Using action cameras to assess habitat use by Pseudobarbus afer and Sandelia capensis in the Swartkops River, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Abstract

Currently, freshwater systems are facing various threats, freshwater biota are declining and there is an increased need to monitor freshwater fauna and flora using non-invasive methods. This thesis aimed to evaluate the potential of using action cameras as a tool for the monitoring of freshwater fish populations and the collection of habitat utilisation data. This evaluation was conducted in headwater tributaries of the Swartkops River in South Africa, using two threatened species that have not been extensively studied, Pseudobarbus afer (Peters, 1864) and Sandelia capensis (Cuvier, 1831). The aims of this study were to: (1) assess the use of underwater video analysis (UWVA) using action cameras (videos and still photographs) in comparison to estimates derived from snorkel surveys, to estimate the abundance of P. afer in headwater streams; (2) use estimates derived from UWVA (videos and photographs) to assess the habitat use of two imperilled species, P. afer and S. capensis; and (3) assess habitat use by these two species in the presence of an artificial habitat. This work demonstrated that: (1) estimates derived from videos and photographs were strongly correlated to estimates derived from snorkel surveys, provided multiple cameras were used; (2) estimates derived from videos and photographs were not significantly different to estimates derived from snorkel surveys; (3) a filming period of 15 minutes was sufficient at detecting 0.9 of the cumulative mMaxN (mean MaxN) within one of the five habitats; and (4) still photographs, which are less time consuming to process than videos, could be used in preference to videos. Based on these findings, techniques using action cameras to assess habitat utilisation and behaviour in situ of the two-focal species, were developed using six habitat types (inflow, outflow, woody debris, fern root, middle and artificial) in four pools. It was demonstrated that: (1) there was a significant difference in proportional occupancies across habitats for both P. afer and S. capensis; (2) Pseudobarbus afer were mainly observed schooling in the middle of the pool and feeding on detritus material in fern root, woody debris and off the artificial structure; and (3) Sandelia capensis rapidly colonised the artificial structure and were observed utilising it for refuge. In conclusion, this work demonstrated that still photographs from action cameras can be used in place of videos to estimate the abundance of freshwater fishes and assess their habitat use and behaviour in clear headwater streams. This work also demonstrated how action cameras could be used to evaluate the effect of the introduction of artificial habitat as a restoration measure for headwater fish communities.