Quantifying Fish Abundance and Size Associated With Artificial Reef Nursery Habitats Using Manual and Automated Aris Approaches

Author

• Kaitlyn Doyscher, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Date of Award

8-1-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Ocean, Coastal, and Earth Sciences

First Advisor

Richard Kline

Second Advisor

MD Saydur Rahman

Third Advisor

Erin E. Easton

Abstract

Artificial reefs enhance fish recruitment and provide marine habitat; however, low-profile nursery habitats remain understudied because they are difficult to observe using conventional visual or acoustic methods. The objectives of this study were (i) to estimate fish abundance, (ii) to determine the size of fish associated with replicated artificial nursery habitats, and (iii) to evaluate manual and automated procedures for processing Adaptive Resolution Imaging Sonar (ARIS) data. An ARIS Explorer 1800 was utilized to complete mobile surveys of sites within the Rio Grande Valley Artificial Reef. Sonar data were processed using ARISfish and Echoview to detect, quantify, and measure fish residing near or on artificial nursery habitats. A more complex reef configuration supported the highest abundance, whereas low-profile artificial reefs were associated with the smallest size classes compared with the other configurations. Measurements generated by Echoview were not considered an adequate substitute for manual measurements.

Comments

Copyright 2026 Kaitlyn T. Doyscher. All Rights Reserved. https://proquest.com/docview/3409129310

Recommended Citation

Doyscher, K. (2026). Quantifying Fish Abundance and Size Associated With Artificial Reef Nursery Habitats Using Manual and Automated Aris Approaches [Master's thesis, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley]. ScholarWorks @ UTRGV. https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/etd/2065