Visualization and Aesthetic Perceptions in Assessing Caribbean Coral Reef Resilience: An Experimental Study

Abstract

Achieving sustainability and resilience in many of our contemporary global, regional and local ecosystems is of paramount importance. Natural (biophysical) and human (anthropogenic) factors, drivers and interactions are jointly responsible for a number of environmental challenges and transformations. Global and regional biophysical forces, such as climate change, sea-level and ocean temperature rise, changes in intensity and frequency distribution of extreme events, to name a few. Choices related to such global and regional transformations are either limited, or have not been part of a comprehensive national or regional approach. This research analyzes local Virgin Islander’s perceptions regarding visual interpretations of coral reef systems in our region. Participants were asked to rank 25 images based on either their ecosystem health, or their subjective aesthetic preferences, randomly. The participant average and individual rankings were associated with demographic/personal characteristics, and the 25 images were submitted to unsupervised signal processing mathematical analysis and algorithms, including pattern recognition, threshold identification, RGB signal separation, entropy threshold, and others. Signal processing signatures and average values per image was then modeled against preferences and participant attributes. Our results indicate that: (a) biophysical systemic characteristics (color, patterns, thresholds, entropic characteristics) of visualization perceptions can be strongly associated with aesthetic preferences and attitudes, and vice versa; (b) visual aesthetic characteristics affect and being affected by age, gender, and education, and; (c) experiential learning, i.e., learning by experience along with social learning affects both physical (aesthetic) and cognitive (perceptional) characteristics of participant’s marine and environmental conservation priorities. Funding for this research is provided by NSF VI-EPSCoR award no. 0814417.