ecological assessment of the flora and fauna of point...
TRANSCRIPT
Authors Chris Roelfsema, Ruth Thurstan,
Jason Flower, Maria Beger, Michele Gallo, Jennifer Loder,
Eva Kovacs, K-le Gomez Cabrera, Alexandra Lea, Juan Ortiz,
Dunia Brunner, and Diana Kleine
Ecological Assessment of the Flora and Fauna of Point Lookout Dive Sites
North Stradbroke Island, QLD Australia
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Ecological Assessment of the Flora and Fauna of Point Lookout Dive Sites,
North Stradbroke Island, Queensland.
Final Report
Thisreportshouldbecitedas:RoelfsemaC.,R.Thurstan,J.Flower,M.Beger,M.Gallo,J.Loder,E.Kovacs,K.GomezCabrera,A.Lea,J.Ortiz,D.Brunner,andD.Kleine(2014).EcologicalAssessmentoftheFloraandFaunaofPointLookoutDiveSites,NorthStradbrokeIsland,Queensland.,UniDive,TheUniversityofQueenslandUnderwaterClub,Brisbane,Australia.
Theviewsandinterpretationexpressedinthisreportarethoseoftheauthorsandnotnecessarilythoseofcontributingagenciesandorganisations.
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I see a majestic gliding turtle Like a bird of the ocean
Go past colourful stinging coral The slimy fish like darts
Miniscule bubbles rising fast That are like ocean toys
I hear colossal waves forming A front flip splashing, shrill, bulking dolphin
Diving through the salt water, croaking calmly
A poem by Felix Pheasant 8 years old,
the youngest PLEA participant to join us during the survey weekends..
This Report will give him a chance to enjoy “Straddie” as much as the volunteers did.
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TableofContentsTableofContents 4
ListofFigures 5
ListofTables 6
ListofAppendices 6
Acknowledgements 7
CorePLEAdiversduringtrainingweekendinJanuaryandMarch2014. 9
ExecutiveSummary 10
1. Introduction 13
2. GeneralMethods 15
2.1. Overview 15
2.2. Mapping 17
2.3. FishSpeciesandFamilies 18
2.4. Invertebrates 20
2.5. SubstrateandBenthos 20
2.6. ReefImpacts 21
2.7. SpeciesList 21
3. Results 22
3.1. SurveyConsiderations 22
3.2. Mapping 23
3.3. Fish 25
3.4. Invertebrates 29
3.5. SubstrateandBenthos 30
3.6. Impacts 31
3.7. AComparisonof2001to2014EcologicalData 34
4. Discussion 39
4.1. InterpretationofFindings 39
4.2. ProjectandDataLimitations 40
5. RecommendationsforManagementandCommunity 42
5.1. ContinuedandimprovedmonitoringofthePointLookoutdivesites. 42
5.2. ReducingPhysicalDamagetoCorals 42
5.3. CommunityEngagementtoCreateAwarenessoftheImportanceoftheReefs 43
5.4. Supportconservationofthereefsbyprovidingpeerreviewedinformation. 44
6. References 45
7. Appendices 47
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ListofFiguresFigure1:PointLookoutdivesites,NorthStradbrokeIsland..ThewhiteboxintheMoretonBayRegion(leftpanel)indicatesthePointLookoutDivesitesatNorthStradbrokeIsland.Approximatetransectlocationsareindicatedinyellow.Sourceimage:LandsatThematicMapper5,USGS..........................................................................................................................................................15Figure2:Placementofthetransectlines.......................................................................................................16Figure3:Conceptualdiagramofthegeoreferencedphototransects................................................17Figure4:Diagrammaticrepresentationofthefishsurveytransectsshowingtheimaginaryframeofthediver'sview.Fishoutsideofthediver'sviewwereonlycountediftheysubsequentlyenteredtheviewegmantaray...............................................................................................18Figure5:Diagrammaticrepresentationoftheinvertebrateandreefimpactsurveytransects.Diversswama5mwidetransectinaU‐shapedpatternalongthetransecttape........................20Figure6:Detailofsubstratesurveytransects.Atevery0.5m,usingaplumblinetoavoidbias,thebenthiccategorylocateddirectlybeneaththetransecttapewasrecorded...........................20Figure7:ProminentfeaturesatShagRock,NorthStradbrokeIsland,Australia.Thetransectsurveysitesareindicatedinyellow.................................................................................................................23Figure8:ProminentfeaturesatMantaRayBommie,NorthStradbrokeIsland,Australia.Thetransectsurveysiteisindicatedinyellow.....................................................................................................23Figure9:UpdatedmapofprominentfeaturesatFlatRock,NorthStradbrokeIsland,Australia.Thetransectsurveysitesareindicatedinyellow.................................................................24Figure10:Averageabundanceoftargetfishfamiliesforthefivesitessurveyedexcludingwrassesanddamselfish(errorbarsindicatestandarddeviation).....................................................25Figure11:Averageabundanceofdamselfishandwrassefamiliesforthefivesitessurveyed.(errorbarsindicatestandarddeviation).......................................................................................................26Figure12:Seasonalabundanceofpredators,tropicalandsubtropicalcorallivoresandomnivores,invertivoresandherbivores.(errorbarsindicatestandarddeviation)...................26Figure13:Averageabundanceofbluedamselsateachofthefivesitessurveyed.(errorbarsindicatestandarddeviation)................................................................................................................................27Figure14:Seasonalabundanceofsubtropicalfishspecies.(errorbarsindicatestandarddeviation).....................................................................................................................................................................27Figure15:Seasonalabundanceoftropicalfishspecies.(errorbarsindicatestandarddeviation).....................................................................................................................................................................28Figure16:Site‐specificabundanceofadditionalindicatorfishspeciessurveyed.(errorbarsindicatestandarddeviation)................................................................................................................................28Figure17:Averageabundanceofindicatorurchinsforallsites.(errorbarsindicatestandarddeviation).....................................................................................................................................................................29Figure18:Averagenumberofindicatorinvertebratesforallsites.(errorbarsindicatestandarddeviation).................................................................................................................................................29Figure19:Summaryofsubstratetypeforeachseasonderivedfromanalysisofbenthicphotos............................................................................................................................................................................31Figure20:Summaryofsubstratetypeaveragedoverthefourseasonsderivedfromphotoanalyses.........................................................................................................................................................................31Figure21:Normalisedcumulativeabundanceofreefhealthimpactsweightedbycoralcoverpersiteacross2014surveys...............................................................................................................................32Figure22:Averageabundanceofreefhealthimpactsper100m²normalisedforcoralcoverforeachsurveysitebyseason.............................................................................................................................33Figure23:Averagecoralhealthobservedforeachseason....................................................................34
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Figure24:Comparisonoftheabundanceofindicatorurchinsfrom2001to2014forthePointLookoutregion...............................................................................................................................................34Figure25:Meanabundanceoftargetfishfamiliesfor2001and2014foreachofShagRockWest,ShagRockEast,FlatRockWestandFlatRockEastdivesites.................................................35Figure26:Meanabundanceoftargetfishspeciesfor2001and2014foreachofShagRockWest,ShagRockEast,FlatRockWestandFlatRockEastdivesites.................................................36Figure27:Substratecompositionfor2001and2014foreachsite...................................................37Figure28:SubstratecompositionforthePointLookoutRegion,calculatedasanannualaveragefor2001and2014.(errorbarsindicatestandarddeviation).............................................37Figure29:Comparisonofthenormalisedaverageabundanceofreefhealthimpactcategoriesthatwererecordedinboth2001and2014studies............................................................38Figure30:Coralcoverfor2001and2014withpossiblescenariosastowhatthecoralcovercouldhavebeenfortheyearsinbetween.....................................................................................................40
ListofTablesTable1:Seasonalsurveydatesforeachtransectlocation.....................................................................16Table2.Indicatorfishfamilies.Commonfamilynamesoccurinuppercaseandthecorrespondinglatinfamilynamesareinbrackets.“Fished”indicatesspecieswithinthefamilythatarecommonlyfishedforconsumption.“Aquariumtrade”indicatesthosefamiliesthataretargetedbyaquariumcollectorsglobally(seeHodgsonandLiebeler2002).........................19Table3:Environmentalconditionsduringeachofthesurveyweekends(Source:BureauofMeteorology,WaveRiderBuoys,diversparticipatinginthePLEAproject)..................................22Table4:Post‐hocmultiplecomparisonofreefimpactspersite,perseason.Siteswerestatisticallysignificant(PseudoF=5.2309,p=0.018).*valuesrepresentstatisticalsignificance,**representmarginalsignificance.........................................................................................32
ListofAppendicesAppendixA:ParticipantsList..............................................................................................................................47AppendixB:SpeciesList........................................................................................................................................53AppendixC:TransectLocations.........................................................................................................................60AppendixD:TransectCoordinates...................................................................................................................62AppendixE:FishFamilies.....................................................................................................................................63AppendixF:FishSpecies.......................................................................................................................................65AppendixG:SubstrateCover...............................................................................................................................67AppendixH:CoralHealthChartScoresaveragedforeachseasonpersite.....................................69AppendixI:DiveStatistics....................................................................................................................................70AppendixJ:MooringOptions...............................................................................................................................71
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AcknowledgementsCongratulationstothevolunteerdivers,supportersandfriendsoftheUniversityofQueenslandUnderwaterClub(UniDive)‐youdidit!!535safedives,sixweekends,25presentations,614oranges,12000+hoursvolunteeredtime,andoneenormousdataset!Wehavefinishedwhatwestarted,havemade,andwillcontinuetomakeadifference.Whilevolunteeringwithlikeminded,communityorientatedpeople,weproducedthisreport,thebeautiful“Straddie”photobook,withmoretocome:videos,brochures,maps,presentations,scientificpapersand/ordatasets.Welearnedfromeachotherabout:people,diving,thereef,identification(fish,invertebrates,substrate,benthic,andimpacts),mapping,datamanagement,qualitycontrol,analysis,videography,photography,writing,andaboutmanagingabunchofmotivateddiversallhelpingtoconserveourbeloveddivesite“Straddie”.Therewespent375hoursunderwatertheremainingtimewasdirectedwespentoursparetimeionvariousways.Someofthefavoriteswere:emailing,listeningtopresentations,homework,exams,buddyofasurveydiver,cookingfood,Facebook‐ing,makingpermanentmarkers,nurturingsurveygear,enteringdata,sellingt‐shirts,sortingphotos,creatingavideo,storingphotos,managingdata,buyingsausages,makingabook,writingtripreports,etc,etc.Specialthankstothevolunteerswhodidmorethanthesurveys:TrevorBarrenger(mapperFlatEast),LietteBoisvert(Facebook),RyanBooker(safetyofficer),GavinBott(videographer),PeranBray(datamanagement),DuniaBrunner(CoralWatchanalysis),JenniCalcraft(partyorganiser),RobertCook(TankFiller),DonnaEaston(bookandTShirtsales),MicheleGallo(StatisticsandGraphsfordataanalysis),BlairJedras(permanentmarkerbuilder),KarenJohnson(food,beverages&oranges),DianaKleine(graphicdesignerandpatientloveroftheprojectorganiser),JulieKlint(food&beverages),EvaKovacs(qualitycontrolandeditingDutch/English),BruceMcLean(finance),MelanieOley(surveygear),DeePassenger(publications),JoshPassenger(projectsupport,transportandsausages),MichaelPheasant(Cartographer,mapperofShagRockanddiveofficer),LachlanPollard(DOTY,tripwriter,assistantMapperofShag,accommodation,and“Straddie”author),LeeRaby(mapperFlatWest),andDouglasStetner(photographerandmapperMantaBommie).Thankstotheothervolunteerdiversthatassistedwiththeweekendswhetheritwascookingfabulousmealsorwashingup,ordatacollection:AaronAeberli,CraigBolland,RoxanneBorruat,SarahBuckley,OlivierCheneval,StefanoFreguia,WayneFreeman,BethKita,JustinMariner,AlyssaRyan,JamesSadler,MarkStenhouse,andDavidWarren.Thisprojectanditsresultscouldnothavebeenaseducationalandvaluablewithoutthehelpofthescientificprojectsupportteam.Theyusedtheirwealthofknowledgeandexperiencetoprovidetraining,assessment,analysisandwriting,and,keptusonourtoessowedidagoodjob.Abigthanksto:MariaBeger(Fish),ChristineDudgeon(Fish),JasonFlower(Methods),K‐LeGomez(Inverts),AlexandraLea(Fish,Inverts),JenniferLoder(Methods,Impacts,Substrate),JuanOrtiz(SubstrateandStatistics),MeganSaunders(Inverts),andRuthThurstan(Methods,Fish,andSubstrate).Skipperextraordinaire,KenHolzheimer,directorofPointLookoutSCUBACharterandAccommodations.Weoweyouabigthanksforallyoursupport,andespeciallyforbringingusbacksafely,greatjob!ThisisthethirdUniDiveconservationprojectthatyouhavehelpedwith.Additionally,hugethankstoallthefriendsandfamilythathelpedoutduringthesurveyweekends:JoanneEdkins,AndyFindlay,ZaraPassenger,LockiePassenger,EricPeterson,KonradPeterson,MagnusPeterson,NinaPheasant,FelixPheasant,littlezooxanthellae,DjoyRoelfsema,andAnoukRoelfsema.
