Coralligenous habitats are biogenic reefs vital to Mediterranean biodiversity and they are threatened by climate change and anthropogenic pressures, necessitating active restoration efforts. This study evaluates the effectiveness of non-invasive monitoring techniques to assess the restoration’s success of Corallium rubrum and Paramuricea clavata at Gallinara Island, NW Mediterranean. Transplanted populations of these habitat-forming species were monitored over several years using traditional 2D photographic methods, as well as emerging 3D technologies, stereovision and Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry. Results indicate that while C. rubrum experienced a decline in survival rate, reaching 67.7% in March 2025 with a 22% mortality rate. P. clavata showed significant growth in colony height (1.23 ± 2.36 cm/year) but no significant growth in width. Comparing the three methods revealed several limitations affecting the broader application of stereovision for benthic habitat assessment, including challenges related to data acquisition, calibration accuracy, and image resolution. This study demonstrates the potential of integrating innovative 3D monitoring techniques into restoration projects, highlighting the importance of long-term monitoring of keystone organisms and providing a preliminary framework for future monitoring of complex benthic ecosystems.
promotor/supervisor feedback
nothing yet
