Habitat variables (mangrove, marsh, water) of Port Fourchon, LA dervied from satellite imagery taken in fall 2022

Abstract

This dataset consists of satellite-derived habitat data tables used to quantify fine-scale landscape metrics in an estuarine environment undergoing rapid climate-driven habitat change. The data were generated as part of a study evaluating the effects of mangrove encroachment and marsh loss on species-landscape relationships in coastal Louisiana.

Habitat variables were derived for buffer zones ranging from 150 to 600 meters around 52 field sampling sites and edge zones 1, 3, and 5 meters from the water's edge, providing detailed metrics such as percent land cover, edge area, and proportional mangrove cover. The greater spatial coverage of the satellite imagery allowed for larger habitat scales to be encompassed in the analysis.

Satellite images used in this analysis were all taken during the year 2022, within a few months of our sampling season, in the region surrounding Port Fourchon, LA. This dataset enables testing of species-specific responses to habitat features at ecologically relevant fine scales, particularly for nekton species interacting with marsh edges and immediate surrounding areas.

The primary purpose of this dataset is to inform ecological research focused on habitat suitability, landscape ecology, and the impacts of fine-scale habitat changes on estuarine species distributions. Researchers and resource managers can use these data to improve habitat suitability models, identify critical habitat features, and guide conservation strategies. The data were collected and interpreted by Herbert Leavitt, Dr. James Nelson, and Alex Thomas, with institutional affiliation at the time of collection being the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

For a complete list of measurements, refer to the full dataset description in the supplemental file 'Dataset_description.pdf'. The most current version of this dataset is available at: https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/947975