Drones address an observational blind spot for biological oceanography

Abstract

Marine biological communities are dynamic across many scales in both space and time. Such multi-scale complexity complicates efforts to fully characterize these communities. Critical processes unfold on the order of 0.1–10 kilometers and 0.1–10 days, but conventional oceanographic techniques generally do not observe or model at this scale. Small aerial drones conveniently achieve scales of observation between satellite resolutions and in-situ sampling, and effectively diminish the “blind spot” between these established measurement techniques. Despite this promise, drone-based techniques face challenges inherent to optical oceanography, as well as logistical and regulatory barriers relating to both aerial and marine operations. Such obstacles have slowed adoption of drones for marine biological study, but best practices are emerging alongside new techniques that facilitate robust study designs and rigorous data collection. With such advancements, drones promise to complement conventional approaches in biological oceanography to more fully capture the spatiotemporal complexity of the marine environment.