2.0. Natural Resource Report
NPS/2010/NRR––2010/204, National Park
Service, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
[6] DoZ (Department of Zoology (1997).
Survey of Fauna, Draft Final Report,
National Conservation Strategy
Implementation Project 1 Ministry of
Environment and Forest, Government of
Bangladesh 225 pp.
[7] Tomascik, T. (1993). Coral Reef
Ecosystems, Environmental Management
Guidelines. EMDI Environmental Reports,
35. SRES Halifax. 79 pp.
[8] Tomascik, T. (1997). Management Plan
for Resources of Narikel Jinjira (St. Martin's
Island) Final Report, National Conservation
Strategy Implementation Project -1 Ministry
of Environment and Forest, Government of
Bangladesh 125 pp.

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