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UniDivePLEAalsoliketoacknowledgethesupportoftheUniDiveManagementCommitteemembersespeciallyJimiBursaw(pastpresident)andPeranBray(currentpresident),andthetreasuresStaceyDaviesandDanielYeow.TheprojectcouldnothavesucceededwithoutthefinancialsupportoftheRedlandCityCouncilandSibelcoAustraliaMineralSandsCommunityGrantsPrograms.TransitSystems/StradbrokeFerriesprovidedtransportofourcarsfortrainingandsurveyweekendsandPointLookoutSCUBACharterwithdiscounteddivesandaccommodation.Lecturerooms,surveyequipment,andhard/softwarewasprovidedthroughtheSchoolofGeography,PlanningandEnvironmentalManagementandBiophysicalRemoteSensingGroup.GeneralsupportwasprovidedUniversityofQueenslandthrough:Dr.IanTibbetsfromtheCentreforMarineScience;Dr.Kilpatrick,fromtheSharkandRayResearchGroup;KevinTownsendattheMoretonBayResearchStation,CoralWatchforthecoralhealthcharts,and,AdinHewatfromUQSportfororganisingtheappropriateliabilityinsurancesowecouldundertakeourproject.UniDivePLEAisthankfulto:MantaLodgeandScubaCentrefortheirongoingsupportandhelpwithretrievingthepermanentmarkers;QueenslandCyberInfrastructureFoundation(QCIF);ReefCheckAustraliaprovidingsupportwithmethoddevelopmentandsurveygear;VillageMeatsofToowong.ThecommentsprovidedbythereviewersNicolaUdyandPaulMaxwellwereinvaluableandensuredasolidreportwasgenerated.LastlyUniDivePLEAwouldliketoshowtheirrespectandthankthetraditionalownersforprovidingusaccesstothebeautifuldivesitesof“Straddie”.LongnightsandmanyemailsIamtypingthesefinishingsentences.Sentenceslike“Ilearnedsomuch”,“Iamproudtobepartofit”,“It’sgreattoworkonacommongoal”,“afterPLEAmydivesaredifferent,thereismuchmoretosee”‐arecommentsfromvolunteersduringthelastyearwhichgavemeabigkick.Thisprojectwasforme,achallenge,andalogicalfollowupofwhatUniDivedidin2001and2003.Ithadtohappen.Ijustneededapushtodoitagainandnowit’sfinished.Thepushcamefromaneedtostartsomethingpositiveandinspirationfromgivingthoseintheclubwhoarekeenavolunteerawillingchancetomakeadifference.Thankyou!Now,Let’sgetreadyforthenextproject,Iamin.ChrisRoelfsemaUniDivePLEAProjectOrganiser“Everythingisawesomewhenyouarepartofateam”
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CorePLEAdiversduringtrainingweekendinJanuaryandMarch2014.
Hi
Cor
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ExecutiveSummaryIntroductionIn2014,UniDive(TheUniversityofQueenslandUnderwaterClub)conductedanecologicalassessmentofthePointLookoutDivesitesforcomparisonwithsimilarsurveysconductedin2001.UniDivewasawardedfundingbyRedlandCityCouncilandSibelcoCommunityFundstomapandconductbiologicalsurveysofFlatRock,ShagRockandMantaRayBommie.Involvementintheprojectwasvoluntary.MembersofUniDivewhoweremarineexpertsconductedtrainingforotherclubmemberswhohadno,orlimited,experienceinidentifyingmarineorganismsandmappinghabitats.Sincethe2001detailedbaselinestudy,nosimilarseasonalsurveyhasbeenconducted.The2014dataisparticularlyimportantgiventhatnumerouschangeshavetakenplaceinrelationtothemanagementof,andpotentialimpactson,thesereefsites.In2009,MoretonBayMarineParkwasre‐zoned,andFlatRockwasconvertedtoamarinenationalparkzone(Greenzone)withnofishingoranchoring.In2012,fourpermanentmooringswereinstalledatFlatRock.Additionally,theentireareawasexposedtothepotentialeffectsofthe2011and2013Queenslandfloods,includingfloodplumeswhichcarriedlargequantitiesofsedimentintoMoretonBayandsurroundingwaters.ThepopulationofSouthEastQueenslandhasincreasedfrom2.49millionin2001to3.18millionin2011(BITRE,2013).ThisrapidlyexpandingcoastalpopulationhasincreasedthefrequencyandintensityofbothcommercialandrecreationalactivitiesaroundPointLookoutdivesites(EPA2008).QueenslandParksandWildlifeServicehasconductedopportunisticReefHealthImpactSurveysatPointLookoutreefs,andsince2009ReefCheckAustraliahascarriedoutannualreefhealthsurveys.ThePointLookoutEcologicalAssessment(PLEA)surveyprojectcontributesanextensive,detaileddatasetthathasbuiltupontheserapidreefassessmentapproachesandhasincludedseasonalvariationanddetailedinformationaboutreefcomposition,inhabitants,impactsandgeography.MethodologyusedforthePLEAprojectwasbasedonthe2001surveyprotocols,ReefCheckAustraliaprotocolsandCoralWatchmethods.Thishybridmethodologywasusedtomonitorsubstrateandbenthos,invertebrates,fish,andreefhealthimpacts.Additionalanalyseswereconductedwithgeoreferencedphototransects.ThePLEAmarinesurveyswereconductedoversixweekendsin2014totalling535divesand376hoursunderwater.Twotrainingweekends(FebruaryandMarch)wereattendedby44divers,whilstbiologicalsurveyswereconductedonseasonalweekends(February,May,JulyandOctober).Threereefsweresurveyed,withtwosemi‐permanenttransectsatFlatRock,twoatShagRock,andoneatMantaRayBommie.Eachtransectwassampledonceeverysurveyweekend.
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OutcomesBasedonthe2001and2014studies,thePointLookoutreefssupport53speciesofalgae,threespeciesofseagrass,122speciesofinvertebrates,including43speciesofhardcoraland316speciesoffish.ThediversityofspeciesobservedinthewatersoffNorthStradbrokeIslandindicatesacomplex,productivecommunity.Macroalgaeandsmallturfalgaewerethemostabundantgroupoforganismsgrowingonthereefssurveyedinboth2001and2014.Averagemacroalgaecoveracrossallsiteswas32.7%in2014and28.9%in2001,andturfalgae28.4%in2014and18.4%in2001.ThemostcommonlyobservedmacroalgaewereLobophora,LaurenciaandAsparagopsis,whichsuggestachangefrom2001whenthemacroalgalcommunitywaspredominatelymorehomogenous{Asparagopsis).Coverofhardandsoftcoralsaveragedforallsiteswas7.9%and1.4%respectivelyin2014,versus8.5%and5.7%in2001withShagandFlatRockEasthavingthehighestcoralcover.Themostcommonhardcoraltypeswereencrustingandbranchingcorals.30outofthe35substrateindicatorswereobserved.Invertebratesobservedincludedsponges,ascidians,seacucumbers,anemones,seastars,featherstars,seaurchins,nudibranchsandworms.Asin2001,lessdiversityofinvertebrateswasfoundatShagRockcomparedtoFlatRock.However,longspinedandcollectorurchinsweremoreabundantatShagRock.Twentyoutofthe21indicatorfishfamiliesand22outofthe25targetfishspecieswereobservedatMantaRayBommie,FlatandShagRock.ThesurveysindicatednomajordifferencesinfishcompositionbetweenFlatandShagRockandnodifferenceswithinsitesoverthesamplingperiod,althoughtherewasvariedspeciesdominanceovertheseasons.Nodifferencesinfishcompositionorabundancewerefoundwhen2014numberswerecomparedto2001.Manyofthefishtargetedforhumanconsumptionwerenotfoundingreatabundance.Indicatorsofecosystemhealthassurveyedin2001andin2014suggestthattheNorthStradbrokeIslandreefshavestayedingenerallygoodhealth.Therewasnoincreaseorpresenceofnutrientindicatoralgae(e.g.Ulvaspp.)suggestingnoobviousnutrientenrichment.Norwasthereanyobviousresidualimpactfrommajorfloodsbasedonobservationofthealgaespeciespresent.Visualevidenceofcoralstress,suchascoralbleaching,wasonlyrecordedatlowlevels.In2014coraldiseasewasobservedinlowlevelsatallsitesexceptforMantaRayBommie(withhigherabundanceatShagRocklocations).Asthisparameterwasnotsurveyedin2001,itcannotbedeterminedwhethertheprevalenceofcoraldiseasehaschanged.Onenotableobservationfromthestudywasanincreaseintherecordedabundanceofphysicalcoraldamagefromunknowncausesacrossall2014PLEAsurveysites,exceptMantaRayBommie(damagewasdocumentedinhighestabundanceatFlatRockWestandShagRockEast).Coralscars(fromcoral‐eatingDrupellasnailsandotherunknowncauses)weretheonlyimpactsobservedatallsites.Rubbishwasrecordedonlyinlowabundance,butfishinglinewasrecordedatFlatRocksites(GreenZone).ThebiologicalassessmentofNorthStradbrokeIslanddivesitesin2014wasthefirstdetailedreef‐levelseasonalsurveysince2001.The2014and2001surveyshavebothdemonstratedthediversityandcomplexityoftheserockyreefsystems.The2014surveyhasrecordedsomeimpactsfromhumansthroughincreasedpresenceofrubbish,physicaldamagetocoralsandpotentially,fishingpressure.Asnodetailedsurveyswereperformedbetween2001and2014,nothingcanbeconcludedaboutreefhealthduringthistransitionalperiod(declineandrecovery,inclineanddegradation,or,stability).However,the2014assessmenthasconfirmedtheimportanceofconservationofthePointLookoutdivesites,andtheneedforcontinuedsupportforconservationeffortsfromthecommunityandmarineparkmanagers.
