CLASSIFICATION OF MARINE SEAGRASSES BY LEAF FRACTAL DIMENSION ANALYSIS

Abstract

This particular study used the fractal dimensions of leaves of seagrasses that were found near the Marine Protected Area (MPA) of Punta, Panaon, Misamis Occidental to determine if the same can be used for classification purposes. The species of sea-grasses used were: Thalassia hemprichii, Syringodium isoetifolium, and Cymodocea rotundata. Findings revealed that the fractal dimensions can be used to differentiate one seagrass species from another sea-grass species to another species (f= 6.12, p= 0.015). However, leaf fractal dimensions alone cannot differentiate between (Thalassia hemprichii and Syringodium isoetifolium) while it can differentiate between (Thalassia hemprichii and Cymodocea rotundata) and (Cymodocea rotundata and Syringodium isoetifolium). The results may be due to few samples for each species of sea-grass. The empirical probability of misclassification using the technique is approximately 10.89%.