Application of Video- and Photomethods in Hydrobiological Research

The application of nondestructive methods such as video-transects and photo-quadrates to epifaunal communities of hard bottoms of Peter the Great Bay is analyzed in the present work. It was shown that video-transects gave more representative material than photo-quadrates for a greater area of scope. Two ways of transect shooting were considered, and a modified technique of counting the projective cover of the substrate by invertebrates with application of color segmentation and 'AutoCAD registered ' software is suggested. The advantages and drawbacks of video- and photo-methods of epibenthos counting are considered.