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RecommendationsforManagementandCommunityTheresultsofthePLEAprojectandthelessonslearntimplementingthesurveysleadtothefollowingrecommendationsaimedatimprovingthehealthandunderstandingofthePointLookoutreefs:ContinuedandimprovedmonitoringofthePointLookoutdivesites. Repeatingtheecologicalassessmentonanannualbasis(e.g.ReefCheck,QPWSReefHealth
ImpactSurveys)andeveryfiveyearsseasonally(e.g.PLEAproject)wouldbebeneficialforproperunderstandingandmanagementforconservation.Aregularmonitoringprogrammewouldenabledistinctionoflongtermchangesinthereefcommunityfromshortterm(e.g.seasonal)changes,andbetterenablediagnosisofstressorstothereef(e.g.waterqualityissues).
Permanenttransectmarkerswouldenableasignificantimprovementinthequalityandreliabilityofsurveyresultcomparisonsbetweenyearsandseasons.
ReductionofPhysicalDamagetoCoralsSeveralcomplementaryoptionscouldbeintroducedtoavoidanchordamagetocorals: NoanchoringatShagRock(asiscurrentlythecaseforFlatRock). Anchoringonsandsoanchorandchainarenotabletoimpactthereef. Providingfixedpublicorprivatemoorings. Educatingdivers,snorkelers,fishersandskippersonhowtoreducephysicaldamage.
CommunityEngagementtoCreateAwarenessoftheBeautyoftheReefs EducatingthecommunityabouttheMoretonBayreefswillhelppreservetheseresourcesforthe
future. Thecommunitycanhelpbuildanunderstandingoflocalreefsthroughcitizenscience.Supportconservationofthereefsbyprovidingpeerreviewedinformation.Scientificpublications,reportsanddatasets(suchasthosefromthePLEAproject)shouldbeavailableforlocalauthorities,tohelpsupportmanagementdecisions.Informationmayincludeproductssuchas: Projectdocuments,suchasthisreportandtheassociatedresearchmethodsmanual Peer‐reviewedscientificpapersdescribingkeyfindingsoftheresearch.(Twopapersareplanned
forpublicationbasedontheresultsofthePLEAproject.) Openaccessdatasetsthatmaybeusedforadditionalscientificresearchandmanagement
applications.(Surveydatacollectedaspartofthisprojectaretobeuploadedtoanopenaccessdatarepository).
AmorecompletedescriptionoftheserecommendationsisavailableinSection0:RecommendationsforManagementandCommunity.
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1. IntroductionIn2014,UniDive(theUniversityofQueenslanddiveclub)conductedanecologicalassessmentoffloraandfaunaatthePointLookoutdivesites,locatedonNorthStradbrokeIslandinsoutheastQueensland.Thesesitescompriseanumberofrockyoutcropsandreefecosystemsthatsupportandattractadiverserangeofmarinefloraandfauna.Thecurrentassessmentreplicatedsurveysconductedin2001‐2003byUniDive.ThisreportwilldescribetheresultsofthedatacollectedbythevolunteermembersofUniDiveatthePointLookoutdivesites,andwherepossible,comparetheobservationswiththosereportedin2001‐2003.In2001‐2003UniDiveconductedtwomajorsurveyprojects:thePointLookoutBaselineMonitoringProjectFundedbyCoastcare(McMahonetal2002),andtheGreyNurseSharkHabitatMappingProjectfundedbyThreatenedSpeciesNetwork(Fordetal2003).Sincethen,nobenthicsurveyshavebeenperformedatalevelofdetailcomparabletothesestudies.Beginningin2009,ReefCheckAustraliahasconductedsubstrate,invertandimpactsurveysatFlatandShagRock,inadditiontoindividualresearchersthathaveconductedfishsurveysoverwinter2010andsummer2011(Pers.ComMariaBeger).Sincethe2001‐2003initialUniDivesurveys,severalchangeshaveoccurredthatcouldhaveimpactedthereefs.TheseincludeincreasedcommercialandrecreationalactivitiesnotlimitedtoSCUBAdiving,specimencollection,aquariumcollection,recreationalandcommercialfishing,and,coincidentanchordamage.In2009FlatRockwasprotectedfromextractiveactivities(i.e.allrecreationalandcommercialfishingandcollectionactivities)aswellasvesselanchorageunlessmooredonthepublicmooringsnowinplace.Existingaquariumcollectorsatthetimeoftherezoningofthemarineparkin2009wereallowedtocontinuecollectinguntilMarch2013undertransitionalarrangements.Inadditiontoanthropogeniceffects,large‐scalenaturaldisastershavealsooccurred,the2011Queenslandfloodbeinganexample.Despitethepotentialfornegativereefimpacts,nosurveyshavetakenplaceatacomparablescaletothe2001‐2003UniDivesurveys.Theaimofthe2014UniDivePointLookoutEcologicalAssessment(PLEA)projectwasto:RepeattheecologicalassessmentoffloraandfaunaatthePointLookoutdivesites,and,reportonthecurrentstatusandanychangeswhencomparedwiththe2001study.Thesurveymethodswerebasedonpastsurveysandotherresearchinitiatives,toenabledirectcomparison.Theresultsofthesesurveyswillbecommunicatednotonlythroughthisreport,butbyacoffeetablephotobook“Straddie,FloraandFaunaofPointLookoutDiveSites”,videosandpresentationstothewidercommunity,andtogovernmentagencies.Bio‐geographically,thestudysitesarelocatedinamarinetransitionzoneencompassingbothtropicalandtemperatespecies.Thesesubtropicalreefsandthecommunitiestheysupport,existincloseproximitytotheirenvironmentallimits(e.g.temperature,salinityandaragonitesaturation(Kleypasetal.1999)).Theyarealsosubjecttohighratesandmagnitudesoffluctuatingenvironmentalconditions(Guinotteetal.2003).Temperatureplaysanimportantroleinspeciescomposition,withseasonaldifferencesinfishandmobileinvertebratecommunitiesduetotherecruitmentoftropicalspeciesinsummer,andthesubsequentdie‐offofsomespeciesinwinter(Boothetal.2007).
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Asenvironmentalparameterschange(throughnaturalcausesorhumanactivities),thecommunitystructureofsubtropicalreefssuchasthoseatPointLookoutisalsolikelytochange.Wemayseesubtropicalendemicsdeclining(e.g.themorwongs),moretropicalspeciesbecomingestablished(wemightstartseeingcoraltroutnearStradbroke!)(RieglandPiller2003;GreensteinandPandolfi2008;Funketal.2012),and,temperatespeciesdisappearing(Wernbergetal.2011;SmaleandWernberg2013).
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2. GeneralMethods
2.1. OverviewUniDiveconductedfoursurveyweekends,oneineachseason.Duringthesurveys,24diversassessedatotaloffivesitesatthemostcommonlydivedlocations:ShagRock,MantaRayBommieandFlatRock.EachsurveyinvolvedbroadscalemappingusingatowedGPS(compass,depthreadingsandgeoreferencedunderwaterphotos)andtransectsurveys(3x20mtransectswereassessedforsubstratetype,reefimpacts,and,fishandinvertebratespeciesdistributionandabundance).Thefollowingsectionprovidesanoverviewofthesurveymethods(forfulldetailsseeThurstan,R.,Flower,J.,Beger,M.,Dudgeon,C.,Gomez,K.,Ortiz,J.,Kovacs,E.,Loder,J.,Saunders,M.,Passenger,J.,KleineD.andRoelfsema,C(2014).SurveyMethodsManualUniDivePointLookoutEcologicalAssessment(PLEA).TheUniversityofQueenslandUnderwaterClub,Brisbane,Australia).SurveymethodsusedwerebasedonReefCheckAustraliamethodologyandwereconsistentwiththemethodologyusedinthe2001UniDivesurveystoensuredatacouldbecompared.Surveyswereconductedunderamarineparkspermit.
2.1.1. SurveySitesandTimingThreesites(FlatRock,ShagRockandMantaRayBommie;Figure1)weresurveyedforfish,invertebrates,impacts,andbenthiccompositionalongtransectlinesdeployedatadepthof10mbelowchartdatum.TwotransectsateachofFlatRockandShagRockweresurveyedforcomparisonwith2001‐2002surveyfindings.OnenewsiteatMantaRayBommiewasalsosurveyed,providingbaselineecologicaldataforthissite.Surveyswereconductedfourtimesduringtheyearateachsitetoensurethatseasonalchangesinthemarinefloraandfaunawerecapturedinthedata(Table1).
Figure1:PointLookoutdivesites,NorthStradbrokeIsland..ThewhiteboxintheMoretonBayRegion(leftpanel)indicatesthePointLookoutDivesitesatNorthStradbrokeIsland.Approximatetransectlocationsareindicatedinyellow.Sourceimage:LandsatThematicMapper5,USGS.
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Mappingofallsiteswasundertaken,withnewsitemapsproducedforShagRockandMantaRayBommie,andanupdateofthemapproducedin2001forFlatRock.Table1:Seasonalsurveydatesforeachtransectlocation.
Site Summer Autumn Winter SpringFlatRockWest(TFW)
22ndFeb.2014 3rdMay2014 2ndAug.2014 25thOct.2014
FlatRockEast(TFE) 22ndMar.2014 3rdMay2014 2ndAug.2014 25thOct.2014ShagRockWest(TSW)
22ndFeb.2014 3rdMay2014 19thJuly2014 25thOct.2014
ShagRockEast(TSE)
22ndFeb.2014 3rdMay2014 19thJuly2014 25thOct.2014
MantaBommie(TM) 22ndMar.2014 4thMay2014 19thJuly2014 30thOct.2014Ateachsurveylocation,semi‐permanentmarkerswereusedtomarka70mtransect,withmarkersdeployedat0m,25mand50m.Withinthis70mlength,three20mlongtransectlinesweredeployedandsurveyed(Figure2).Each20mtransectfollowedthedesignateddepthcontour,separatedfromthenexttransectbya5mgap.
Figure2:Placementofthetransectlines.
Foreachsurvey,sixpairsofdiversundertookmappingand/ortransectsurveystoidentifythespeciespresentandmajorfeaturesateachsite.Fish,invertebrates,substrateandbenthoswereallsurveyed.Photosandvideoofthetransectandthesitefaunaweretakenforlateranalysisandcataloguingofspecies.
