Interest in GIS applications in Marine Science Elizabeth Michelle Brant Arizona State University Graduate Student

About me Currently in the GIS Masters program at Arizona State University Undergraduate work at University of Washington Bachelors in Environmental Science with a Marine Focus – Minor in Business Administration. Certified Associate in Project Management Quarter at Friday Harbor Laboratories (marine research center) Current ASU MAS GIS student UW graduate E sci and marine sci focus Quarter at FHL with research Open door for marine research, Several years at MAST – interacted with citizen Science

Why use GIS in Marine Science? Physical world studies have inherent spatial components Observation of hidden patterns Innovative platform for sharing data and ideas Several reasons inherent spatial component in physical world studies – interactions in environment, between biotic and abiotic factors Allows us to observe patterns we may not be able to physically see Gives a platform for sharing data and discoveries in a very visual way great for educating and motivating the public great for educating and providing the tools to policy makers

Why use GIS in Marine Science? “For the very first time, we can balance the term ‘ocean crisis’ with the term ‘ocean solution’. For the first time, we can share data and information with a global audience in a manner that allows them to participate.” --David G. Gallo Allows us to reach the public in a way we never have before. Allowing open access to understand the data Wright, Dawn J.. (2016). Ocean Solutions, Earth Solutions. Esri Press. Cover, Pg viii

Current applications of GIS in Marine Research Case Studies A tool for policy makers A platform to collect citizen science data

A tool for policy makers GIS is a key tool for showing relationships between human land impact to marine ecosystems. Pittman and colleagues (2013) Used GIS to create a land-sea characterization of Saint Croix East End Marine Park Schaffner and colleagues (2013) Used GIS to demonstrate pollutant plume long term impacts to calculate a ‘pollutant exposure index’ throughout Southern California ecosystems. Small set of examples- so many out there, just using small group that caught my attention These demo providing tools for policy making. Looking at Watershed impact zones and landscape development intensity Anthropogenic pollutants – urban run off and waster water – looking at their long term effects Important for conservation Wright, Dawn J.. (2016). Ocean Solutions, Earth Solutions. Esri Pg108.

A platform to collect citizen science data GIS can be used to create tools for the public to become part of the science. Whale maPP Stelle and colleagues created a citizen science tool to track and document whale sighting using a GIS platform to create an Android app called Whale maPP for marine mammal sightings. TURT (Turtles Uniting Researchers and Tourists) App produced by proTECTOR let tourist and sea turtle enthusiasts take photos and log locations of turtle sightings. Whale maPP. (2016). Retrieved September 16, 2016, from http://www.whalemapp.org/map/ Citizen science is the answer to an age old struggle of marine biologist. In order to create change data is critical and it takes vast amounts of data to draw conclusions limited by time and funding, can turn to enthusiastic citizens to participate in collection used to monitor species that are hard to track – if remote sensing is unavailable Whale maPP is a well known example of using GIS to engage in citizen science. They used GIS tools to create an android compatible map that allows the public to record and document marine mammal sighting It allows unprecedented control over the data by the user, letting the general public interact with the GIS platform. contributes into a large database that has potential use for scientific studies. TURT is simpler, using photo ID programs to document and track the sighting of sea turtles, allowing a larger data collection into a monitored database proTECTOR Data collectors. (2015, April). 09, 2016, from http://www.turtleprotector.org/TAPS/2015 Dive Sightings Data Collection Sheets.html

My goals for GIS in Marine Research Citizen science applications For small, indicator species in intertidal and popular beaches GIS applications in wildlife tracking using remote sensing Tracking migration and movement patterns of elusive species - such as Giant Pacific Octopus, Six Gill and Great White Sharks Interested in several aspects of GIS in marine science, beach combers who can produce massive data on intertidal indicator species all of which can be leveraged to be a platform for conservation efforts and policy changes for valuable ecosystems. I look forward to learning more about GIS and how I can use GIS to advance marine research

Citations Marine Biology. (2016). Retrieved September 16, 2016, from https:// marinebiology.uw.edu/ Menzel, C. (2016, June 23). Citizen Science Resources. Retrieved September 14, 2016, from https://blogs.esri.com/esri/arcgis/2015/09/22/citizen-science-resources/ proTECTOR Data collectors. (2015, April). Retrieved September 14, 2016, from http:// www.turtleprotector.org/TAPS/2015 Dive Sightings Data Collection Sheets.html Whale maPP. (2016). Retrieved September 16, 2016, from http://www.whalemapp.org/ map/ Wright, Dawn J.. (2016). Ocean Solutions, Earth Solutions. Esri Press. Retrieved 20 September 2016, from <http://www.myilibrary.com?ID=921996>