Spatial patterns of Posidonia oceanica in the Oristano Gulf (Sardinia Island, Italy) detected with hyperspectral satellite data and geospatial modelling

The assessment of the protective value offered by different coastal ecosystems (e.g., wetlands, beach dunes, seagrasses) is an attempt to connect biophysical assets in coastal systems to the value of ecosystem services. Due to increasing exposure to multiple natural pressures (e.g., sea level rise and related hazards), seagrasses rank among the most relevant ecosystems of the Mediterranean sea. In this work, for the Gulf of Oristano study area, the suitability of indicators to quantify the potential in coastal protection, such as degree of coverage, fragmentation and proximity to the coastline of Posidonia oceanica meadows was investigated using hyperspectral satellite data and geospatial modelling.