2.1.2. ParticipantsUniDiveistheUniversityofQueenslandUnderwaterClub.In2014,UniDivewasawardedCoastcarefundingtoconductabaselinebiologicalsurveyandalsomaptheSCUBAdivesitesofNorthStradbrokeIsland.Allparticipantsintheprogramwerevolunteers,certifieddiversandmembersofUniDive.Thesevolunteersencompassedmarineexperts,SCUBAinstructors,mappingexpertsandpeopleinterestedinlearningaboutthemarineenvironment.SeeAppendixAforadetailedlistofthevolunteersandtheirmaintaskduringtheproject.
2.1.3. TrainingandQualityControl,Overthecourseof25educationallectures,morethan100UniDivememberslearnedaboutlocalreefecologyandsurveyprotocols.Lecturetopicsincluded:coralandrockyreefecology;surveymethods;identificationandbiologyofcoral,algae,substrate,fish,andinvertebrates;causesandassessmentofimpacts;databasemanagement;underwaterphotographyandvideography;mappingandbuoyancycontrol.Practicaltrainingwasassessedovertwotrainingweekends,puttingknowledgetopractice.
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Alldivers(44)takingpartinsurveyswererequiredtoattendaseriesoflecturesthatprovidedtraininginsurveymethods.Competenceintheorywasassessedusingan130questionexam(passmark75%orhigher).In‐watersurveytrainingwasalsoconductedtoensurediverswereabletocorrectlyidentifythemarinelifeandsubstratetobesurveyedandwerecompetenttoconductsurveys.Areviewsessionwasorganisedbeforeeachsurveyweekend,and,ontheeveofthefirstsurveysofeachsurveyweekend,thevolunteersrefreshedtheirmemorybydiscussingsurveycategorieswithotherswhomwouldhavethesamesurveytask.Datasheetswereusedforsurveys(seeAppendixB:DataSheets),whichaidedinqualitycontrol.Thedatasheetswerecheckedforerrorsorinconsistenciesbothdirectlyafterdivesandduringthedataprocessingstage.ResultsderivedfromthequalitycontrolleddatawerepresentedaftereachsurveyweekendbyUniDivememberswithamarinesciencebackgroundintheirfield,thusprovidingadditionalqualitycontrol.
2.2. MappingMappingofthethreesiteswasconductedtogeneratemapsofthemainfeatures(e.g.majorsubstratetypes,gulliesandridges)andprovideareferenceforfutureecologicalsurveysandplanningandzoningofthesites(e.g.installationofmooringbuoys).Featuremappingwasundertakenoneachtransectbytwodivers.Thisbuddypairconductedarovingsurveyofeachsite,toamaximumdepthof20m,andrecordedcharacteristicfeatures.Featurelocationwasmappedbycross‐referencingthetimeeachfeaturewasrecordedorphotographed,withGPSdatarecordedbyafloatingGPStowedbyoneofthetwodivers(Figure3).
Figure3:Conceptualdiagramofthegeoreferencedphototransects.
Forthefivesurveysites,imagesweretakenat2mintervalsalongthetransecttapes,0.5mabovethesubstrateprovidinga1m2footprint.ThisdivertowedadrybaginwhichastandardGPSloggedthetrackofthetransect(Figure3).ThecollectedimageswereanalysedforbenthiccompositionusingCoralPointCountExcel(Kohler2006)inwhichtwenty‐fourrandompointswereplottedonthephotoandmanuallyassignedoneofthesubstrateclassesassessedinthestudy(seedetailsonclassesinthesubstrateandbenthossection).Moredetailisavailableinthegeoreferencedphototransectmanual(Roelfsemaetal2009).Allgeoreferencedphotosthatdocumentedeachofthereefswereplottedontopofthebasicsitemapforeachlocationtoprovideadditionalinformationforthemapping.
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2.3. FishSpeciesandFamiliesFishpopulationswereassessedusingavisualcensusalong3x20mtransects.Eachtransectwas5mwide(2.5meithersideofthetransecttape),5mhighand20minlength(Figure4).Onedivercountedtargetfishfamilieswhiletheothercountedindicatorspeciesashighlightedonthedatasheets(AppendixB:DataSheets).Each20mtransectwascompletedin7‐10minutes.
Figure4:Diagrammaticrepresentationofthefishsurveytransectsshowingtheimaginaryframeofthediver'sview.Fishoutsideofthediver'sviewwereonlycountediftheysubsequentlyenteredtheviewegmantaray.
Fishfamiliesandspecieswerechosenthatarecommonlytargetedbyrecreationalorcommercialfishers,ortargetedbyaquariumcollectors,andthatwereeasilyidentifiedbytheirbodyshape(Table2).Rareorotherwiseunusualspecieswerealsorecorded.
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Table2.Indicatorfishfamilies.Commonfamilynamesoccurinuppercaseandthecorrespondinglatinfamilynamesareinbrackets.“Fished”indicatesspecieswithinthefamilythatarecommonlyfishedforconsumption.“Aquariumtrade”indicatesthosefamiliesthataretargetedbyaquariumcollectorsglobally(seeHodgsonandLiebeler2002).
Family Fished Aquariumtrade
ANGELFISH(Pomacanthidae)
BUTTERFLYFISH(Chaetodontidae)
CARDINALFISH(Apogonidae)
CODS/GROUPERS(Serranidae)
DAMSELFISH(Pomacentridae)
EMPERORS(Lethrinidae)
GOATFISH(Mullidae)
LEATHERJACKETS(Monocanthidae)
LION/STONEFISH(Scorpaenidae)
MORAYS(Muraenidae)
PARROTFISH(Scarridae)
PIPEFISH/SEAHORSE(Sygnathidae)
PORCUPINEFISH(Diodontidae)
PUFFERFISH(Tetraodontidae)
RABBITFISH(Siganidae)
SNAPPERS(Lutjanidae)
SURGEONFISH(Acanthuridae)
SWEETLIPS(Haemulidae)
STINGRAYS
TRIGGERFISH(Balistidae)
WRASSE(Labridae)
WOBBEGONG
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2.4. InvertebratesTargetinvertebratepopulationswereassessedusingvisualcensusalong3x20mtransects.Eachtransectwas5mwide(2.5meithersideofthetransecttape)and20minlength.Thediversurveyinginvertebratesconducteda‘U‐shaped’searchpattern,covering2.5moneithersideofthetransecttape(Figure5).Each20mtransectwascompletedin7‐10minutes.SeeAppendixB:Datafordatasheet.
Figure5:Diagrammaticrepresentationoftheinvertebrateandreefimpactsurveytransects.Diversswama5mwidetransectinaU‐shapedpatternalongthetransecttape.
2.5. SubstrateandBenthosSubstratesurveyswereconductedusingthepointsamplingmethod,enablingpercentagecoverofsubstratetypesandbenthicorganismstobecalculated.ThesurveymethodwasbasedontheReefCheckAustraliamethods(HillandLoder2013)andwasconsistentwiththemethodsusedin2001.Thesubstrateorbenthosunderthetransectlinewasidentifiedat0.5mintervals,witha5mgapbetweeneachofthethree20msegments(Figure6).
Figure6:Detailofsubstratesurveytransects.Atevery0.5m,usingaplumblinetoavoidbias,thebenthiccategorylocateddirectlybeneaththetransecttapewasrecorded.
Categoriesrecordedincludedvariousgrowthformsofhardandsoftcoral,keyspecies/growthformsofalgae,otherlivingorganisms(i.e.sponges),recentlykilledcoral,and,non‐livingsubstratetypes(i.e.barerock,sand,rubble,silt/clay).SeeAppendixB:Datafordatasheet.Thegeoreferencedphotostakenalongthetransect(Section2.2)providedanadditionalsourceforbenthicassessment.Tocomparethetotalcoralcoverbetween2001and2014apermutationalgenerallinearmixedmodelwasconductedwithYEARasafixedfactorandSITEasanunreplicatedrandomfactor.
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2.6. ReefImpactsTargetimpactswereassessedusingavisualcensusalongthe3x20mtransects.Eachtransectwas5mwide(2.5meithersideofthetransecttape)and20minlength.Thetransectwassurveyedviaa‘U‐shaped’searchpattern,covering2.5moneithersideofthetransecttape(Figure5).Each20mtransectwascompletedin7‐10minutes.SeeAppendixB:Datafordatasheet.Toassessifthedifferencesinimpactbetweenthesitesweresignificant,apermutationalgenerallinearmixedmodelwasconducted,withSITEasafixedfactor,SEASONasanun‐replicatedrandomfactor,andTOTALNUMBEROFIMPACTSstandardizedbyCORALCOVERastheresponsevariable.CoralbleachingwasassessedusingcoralhealthchartsdevelopedbyCoralWatch(www.coralwatch.org).Diversselectedindividualcoralcoloniesalongthe3x20mtransects(toamaximumof20colonies).Foreachcolonythediverusedthecoralhealthcharttorecordthedarkestandlightestcolourpresent,thusgivinganapproximateassessmentofcoralhealthincludingbleaching.
2.7. SpeciesListFloraandfaunaspecieslistsreportedin2001and2003frompreviousvolunteerprojectswerereassessedandupdated.Thiswasdoneby:
1) Identificationoffloraandfaunafromphotosandvideostakenbydiversatthedivesitesduringandoutsidethesurveyweekends.
2) Thosevolunteerswithdetailedknowledgeofthelocalfloraandfaunarecordedanynon‐surveyedspecies.
3) LiteraturesearchesformarinefloraandfaunaidentifiedatPointLookoutReefsbutnotnotedintheexistinglist.
4) PreviousdatasetscollectedbyvolunteersontheprojectsuchasthatoffishspeciesbyDr.MariaBerger.
ThespecieslisthasbeencompiledinAppendixBandrepresentswhathasbeenobservedatthePointLookoutDivesitesgenerallybutnotspecificallyduringthisstudy..
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3. Results
3.1. SurveyConsiderationsSurveyswere conducted over a total of 11 days from February to October 2014. Table 3summarizes the environmental conditions documented during the survey dates. For thedurationofthestudy,thewatertemperatureatthebottom(SBT)rangedfrom18°CinJulyto26°CinFebruary.Ofnote,theaveragevisibilitywas~14m,and,thehighestwaveswererecordedinJuly(3.1m).Thesurveydateswerechosenasbeingrepresentativeofthefourseasons,allowingthestudyofpotentialseasonalitypatterns.Table3:Environmentalconditionsduringeachofthesurveyweekends(Source:BureauofMeteorology,WaveRiderBuoys,diversparticipatinginthePLEAproject).
