Habitat variables (mangrove, marsh, water) of Port Fourchon, LA dervied from drone imagery taken in spring 2023.

This dataset consists of drone-derived habitat data tables used to quantify fine-scale landscape metrics in an estuarine environment undergoing rapid climate-driven habitat change. The data were generated as part of a study evaluating the effects of mangrove encroachment and marsh loss on species-landscape relationships in coastal Louisiana.

Habitat variables were derived for buffer zones ranging from 20 to 150 meters around 52 field sampling sites and edge zones 1, 3, and 5 meters from the water's edge, providing detailed metrics such as percent land cover, edge area, and proportional mangrove cover. The fine spatial resolution of the drone imagery allowed for precise identification of small-scale habitat features that are often missed in satellite-based analyses.

The data were collected during the Spring 2023 sampling season in the region surrounding Port Fourchon, LA, an area experiencing significant landscape changes due to sea-level rise, subsidence, and the expansion of mangroves. This dataset enables testing of species-specific responses to habitat features at ecologically relevant fine scales, particularly for nekton species interacting with marsh edges and immediate surrounding areas.

The primary purpose of this dataset is to inform ecological research focused on habitat suitability, landscape ecology, and the impacts of fine-scale habitat changes on estuarine species distributions. Researchers and resource managers can use these data to improve habitat suitability models, identify critical habitat features, and guide conservation strategies. The data were collected and interpreted by Herbert Leavitt, Dr. James Nelson, and Alex Thomas, with institutional affiliation at the time of collection being the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.