Depth of colonization (Z _c) is a useful seagrass growth metric that describes seagrass response to light availability. Similarly, percent surface irradiance at Z _c (% SI) is an indicator of seagrass light requirements with applications in seagrass ecology and management. Methods for estimating Z _c and % SI are highly variable making meaningful comparisons difficult. A new algorithm is presented to compute maps of median and maximum Z _c, Z _c,med, and Z _c,max, respectively, for four Florida coastal areas (Big Bend, Tampa Bay, Choctawhatchee Bay, Indian River Lagoon). Maps of light attenuation (K _d) based on MODIS satellite imagery, PAR profiles, and Secchi depth measurements were combined with seagrass growth estimates to produce maps of % SI at Z _c,med and Z _c,max. Among estuary segments, mean Z _c,med varied from (±SE) 0.80 ± 0.13 m for Old Tampa Bay to 2.33 ± 0.26 m for Western Choctawhatchee Bay. Standard errors for Z _c,med were 1–10% of the segment means. Percent SI at Z _c,med averaged 18% for Indian River Lagoon (range = 9–24%), 42% for Tampa Bay (37–48%), and 58% for Choctawhatchee Bay (51–75%). Estimates of % SI were significantly lower in Indian River Lagoon than in the other estuaries, while estimates for Tampa Bay and Choctawhatchee Bay were higher than the often cited estimate of 20%. Spatial gradients in depth of colonization and % SI were apparent in all estuaries. The analytical approach could be applied easily to new data from these estuaries or to other estuaries and could be incorporated routinely in assessments of seagrass status and condition.

中文翻译：

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使用算法在空间上解析殖民深度来量化海草光照需求。

定居深度（Z _c）是有用的海草生长指标，它描述了海草对光照的响应。同样，在Z _c处的表面辐照度百分数（％SI）指示了海草光需求以及在海草生态和管理中的应用。估算Z _c和％SI的方法变化很大，很难进行有意义的比较。一种新的算法，中值和最大值的计算地图ž _ç，ž _C，配有和ž _C，最大分别，四个佛罗里达州沿海地区（大弯，坦帕湾，查克托哈奇湾，印第安河泻湖）。光衰减图（K _d）基于MODIS卫星图像，PAR剖面和Secchi深度测量与海草生长估计值相结合，得出Z _c，med和Z _c，max处的％SI的图。在河口段中，平均Z _c，med从老坦帕湾的（±SE）0.80±0.13 m到西部Choctawhatchee湾的2.33±0.26 m。Z _c，med的标准误为段平均值的1-10％。Z _c，med处的SI百分比印度河泻湖的平均比例为18％（范围= 9–24％），坦帕湾的平均比例为42％（37％至48％），乔克托瓦切奇湾的比例为58％（51％至75％）。印度河泻湖中SI％的估计值明显低于其他河口，而坦帕湾和Choctawhatchee湾的估计值则高于经常引用的20％的估计值。在所有河口，定居深度和％SI的空间梯度均明显。该分析方法可以轻松地应用于这些河口或其他河口的新数据，并且可以常规地用于评估海草状况和状况。