Date Dive SST
SBT
(10m)
Wind (9
am) (knots)
Wind
direction
(8am)
Wind (3 pm)
(knots)
Wind
direction
(3 pm)
Visibility
(m)
Cloud
cover
(9 am)
Cloud
cover
(3 pm)
Rain
(mm)
Wave
Height
(m)
31/01/2014 Marker NA 24 NA NA 15‐20 SE 25 NA NA 0 1.4
1/02/2014 Training NA 24 NA NA 10‐15 SE 20 NA NA 0 1.4
1/02/2014 Training NA 25 NA NA 5‐10 SE 20 NA NA 0 1.4
22/02/2014 Survey 25 26 20 S 20 SSE 5 8 8 0.2 2.01
23/02/2014 Survey 25 26 27 SSE 23 SSE 5 7 4 0 2.72
8/03/2014 Marker 26 25 15 SE NA NA 20 3 NA 0 1.61
22/03/2014 Survey 26 25 0 CALM 7 ESE 10 5 1 0.5 1.68
29/03/2014 Training 28 26 NA NA 0‐5 NA 10 NA NA 0 1.4
30/03/2014 Training 28 26 NA NA 0‐5 NA 10 NA NA 0 1.4
3/05/2014 Survey 23 23 10‐15 SE 10‐15 SE 10 NA NA 0 0.82
4/05/2014 Survey 22 22 10‐15 SE 10‐15 SE 12 NA NA 0 0.62
19/07/2014 Survey 19 18 6 SW 5 E 15 0 0 0 2.95
20/07/2014 Survey 19 19 14 SSW 12 SW 15 4 5 0 3.1
2/08/2014 Survey 20 19 5 SW 11 SE 15 0 0 0 1.7
25/10/2014 Survey NA 23 15‐20 N 20‐25 NE 15 NA NA NA 1.2
26/10/2014 Survey NA 23 15‐20 NE 20‐25 NE 15 NA NA NA 1.8
30/10/2014 Survey NA 23 10‐15 SE 10‐15 SE 15 0 0 0 1.2
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3.2. MappingGeoreferencedhabitatmaps(UTM‐WGS84)werecreatedforShagRock(Figure7),andMantaRayBommiedivesites(Figure8).TheexistingmapofFlatRock(Figure9)wasadjustedfromthe2001mapbasedonadditionalsurveys.
Figure7:ProminentfeaturesatShagRock,NorthStradbrokeIsland,Australia.Thetransectsurveysitesareindicatedinyellow.
Figure8:ProminentfeaturesatMantaRayBommie,NorthStradbrokeIsland,Australia.Thetransectsurveysiteisindicatedinyellow.
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Figure9:UpdatedmapofprominentfeaturesatFlatRock,NorthStradbrokeIsland,Australia.Thetransectsurveysitesareindicatedinyellow.
RefertoAppendixCforadetailedlocationofthetransects,andtoAppendixDforcoordinatesofthestartandendpointsofthetransects.
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3.3. Fish
3.3.1. FishfamiliesForsimplicity,theobservednumbersofthekeyfishgroupswereaveragedovertheyearforeachofthesurveysitesandaredisplayedinFigure10.Angelfish,butterflyfish,rabbitfish,surgeonfishandgoatfishwerecommonatallsites,althoughbutterflyfishwereobservedinlowerabundancesatthenearshoresites(bothShagRocksitesandMantaRayBommie;Figure10).MantaRayBommiehadhighabundanceofgroupers,andsurgeonfish.Parrotfish,asapurelytropicalgroup,alsohadlowabundance,andwererestrictedtotwospecies.Therarestfamiliesweremega‐faunasuchassharksandrays,predatorssuchasemperors,snappers,andgroupers,andcrypticfaunasuchasmorayeels,lionfishandleatherjackets.
Figure10:Averageabundanceoftargetfishfamiliesforthefivesitessurveyedexcludingwrassesanddamselfish(errorbarsindicatestandarddeviation).
Overall,wrassesanddamselfishhadthehighesttotalabundanceatallsites(annualcombinedsiteaverageof85.9x102fordamselsand9.9x102forwrasses).ThesetwofamilieswereomittedfromFigure10astheirhighabundancesobscuredtrendsinothergroups,butareshowninFigure11.Figure11andAppendixEdemonstratethatdamselfisharemoreabundantthanwrasses,butbothfamiliesaremorethantentimesmoreabundantthanothergroups(Figure10andFigure11).
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Averageabundance100m
2
FlatrockEast FlatrockWest MantaBommie ShagrockEast ShagrockWest
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Figure11:Averageabundanceofdamselfishandwrassefamiliesforthefivesitessurveyed.(errorbarsindicatestandarddeviation)
SeasonalpatternsSurveysconductedatdifferenttimesofyearrevealedimportanttrendsinfunctionalgroups.Herbivorousfamilies(Figure12)wereobservedprimarilyinsummerandautumn.Predatoryfamiliesweregenerallynotabundantandseasonalvariationswerenotapparent.Inregardstothetropicalandsubtropicalcorallivoresandomnivores,angelfishshowednoseasonalvariation,butbutterflyfishweremoreabundantinautumnatexposedsites,andmoreabundantinwinteratthenear‐shoresites.Oftheinvertivoregroup,onlygoatfishwereprevalent.Goatfishabundancepeakedinautumnandwinter(atFlatRockWest).SeeAppendixEformoredetailedinformationontheFishfamilies.
Figure12:Seasonalabundanceofpredators,tropicalandsubtropicalcorallivoresandomnivores,invertivoresandherbivores.(errorbarsindicatestandarddeviation)
0
50
100
150
200
FlatRockEast FlatRockWest ShagRockEast ShagRockWest MantaRayBommie
Averageabundance100m
2
Damselfish Wrasse
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3.3.2. FishSpecies
Asetoftargetfishspecieswereselectedassurrogatestoindicatetheoverallfishassemblage.Factorsconsideredwerethefunctionoffishesonthereef(e.g.herbivory,corallivory),tropical,andsubtropicalzoogeographicaffiliation,andeaseofidentificationbyvolunteerdivers.Thespeciessurveyedin2001werealsoincludedtoenabletemporalcomparisons.Seasonalsurveysshowthatthefishcommunitychangesthroughouttheyear,asoutlined.
Bluedamselfishwereoneofthetargetfishspeciesrecorded,however,duetotheirhighabundance,theyhavebeentreatedasanisolatedgroupsoasnottohidetrendsinotherspecies.Theaverageabundanceofbluedamselfishatallsitesisshown in Figure 13, andismorethan15timesgreaterthanforotherspeciessurveyed.
Figure13:Averageabundanceofbluedamselsateachofthefivesitessurveyed.(errorbarsindicatestandarddeviation)
Subtropical species Subtropicalspeciesaregenerallypresentyearround(Figure14).Bigscaledscalyfin,coralseaGregoryandGuentherswerethemostprevalent.
Figure14:Seasonalabundanceofsubtropicalfishspecies.(errorbarsindicatestandarddeviation)
0
50
100
150
200
FlatRockEast FlatRockWest ShagRockEast ShagRockWest MantaRayBommie
Averageabundance
BlueDamsels
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Bigscaledscalyfin
Buffalofish CoralSeaGregory
Guenthers(Crochet)
HappyMoments
Magpiemorwong
Redmorwong
Silverdrummer
Sixplatesawtail
Averageabundance
Summer Autumn Winter Spring
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Tropical species Mostofthetropicalspeciessurveyedweremoreabundantinsummerandautumnthanwinterandspring(Figure15).Secondtobluedamsels(Figure13),wrasseswereobservedtobethemostabundantindicatorspecieseachseason.
Figure15:Seasonalabundanceoftropicalfishspecies.(errorbarsindicatestandarddeviation)
Additional Indicator Species Severalfishspeciesselectedforindicatorsdidnothaveaspecifictropicalorsubtropicalrangeandshowednoseasonalvariation(notshown).However,thesespeciesdemonstratedsite‐basedpreferences(Figure16).TriggerfishwererareatShagRock,whilstBoxfishwereonlyobservedatthecoastalsites.SeeAppendixFformoredetailedinformationontheFishSpecies.
Figure16:Site‐specificabundanceofadditionalindicatorfishspeciessurveyed.(errorbarsindicatestandarddeviation)
0
5
10
15
20
BarredSoapfish
Blackbardevil
Bluespot Cleanerwrasse
Indopacificsergeant
Keyholeangelfish
Moorishidol
Orange(Klein's)
Sunset+Moonwrasse
Averageabundance
Summer Autumn Winter Spring
0
1
2
3
4
Black‐saddledtoby Boxfish Flagtailtriggerfish
Averageabundance
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Spring
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3.4. Invertebrates
Diadema,orlongspineseaurchinswerethemostabundantinvertebrateatbothShagRocksites(Figure17).TheaverageobservednumberofcollectorurchinsatShagRockWestwashigherthanatanyothersite,whilstMantaRayBommiehadthehighestabundanceofpencilurchins.
Figure17:Averageabundanceofindicatorurchinsforallsites.(errorbarsindicatestandarddeviation)
Withtheexceptionofanemones(withorwithoutfish)andbandedcoralshrimp,FlatRocksiteshadalowabundanceofindicatorinvertebrates,comparedtoShagRocksites(Figure18).AnemoneswithorwithoutfishwerethedominantinvertebrateobservedatbothShagRocksites,FlatRockWestandMantaRayBommie.Moreanemoneswerefoundwithoutanemonefishthanwithfish,atallsites.
Figure18:Averagenumberofindicatorinvertebratesforallsites.(errorbarsindicatestandarddeviation)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
CollectorUrchin Diadema PencilUrchin
NumberofInidvidualper100m
2
ShagRockWest ShagRockEast FlatRockWest FlatRockEast MantaRayBommie
012345678910
Anemonewithfish
Anemonewithoutfish
Bandedcoralshrimp
GiantClam Lobster DrupellaNumberofInidvidualper100m
2
ShagRockWest ShagRockEast FlatRockWest FlatRockEast MantaRayBommie
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DrupellasnailswerefoundingreatestnumbersatShagRockEastandFlatRockEast.Lobstersightingswerelowatallsites.
3.5. SubstrateandBenthosSubstrateandbenthicdatacollectedusingthephotoanalysismethodshowedthatmacroalgae(e.g.,Lobophora,AsparagopsisandLaurencia)andturfalgaeaccountedforthehighestpercentagecover(>50%)ofthesubstratetypesatallsitesthroughouttheyear(Figure19).Ofthemacroalgaerecorded,AsparagopsiswasmostabundantatFlatRockEastandLaurenciaatMantaRayBommie.AllsiteshadahighcoverofLobophora.Coralcovervariedbetweenthesites.ThehighestcoralcoveroccurredatFlatRockEast,averaging22.8%acrossallsurveys,andmainlyconsistingofencrusting(11.1%)andbranchingtypehardcorals(7.7%),aswellassoftcoral(0.9%).ShagRockEasthadthesecondhighestcoralcover(14.4%),withthemajorityofcoralsbeingofthebranchingorfoliosevariety(5.7%),encrusting(2.3%)inadditionto2.4%softcoralcover.MantaRayBommiehadthelowestaveragecoralcover(less1%).EncrustingcoralcoverwasonlyobservedinsignificantquantitiesatFlatRockEast,andwasrarelyobservedattheothersites.Nomajorseasonaldifferencesinsubstrateandbenthiccoverwereobserved,althoughtherewassomevariabilityinallcategories.Thesetrendsarealsoapparentwhenthebenthiccoverisaveragedforeachsite,disregardingseasonality(Figure20).
0
20
40
60
80
100
Summer
Autum
n
Winter
Spring
Summer
Autum
n
Winter
Spring
Summer
Autum
n
Winter
Spring
Summer
Autum
n
Winter
Spring
Summer
Autum
n
Winter
Spring
ShagRockWest ShagRockEast FlatRockWest FlatRockEast MantaRayBommie
SubstrateCover(%)
Coral(Branch.Folio.Plate.) Coral(Encrust+Massive) CoralOtherSoftCoral MacroAlgaeOther LobophoraAsparagopsis Laurencia TurfonrockNonLiving Other
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Figure19:Summaryofsubstratetypeforeachseasonderivedfromanalysisofbenthicphotos.
