- Research Work Description:
-
I aim to acquire a greater understanding of coral reef processes across space and time. My research focuses on the the use and
development of powerful spectral remote sensing, geographic information system (GIS), and spatial modeling techniques. As a
Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation (KBSLOF) fellow, my work is primarily focused on the Saudi Arabian Red Sea. I have a
particular interest in developing the capacity of remote sensing derived databases to answer important ecological and
management considerations at the landscape scale.
I utilize a variety of spectral and acoustic tools including hyperspectral (Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager (CASI)) and
multispectral (Quickbird, Ikonos, Landsat) imagery, low frequency and high frequency single beam sonar. A major output of my
work will be a series of benthic habitat maps that characterize the majority of the Saudi Arabian Red Sea coastline. These maps
feed into ongoing management initiatives as well as providing the foundation of my research.
- Title of thesis/dissertation research project:
- A spatial perspective on coral reef development in the Saudi Arabian Red Sea
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Samuel Purkis
- Academic areas of interest:
- Benthic habitat mapping, remote sensing, GIS, spatial analyses and modeling, landscape and coral reef ecology.
- Publications:
- Rowlands GP, Goodman JA, Riegl BM, Renaud PG, Purkis SJ (In Press, 2009) Habitat mapping in the Farasan Islands (Saudi Arabia)
using CASI and QuickBird imagery. Proceedings of the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium
- Riegl BM, Purkis SJ, Keck J, Rowlands GP (2009) Monitored and modeled coral population dynamics and the refuge concept.
Marine Pollution Bulletin 58: 24-38
- Rowlands GP, Purkis, SJ, Riegl BM (2008) The 2005 coral-bleaching event Roatan (Honduras): Use of Pseudo-invariant
features (PIFs) in satellite assessments. Journal of Spatial Science 53: 99-112
- Behnke JM, Bajer A, Harris PD, Newington L, Pidgeon E; Rowlands GP;
Sheriff C; Kuliś-Malkowska K; Siński E, Gilbert FS, Barnard, CJ
(2008) Temporal and between-site variation in helminth communities of bank
voles (Myodes glareolus) from N.E. Poland. 1. Regional fauna and component
community levels. Parasitology 135(8): 985-997
- Behnke JM, Bajer A, Harris PD, Newington L, Pidgeon E; Rowlands GP;
Sheriff C; Kuliś-Malkowska K; Siński E, Gilbert FS, Barnard, CJ
(2008) Temporal and between-site variation in helminth communities of bank
voles (Myodes glareolus) from N.E. Poland. 2. The infracommunity level.
Parasitology 135(8): 999-1018
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