Acoustic habitat mapping in the German Wadden Sea – Comparison of hydro-acoustic devices

Research comparing hydro-acoustic devices reveals that while all tested systems—singlebeam echosounder (200 kHz), multibeam echosounder (455 kHz), and sidescan sonar (380 kHz)—showed similar spatial patterns in mapping the German Wadden Sea, the singlebeam was more influenced by its lower frequency, limiting its resolution. Four major acoustic classes were identified, primarily distinguishing sand, broken shells, gravel, and muddy sediments, with Class 1 and Class 3 (medium sand with varying gravel/shell fragments) being the most consistent across devices. Surveys conducted in 2007 and 2008 highlighted higher variability in 2007, though current understanding of footprint-sediment interactions remains insufficient. This study underscores the potential and limitations of hydro-acoustic tools for sub-tidal habitat monitoring in UNESCO-listed areas.

Bartholomä, A., Holler, P., Schrottke, K., & Kubicki, A. (2024). Acoustic habitat mapping in the German Wadden Sea – Comparison of hydro-acoustic devices. Journal of Coastal Research, 64(sp1), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.2112/1551-5036-64.sp1.1