Figure20:Summaryofsubstratetypeaveragedoverthefourseasonsderivedfromphotoanalyses.
Inadditiontophototransects,substrateandbenthiccoverdatawascollectedusingpointinterceptsurveyscarriedoutbydiversinsitu.Photoanalysisresultsversusdiversurveyedsubstratedatashowedsimilaroveralltrends(AppendixG),howeverthephototransectdatawasmoreconsistent.ResultsfrombothsurveysareshowninAppendixG.Phototransectsaremoreconsistentovertheseasons,foreachsite,but,thediverbaseddataidentifiesvariationsinindividualsubstratecategories.
3.6. Impacts
3.6.1. ReefHealthImpacts–IndividualSitesFigure21demonstratesthereefhealthimpactpersite,normalizedforthecoralcover(percentageofsubstratecover)presentatthatsite.Normalisingimpactabundancewithcoralcoveracknowledgesthatmanyreefimpactsspecificallyaffectcorals,andassuch,theratioofcoralcovertoimpactabundanceshouldbeconsideredwheninterpretingreefimpactdata.BothShagRocksiteshadsignificantnumbersofobservedimpacts(Figure21;Table4).Additionally,ShagRockWesthadasignificantlyhighernumberofimpactsthanFlatRockWest,andsimilarly,ShagRockEastrecordedasignificantlygreaternumberofimpactsthanFlatRockEast(Figure21;Table4).AtthetwoShagRocklocations,thehighestaverageabundanceofphysicalcoraldamage(unknowncauses)andcoraldiseasewereobserved.Physicalcoraldamagecanbecausedbynaturalcausessuchasstorms,oranthropogenicfactorssuchasboatanchoring,divers,snorkelersandfishing.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
ShagRockWest ShagRockEast FlatRockWest FlatRockEast MantaRayBommie
SubstrateCover(%)Photo
Coral(Branch.Folio.Plate.) Coral(Encrust+Massive) CoralOther
SoftCoral MacroAlgaeOther Lobophora
Asparagopsis Laurencia Turfonrock
NonLiving Other
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ThesitewiththelowestrecordedreefimpactsandtheonlysitewherecoraldamagewasnotrecordedwasMantaRayBommie(Figure21),however,thissitehasthelowestcoralcover(Figure19,Figure20).LowlevelsofrubbishwererecordedatFlatRockEast,FlatRockWestwhilstthehighestwasobservedatMantaRayBommie.Coralscars(fromDrupellasnailsandunknowncauses),coraldisease,physicaldamageandrubbishwererecordedconsistentlyatbothShagRock,and,bothFlatRocklocations.Coralbleachingwasnotincludedinthissectionbuthasbeenaddressedinthecoralhealthsurvey.
Figure21:Normalisedcumulativeabundanceofreefhealthimpactsweightedbycoralcoverpersiteacross2014surveys.
Table4:Post‐hocmultiplecomparisonofreefimpactspersite,perseason.Siteswerestatisticallysignificant(PseudoF=5.2309,p=0.018).*valuesrepresentstatisticalsignificance,**representmarginalsignificance.
ShagRockWest
ShagRockEast
FlatRockWest
FlatRockEast
MantaRayBommie
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3.6.2. ReefHealthImpacts‐SeasonalitySeasonally,ShagRocksitesconsistentlyhadthehighestabundanceofreefimpacts(Figure22).MantaRayBommiehadthelowestabundanceofreefimpacts(oneinstanceofdiscardedfishingline),butalsothelowestcoralcover(
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Figure19,Figure20).Theobservedtrendssuggestthattherearenomajorseasonalvariationswithrespecttothetypeofreefimpactsrecorded.
Figure22:Averageabundanceofreefhealthimpactsper100m²normalisedforcoralcoverforeachsurveysitebyseason.
3.6.3. CoralHealth(bleaching)Fortheperiodofobservation,therecordedcoralhealthwasrelativelystablewithnoobviousbleaching(Figure23),withascoreof6consideredhealthy.Overall,thelightestscoreswereobservedinsummer,whenthewatertemperaturewasthehighest(Table3).Asdatawereconsistentandsimilarforthefivesurveytransects,theywereamalgamatedtocreateanaverageforthePointLookoutdivesiteregion.SeasonalaveragesforeachdivesiteareshowninAppendixH.Figure23showsthattheaveragescorerangesfrom3.5insummerto4inwinter.Theerrorbarsrepresenttherangeoftheaveragedarkesttoaveragelightestscoresthatwererecorded.
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Figure23:Averagecoralhealthobservedforeachseason.
3.7. AComparisonof2001to2014EcologicalDataMantaRayBommiewasomittedfromthechangeanalysis,asthissitewasnotsurveyedin2001.
3.7.1. InvertebratesTheabundanceofmostofthecategoriesofinvertebrateswaslowerin2014comparedto2001(Figure24).DiademawasmoreabundantatShagRockin2001comparedto2014.Collectorurchinsandgiantclamswerefoundinhigherabundancein2014comparedto2001,withcollectorurchinsbeingmostprevalentatShagRockWest..
Figure24:Comparisonoftheabundanceofindicatorurchinsfrom2001to2014forthePointLookoutregion.
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3.7.2. Fish
Families BothFlatRocksitesshowedlowerbutterflyfishabundancein2014comparedto2001.MostfishgroupsshoweddirectlyopposingpatternsbetweenFlatRockEastandWest,i.e.shelteredversusexposedsites(Figure25).Theexposedsitehadmoregoatfishes,triggerfishesandparrotfishesin2001thanin2014.Theshelteredsitehadmoresurgeonfishes,andmoreparrotfishesin2001comparedto2014.Theabundanceofangelfishes,goatfishes,andtriggerfishdecreasedbetween2001and2014atShagRockWest,butremainedrelativelysimilaratbothFlatRocksites.Incontrast,theabundanceofherbivoressuchasrabbitfishesandsurgeonfishesincreasedatbothShagRocksitesbetween2001and2014.
Figure25:Meanabundanceoftargetfishfamiliesfor2001and2014foreachofShagRockWest,ShagRockEast,FlatRockWestandFlatRockEastdivesites.
Species Targetspecieswereonlycomparedwheretheyweresurveyedinboth2001and2014(Figure26).FlatRockWesthadthehighesttotalabundanceoftargetspeciesinboth2001and2014.Mostsitesdemonstratedhigherabundanceoftargetspeciesin2014,exceptforFlatRockEast,whichremainedconstant.Thenumberoftargetspeciesfoundateachsitehasincreasedsince2001,alsowithagreaterdiversityofspeciesseenin2014(refertoAppendixBthespecieslist).
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Figure26:Meanabundanceoftargetfishspeciesfor2001and2014foreachofShagRockWest,ShagRockEast,FlatRockWestandFlatRockEastdivesites.
3.7.3. SubstrateComparisonsweremadebetweenthemajorsubstratetypespersitemappedin2001and2014(Figure27),or,asanannualaverageforthePointLookoutregion(Figure28).Persite(Figure27),coralcoverincreasedslightlyfrom2001to2014atFlatRockEast(16%to19%),remainedconstantatShagRockWest(6%),butdeclinedatShagRockEast(18%to9%)andFlatRockWest(17%to5%).Softcoralcoverwasslightlyloweratallsitesin2014than2001.Allsitesshowedanincreaseinthepercentagecoverofturfalgaefrom2001to2014.Lobophorawasobservedathigherlevelsduring2014surveysatallsites.Loweraveragecoverofthe“other”category(e.g.ascidians,anemones,corallimorphs,etc.)wasobservedatbothShagRocksitesin2014.
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Figure27:Substratecompositionfor2001and2014foreachsite.
GroupingthefivetransectstogethertorepresentPointLookoutdivesitesasawhole,therewasnosubstantialvariationinbenthiccovertypesfrom2001to2014(Figure28).Notably,nosignificantdifferenceintotalhardcoralcoverwasobservedbetween2001and2014(PseudoF=0.143,p=0.708).Therewerevariationsincompositionofnon‐living,turfandmacroalgaecoverfrom2001to2014,butmuchofthiswouldbeaccountedforbybarerockversusalgaecoveredrock.Thecoverofthe“other”substratecategorydecreasedslightlyin2014.
Figure28:SubstratecompositionforthePointLookoutRegion,calculatedasanannualaveragefor2001and2014.(errorbarsindicatestandarddeviation)
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3.7.4. ReefHealthImpactsThreereefhealthimpactcategories(unknowncoraldamage,fishinggearandgeneralrubbish)weremonitoredinboth2001and2014,allowingcomparisonbetweenthesurveyyears(Figure29).Reefhealthimpactspersitewerenormalizedforthecoralcover(percentageofsubstratecover)presentatthatsite.
Figure29:Comparisonofthenormalisedaverageabundanceofreefhealthimpactcategoriesthatwererecordedinboth2001and2014studies.
Coraldamagefromunknowncauseswasrecordedmoreon2014surveys.FlatRockEastshowedoveralllowimpactsforboth2001and2014.FlatRockWestandShagRockEastsurveysrecordedhighabundanceofcoraldamagein2014,andincreasedabundanceoffishingline.ShagRockWestshowedsimilarresultsfor2001and2014,withadecreaseincoraldamageandingeneralrubbish.
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4. DiscussionTherockyreefsatPointLookoutrepresentanimportanttransitionalareawheretemperate,tropicalandsub‐tropicalspeciesco‐exist(Perry&Larcombe2003).Thisregionisexhibitingrapidpopulationgrowthandcoastaldevelopment,withcorrespondingimpactuponitsmarineenvironments.Itisalsolikelytobeimpactedinthefuturebyspeciesshiftsduetoclimatechange(Pandolfietal2006).Despitetherecognisedimportanceofthisregionforbiodiversityanditsuniquespeciesassemblages(e.g.Harrison,etal1998),monitoringofthesehabitatsiscurrentlylimited(ReefCheck2010).ThePLEAsurveyprojecthascontributedefforttothedocumentationandmonitoringofthePointLookoutdivesites.
