Marine animal forests are benthic communities dominated by sessile suspension feeders
(such as sponges, corals, and bivalves) able to generate three-dimensional (3D)
frameworks with high structural complexity. The biodiversity and functioning of marine
animal forests are strictly related to their 3D complexity. The present paper aims at providing
new perspectives in underwater optical surveys. Starting from the current gaps in data
collection and analysis that critically limit the study and conservation of marine animal …

Rossi et al. Improving Underwater 3D Investigations for the investigation of their 3D
structural complexity at different spatial and temporal scales. Despite recent technological
advances, it seems that several issues in data acquisition and processing need to be solved,
to properly map the different benthic habitats in which marine animal forests are present,
their health status and to measure structural complexity. Proper precision and accuracy
should be chosen and assured in relation to the biological and ecological processes …