Presentation Type
Presentation
Faculty Mentor’s Full Name
Victoria Dreitz
Faculty Mentor’s Department
Wildlife Biology
Abstract / Artist's Statement
The estuaries of Sonora and Sinaloa on the Gulf of California in Mexico provide critical wintering and stopover sites for migratory waterbirds in the Pacific Flyway. Shrimp farms are the greatest threat to these areas and their full impact is not well understood. Once shrimp production has stopped, they are often abandoned. A significant portion of existing farms may be abandoned based on a disparity between active area reported by the Sonora and Sinaloa state commissions and observed area based on remote sensing. To quantify the area of shrimp farms I digitized and classified them by wetland characteristics using recent satellite imagery. I then used imagery from 1984 to present to determine when farms were constructed. I modeled monthly water extent in shrimp farms using spectral mixture analysis in Google Earth Engine. Because active shrimp farms have consistent production cycles alternating between wet and dry it is possible to classify abandoned areas based on how long they are flooded or not. There has been research into water quality impacts from shrimp farms, as well as initial habitat destruction, but not regarding abandonment of shrimp farms. By identifying areas that may be abandoned, this project has the potential to drive restoration activities and conservation agendas in these areas. In addition, it can support increased collaboration between agencies and non-governmental organizations in the United States and Mexico to further international conservation efforts.
Category
Life Sciences
Assessing Shrimp Farm Activity in the Gulf of California and Modeling Potential for Restoration
The estuaries of Sonora and Sinaloa on the Gulf of California in Mexico provide critical wintering and stopover sites for migratory waterbirds in the Pacific Flyway. Shrimp farms are the greatest threat to these areas and their full impact is not well understood. Once shrimp production has stopped, they are often abandoned. A significant portion of existing farms may be abandoned based on a disparity between active area reported by the Sonora and Sinaloa state commissions and observed area based on remote sensing. To quantify the area of shrimp farms I digitized and classified them by wetland characteristics using recent satellite imagery. I then used imagery from 1984 to present to determine when farms were constructed. I modeled monthly water extent in shrimp farms using spectral mixture analysis in Google Earth Engine. Because active shrimp farms have consistent production cycles alternating between wet and dry it is possible to classify abandoned areas based on how long they are flooded or not. There has been research into water quality impacts from shrimp farms, as well as initial habitat destruction, but not regarding abandonment of shrimp farms. By identifying areas that may be abandoned, this project has the potential to drive restoration activities and conservation agendas in these areas. In addition, it can support increased collaboration between agencies and non-governmental organizations in the United States and Mexico to further international conservation efforts.