4.1. InterpretationofFindingsAllsitesexhibitedadiversityoffishfamiliesandspecies,withthehighestabundanceexhibitedbythedamselandwrassefamilies.Variationwasobservedbothseasonallyandtemporally:sub‐tropicalfishgroupswereobservedmorecommonlyincolderseasons,andtropicalgroupssuchasparrotfishwerecomparativelyrare.Importantlyhowever,therecordedobservationsofpredatoryfishmaybelowduetothefactthatsurveysweredoneduringthedaywhilesomepredatoryfishhuntatnight.Comparisonsof2001versus2014fishfamilyabundanceshelptohighlightpotentialchangesthatmaybetheresultofadverseorpositiveimpactsonfishcommunities.Forexample,offshoresitesatFlatRockhadlowernumbersofbutterflyfishin2014comparedto2001,whichmayindicateareductionofcoralabundance,sincesomebutterflyfishesareobligatecoralfeeders.However,whilstitispossiblethatchangeshaveoccurredthathavemodifiedthefishcommunity,itisalsoplausiblethattheserecordsrepresentstochasticityorinter‐annualvariability.Invertebrateabundancewasalsodifferentbetweensites,whichmayreflectthedifferencesamongsubstratecoverandthesubsequentavailabilityofsuitablehabitat.FlatRocksiteshadalowabundanceofallindicatorinvertebratescomparedtoShagRocksites,whichmayreflectthemoreshelterednatureofShagRock,orits’topography(i.e.,morecrevices).Lessexposedsitesmayhavemore3‐dimensionalhabitatsuchasbranching,folioseandplatecorals,whichprovidemorehabitatforinvertebrates.Ahighernumberofanemoneswerefoundwithoutfishthanwith,atallsites.Thismaybeduetothecollectionofanemonefishfortheaquariumtrade(atsomesites),orthedominanceofsmalleranemonesseen.Someoftheinvertebrateindicatorswerenotrecordedduringthesurveys.TheseincludedTrochusandTritonshells,and,theseacucumbers,however,thesespeciesaremostlyindicativefortropicalwaters.Othershellsorseacucumberswereobservedthataremorecharacteristicofsubtropicalreefenvironments,forexampleHolothuriadifficillisandChicoreuramosue.ThesearerecordedinthespecieslistinAppendixB.Thetotalnumberofgiantclamsfoundin2014wasgreaterthanin2001,whichmaybeanindicatorthattheseinvertebratesarebecomingmorecommonaroundSouthEastQueenslandwithchangingwatertemperatures.However,thisisimpossibletoconfirmwithoutmoredataoranalysis.Thesitesalsoexhibitedverydifferentbenthiccharacteristics,bothwithinandamongsites.Forexample,FlatRockEastexhibitedhighlevelsofcoralcovercomparedtoothersites,especiallyencrustingcoral,reflectingthemoreexposednaturetowavesandwindofthissite.MantaRayBommieexhibitedthelowestlevelofcoralcoverandthehighestabundance
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ofnon‐livingmaterial.In‐situdiverobservationsexhibitedmorevariabilitybetweenseasonsthanphototransects(AppendixG).Whilstitisdifficulttodirectlycomparethetwomethods,themoreconsistentresultsfromthephototransect(whichwereanalysedbyoneperson)suggeststhatthedifferencesobservedfromthein‐situobservationsare,atleastinpart,duetodifferentdiversundertakingsubstrateidentificationthroughouttheyear.Whilstchangesincoralcoverwerealsoobservedovertime,itisdifficulttoknowatthisstagewhethertheseareafunctionofenvironmentalchangeorduetosamplingerror.ThegreatestamountofphysicaldamageoccurredattheShagRocksites,andofthis,themostcommonlyrecordedcategoryofdamagewas‘other’,forwhichthecauseisnotknownbutcouldbecausedbyanchor,diverorstorms.Sincethe2001surveys,FlatRockhasbeendesignatedasamarinenationalparkzoneprecludinganchoring,and,theareawasclosedtofishingundertheFisheriesActforGNS2012.However,somefishinglineswererecordedatFlatRockin2014.LowerlevelsofrubbishwererecordedatShagRockWestandMantaRayBommiein2014.Comparedto2001,coraldamagewassignificantlyhigherin2014atShagRocksites.Thiscouldreflecthigherlevelsofdiveractivity,orhigherfishingactivity(andsubsequentlymoreboat‐relateddamage).However,itisdifficulttodistinguishhuman‐relatedversusstorm‐relateddamagewithoutmorefrequentsurveyactivity.Cautionmustbetakenwhendrawingconclusionsastothehealthofthereefsbetweenthe2001and2014surveys.Asthereisnodetailedinformationavailableforthistime,thereareanumberofpotentialscenarios.Recordedcoralcoverwassimilarfor2001and2014,however,whathappenedinbetweenisunknown.Varioustrajectoriescouldhavetakenplace(Figure30).Regulardetailedmonitoringwouldprovidethenecessaryinformationtolinkprocesseswithobservationsforconservationandmanagement.
Figure30:Coralcoverfor2001and2014withpossiblescenariosastowhatthecoralcovercouldhavebeenfortheyearsinbetween.
4.2. ProjectandDataLimitationsThePLEAsurveyswerecarriedoutbyagroupof44trainedvolunteerdivers(AppendixA).Whilstahighnumberofvolunteerswasimperativeforprojectengagement,therewassomevariationintheresultsduetodatathatcouldnotbeexplainedthroughseasonality(e.g.HardCoralcover).Likelythisvariationarisesfromdatabeingcollectedbydifferentdiverson
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differentsurveys.Toreducethisvariationhowever,diversweretrainedtoahighstandard(Passmark75%onwrittenidentificationexams)andcorediverswereappointedconsistentsurveyactivitiesfromseasontoseasonwherefeasible.Thesubstratesurveywasapointsurveywherepeopleusedaleadplumblinetoeliminatebias.However,eachseasonalsurveyrepeatwouldhaveslightlydifferentlineplacingresultingintheplumblinetouchingadifferentlocationwhichwouldexplainsomevariationintheresults.Somedifferenceswerealsoevidentoncomparisonoffield‐basedsubstratedataandphototransectdata.Phototransectbasedsubstratesurveyallowedforrapiddatacollectioninthefield,yet,theanalysisofthephotosrequiredmuchmoretime.However,thismethodprovidedahigherlevelofconsistencyasthephotoanalysiswasdonebyoneperson,andquestionableanalysescouldbereassessed.Surveyswerecarriedoutseasonallyovera12monthperiodandallseasonalsurveyswerecompletedinasingleweekendwherepossible(seeAppendixI).Theenvironmentalconditions(e.g.wind,swell,tides,andtemperature.)duringthesurveysvariedduetonormalweatherpatterns,whichwouldinfluencethefloraandfaunapresent.Theresultswillthereforebeaffectedbythesefactors,andhence,ongoingseasonalsurveysarevaluabletoprovidebetterknowledgeofwhatispresentorabsentatdifferenttimesoftheyear.Whilstweaimedtocompleteallsurveysforaseasonduringoneweekend,sometimesthiswasnotpossibleduetoweatherconditionsandtheteamhadtoreturnatalaterdate(usuallythefollowingweekendorassoonaspossible).Duetopotentialvariationinconditionssuchasvisibilityandcurrentsonthedifferentweekends,variability,especiallyforthefishsurvey,wouldhavebeeninherentandcontributetopotentialintra‐seasondifferences.Duringtheplanningphaseofthesurveys,thecategoriesofsubstrate,invertebrates,fishandreefhealthimpactswerechosentobecomparabletothe2001Coastcareprojectwhichwasthemaincomparison.However,theprotocolswerealsoadoptedtofitinwithReefCheckAustraliaandCoralWatchmethods,sosomecrosscomparisonwaspossible.Oncompletionofthesurveys,duringthedatacomparison,thecategoriesusedweresimilar,butthemethodologyusedtocollectthedatawasdifferentenoughthatitwasdifficulttocomparesomecategories.Thisimposedalimitontheamountofdatathatcouldbecomparedbetweenthe2001and2014studies.Consistentmethodologywillbeaconsiderationforfuturesurveystoenablemoreefficientcomparisonandallowchangedetection.Duringthesurveysitwasclearthattherewassomemovementinthesemi‐permanentmarkers.Further,anaimwastohavethetransectsinthesamelocationsasin2001.The2014transectswerelocatedbasedonsketchesandexpertknowledgeofthosethathadbeeninvolvedinthe2001surveys.Thisinformationwasinsufficienttoguarantee2014transectplacementinidenticallocationsasto2001.Hence,itisproposedforfutureandongoingsurveys,thatmorepermanentmarkers(e.g.steelbars)beinstalledtoenableongoingcomparisonwithfuturesurveys.
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5. RecommendationsforManagementandCommunity
5.1. ContinuedandimprovedmonitoringofthePointLookoutdivesites.Repeatingtheecologicalassessmentonanannualbasis(e.g.ReefCheck)andeveryfiveyearsseasonally(e.g.PLEAproject)wouldbebeneficialforproperunderstandingandmanagementforconservation.Theresultsofthissurveyshowthatsomechangeshavetakenplace,butwithonlytwoyearsofdataitisdifficulttosayhoworwhythesechangesaretakingplace.Regularmonitoringofthesereefswouldimproveourunderstandingofecologicalchangesandenableustobetterunderstandiftheyarenaturalvariationsorcausedbyexternalfactorssuchasfishing,pollutionorphysicaldamage.TheReefCheckinitiativetovoluntarilysurveythereefsannuallyeverywintersince2009isofgreatimportanceasthedatacanbeusedtosupportmanagementdecisions.Repeatingthesamedetailedsurveyaspresentedhereinfiveyears’timewouldbebeneficial,asseasonalchangesinthereefcanalsobeunderstood.Permanenttransectmarkerswouldenableasignificantimprovementinthequalityandreliabilityofsurveyresultcomparisonsbetweenyearsandseasons.The2014surveysdemonstratedthatitwasdifficulttoidentifythesametransectsegmentsonseasonalrevisits.Thiswasonlyachievablebyusingthesameskilleddiver(s)tomarkoutthetransectlineeverysurvey.Asthesesurveysshouldnotrelyontheexperienceofonlyasmallgroupofdiverstorelocatethetransectlocations,itwouldbebeneficialtoinstallpermanenttransectmarkers(e.g.steelpegsintherocks).Thesewouldmarkthebeginningandendpointsofeachofthetransects,asopposedtousingtheconcreteblocksthatwereused,and,thenremovedattheendofthisproject.
5.2. ReducingPhysicalDamagetoCorals Severalcomplementaryoptionscouldbeintroducedtoavoidanchorandmooringlinedamagetocorals: NoanchoringatShagRock.Althoughnotdroppinganchorisachangeinboatdivingproceduresandnotalwayssuitableforalldiverexperiencelevelsorweatherconditions,itwilldirectlyreducedamagecausedbyanchoring.Boatoperatorscouldinsteaddropashotlinewithasmallsurfacemarkerbuoy,diveflagandweight,thatdiversorsnorkelerscouldusetonavigatebacktowhenfinishingthedive.Otherboatsnotusedfordiving,wouldhavetodriftwiththecurrent,andavoidtherocks.Additionalcostsduetofuelusageforboatdiveoperatorsshouldbesharedwiththeusers(e.g.divers),anditrequiresdiversandoperatorsworktogetherinhelpingreducedamage.Fisherswhomliketostayontopofthefishinghabitatcouldconsiderequippingtheirboatwithanadditionalelectricenginetokeeptheboatonthesite. Anchoringonsandsoanchorandchainarenotabletoimpactthereef.Alternativelyanchoringcouldbepermittedinnon‐coralareas(e.g.sand)atsuchadistancefromtherocksubstratethattheanchorandchainwillnotdamagecoral.Thiswouldrequirethatdiversorsnorkelersnavigatetothesiteofinterest,potentiallyrequiringadditionalbriefing.Thebriefingwouldincludehowtonavigatefromtheanchortothemaindivesite,andcould
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includethedivesitemapsgeneratedfromthisproject.Forfishersthisapproachwouldnotbeassuitablesincetheyprefertoanchorontopofthefishhabitat. Providingfixedmoorings.CurrentlynopublicorprivatemooringsarepresentatShagRock,andhighlevelsofphysicaldamagetocoralswereobservedatalltransectsatthislocation.Variousoptionsareavailabletoinstallandmaintainmooringsatthesesiteswhichmayhelpreducedamagetocorals.Theseinclude:1)directfundingbytheusers(e.g.divers,diveshopowners,interestedorganisations),2)throughanorganisationofusers(e.g.MooringTrust),3)viaanindustrypartner(e.g.diving,mining,tourism),4)provisionofassistancefromgovernmentagencies(e.g.MarineParks),or,5)directfundingbyMarineParks.AppendixJoutlinessuggestedapproachesthatcouldbefollowedupbythecommunityormanagementagenciestoenablethistohappen. Educatingdivers,spearfishers,snorkelers,fishersandvesselskippersinhowtoreducephysicaldamage.Diversshouldbeencouraged,orideallyrequired,tofollowacodeofconductthathighlightstheneedforgoodbuoyancycontroltoavoidtouchingthebottom,and,thestreamliningofdivegeartoavoidentanglementincorals.Snorkelersshouldbeencouragednottotouchorgetclosetothebottom,reducingtheirimpact.Atsiteswherefishingisallowed,fishersshouldavoidfishingnearorclosetothebottomtoavoidlineentanglementand/orlossoffishinggearandassociateddamagetocorals.
5.3. CommunityEngagementtoCreateAwarenessoftheImportanceoftheReefsEducatingthecommunityabouttheMoretonBayreefswillhelppreservetheseresourcesforthefuture.AsurveyoftheSouthEastQueenslandcommunityinJune2010indicatedthataquarterofpeoplesurveyedwerenotawarethattherewerereefsinthewatersofSouthEastQueensland.Halfofrespondentswereawarethattherewerereefsbuthadnotvisitedthem(ReefCheckAustralia2010).Increasingawarenessabouttheimportanceofthesehabitatsandhowpersonalactionscansupporttheirprotectionwillbecriticaltohelpintheconservationoftheseecosystemsforthefuture.TheproductionofthePLEAphotobook“Straddie,MarineFloraandFaunaofNorthStradbrokeIslandDiveSites”andvideowillassistinincreasingcommunityawarenessabouttheexistenceofthereefsaroundSouthEastQueenslandandshowcasethevalue,beautyanddiversityofthesereefs.ThecommunitycanhelpbuildanunderstandingofMoretonBayreefsthroughcitizenscience.ThebroadercommunitycangetinvolvedinnumerouscitizenscienceinitiativestosupportincreasedunderstandingofMoretonBayReefs: ReefCheckAustralia(http://www.reefcheckaustralia.org/) CoralWatch(http://www.coralwatch.org/) GreyNurseSharkWatch
(http://www.reefcheckaustralia.org/grey‐nurse‐shark‐watch.html) ProjectManta(https://www.facebook.com/ProjectMANTA) SpottheLeopardShark(http://www.uq.edu.au/whale/spot‐the‐leopard‐shark)
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5.4. Supportconservationofthereefsbyprovidingpeerreviewedinformation.Thescientificcommunity,non‐governmentalorganisations,managementauthorities,localareacouncilsandinterestedcitizencanusethefindingsofthisresearchandfutureresearchprojectstohelpsupportmanagementdecisionsandguidefurthermonitoringofthereefs.Theresultsanddatafromthisprojectwillbemadepubliclyavailable,andinclude:ProjectDocuments Thurstan,R.,Flower,J.,Beger,M.,Dudgeon,C.,Gomez,K.,Ortiz,J.,Kovacs,E.,Loder,J.,
Saunders,M.,Passenger,J.,KleineD.andRoelfsema,C(2014).SurveyMethodsManualUniDivePointLookoutEcologicalAssessment(PLEA).TheUniversityofQueenslandUnderwaterClub,Brisbane,Australia.Manualwasbasedonmethodsusedinsurveysin2001and2003,andtheReefCheckandCoralWatchProtocols.
RoelfsemaC.,R.Thurstan,J.Flower,M.Beger,M.Gallo,J.Loder,E.Kovacs,K.GomezCabrera,A.Lea,J.Ortiz,D.Brunner,andD.Kleine(2014).EcologicalAssessmentoftheFloraandFaunaofPointLookoutDiveSites,NorthStradbrokeIsland,Queensland.,Unidive,TheUniversityofQueenslandUnderwaterClub,Brisbane,Australia.
Eachdocumentwasreviewedbytwocoastalregionmanagers,bothhavingtenplusyears’experiencewithmonitoringandmanagingthecoastalregionsandnationalparksinSouthEastQueensland.
PeerReviewedScientificPapers RoelfsemaC.,R.Thurstan,J.Flower,M.Beger,M.Gallo,J.Loder,E.Kovacs,K.Gomez
Cabrera,A.Lea,J.Ortiz,D.Brunner,andD.Kleine(manuscriptinpreparation).FloraandFaunaofNorthStradbrokeIslandDiveSitefor2001and2014:ACitizenScienceBasedComparison.JournalofEcosystemandEcography
Thurstan,R.,C.Roelfsema,J.Flower,M.Beger,M.Gallo,J.Loder,E.Kovacs,K.GomezCabrera,A.Lea,J.Ortiz,D.Brunner,andD.Kleine(manuscriptinpreparation).Canwetrustcitizenscience?Anexaminationoftheconsistencyofsurveyresultsamongvolunteerdivers.PLOSOne
PeerReviewedDataSet RoelfsemaC.,E.Kovacs,P.Bray,M.Gallo,R.Thurstan,J.Flower,M.Beger,J.Loder,K.
GomezCabrera,A.Lea,J.Ortiz,D.Brunner,andD.Kleine(inpreparation).Fish,Invertebrate,Substrate,andImpactDataSetcollectedin2014aspartoftheEcologicalAssessmentoftheDiveSitesatNorthStradbrokeIslandDive,Queensland.UniDivePLEAProject,PangeaorCoastalDataPortal
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6. ReferencesBooth,D.J.,W.F.Figueira,etal.(2007)."OccurrenceoftropicalfishesintemperatesoutheasternAustralia:RoleoftheEastAustralianCurrent."EstuarineCoastalandShelfScience72(1‐2):102‐114.BureauofInfrastructure,TransportandRegionalEconomics(BITRE),2013,Populationgrowth,jobsgrowthandcommutingflowsinSouthEastQueensland,Report134,CanberraACT.http://www.bitre.gov.au/publications/2013/files/report_134.pdfChollett,I.,Müller‐Karger,F.E.,Heron,S.F.,Skirving,W.,&Mumby,P.J.(2012).SeasonalandspatialheterogeneityofrecentseasurfacetemperaturetrendsintheCaribbeanSeaandsoutheastGulfofMexico.MarinePollutionBulletin,64(5),956–65.doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.02.016Couturier,L.I.E.,Jaine,F.R.a.,Townsend,K.a.,Weeks,S.J.,Richardson,A.J.,&Bennett,M.B.(2011).Distribution,siteaffinityandregionalmovementsofthemantaray,Mantaalfredi(Krefft,1868),alongtheeastcoastofAustralia.MarineandFreshwaterResearch,62(6),628.doi:10.1071/MF10148EPA(2008)FinalpublicbenefittestreportfortheMarineParks(MoretonBay)ZoningPlan2008,EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,QueenslandGovernmentFerrari,R.,Gonzalez‐Rivero,M.,Ortiz,J.C.,&Mumby,P.J.(2012).InteractionofherbivoryandseasonalityonthedynamicsofCaribbeanmacroalgae.CoralReefs,31(3),683–692.doi:10.1007/s00338‐012‐0889‐9FordS.,M.Langridge,C.M.Roelfsema,C.Bansemer,S.Pierce,K.Gomez,I.Fellegara,I.,K.McMahon,M.Keller,K.E.Joyce,N.AurishandC.Prebble(2003).SurveyingHabitatsCriticaltotheSurvivalofGreyNurseSharksinSouth‐EastQueensland.Unidive,TheUniversityofQueenslandUnderwaterClub,Brisbane,Australia.Funk,W.C.,J.K.McKay,etal.(2012)."Harnessinggenomicsfordelineatingconservationunits."TrendsinEcology&Evolution27(9):489‐496.Greenstein,B.J.andJ.M.Pandolfi(2008)."Escapingtheheat:rangeshiftsofreefcoraltaxaincoastalWesternAustralia."GlobalChangeBiology14(3):513‐528.Guinotte,J.M.,R.W.Buddemeier,etal.(2003)."Futurecoralreefhabitatmarginality:temporalandspatialeffectsofclimatechangeinthePacificbasin."CoralReefs22(4):551‐558.Hill,J.andJ.Loder(2013)ReefCheckAustraliaSurveyMethods.ReefCheckFoundationLtd.HodgsonG.andJLiebeler(2002)Theglobalcoralreefcrisis:5yearsofReefCheck.Trendsandsolutions.ReefCheckFoundationLtd.Kleypas,J.A.,J.W.McManus,etal.(1999)."Environmentallimitstocoralreefdevelopment:Wheredowedrawtheline?"AmericanZoologist39(1):146‐159.
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Kohler,K.&Gill,S.M.,2006.CoralPointCountwithExcelextensions(CPCe):AVisualBasicprogramforthedeterminationofcoralandsubstratecoverageusingrandompointcountmethodology.Computers&Geosciences,32(9),pp.1259–1269.McMahonK.,D.L.,C.Bansemer,I.Fellegara,M.Keller,A.Kerswell,J.Kwik,B.Longstaff,C.M.Roelfsema,J.ThomasandJ.Stead(2002).ABaselineAssessmentoftheFloraandFaunaofNorthStradbrokeIslandDiveSites,Queensland.CoastcareProject.Unidive,TheUniversityofQueenslandUnderwaterClub,Brisbane,Australia.Riegl,B.andW.E.Piller(2003)."Possiblerefugiaforreefsintimesofenvironmentalstress."InternationalJournalofEarthSciences92(4):520‐531.Pandolfi,J.M.,R.H.Bradbury,E.Sala,T.P.Hughes,K.A.Bjorndal,R.G.Cooke,etal.(2003)."GlobalTrajectoriesoftheLong‐TermDeclineofCoralReefEcosystems."Science301(5635),pp:955‐958.RoelfsemaC.M.andS.R.Phinn(2009).AManualforConductingGeoreferencedPhotoTransectsSurveystoAssesstheBenthosofCoralReefandSeagrassHabitatsversion3.0.BiophysicalRemoteSensingGroup,TheUniversityofQueensland,Brisbane,AustraliaRoelfsema,C.M.,andS.R.Phinn(2010).Integratingfielddatawithhighspatialresolutionmultispectralsatelliteimageryforcalibrationandvalidationofcoralreefbenthiccommunitymaps.JournalofAppliedRemoteSensing,Vol.4,043527(26April2010),
ReefCheckFoundationLtd&TheMarketingGarage(2010).ReefCheckAustraliaSouthEastQueenslandMarketing&CommunicationsResearchReport.
Smale,D.A.andT.Wernberg(2013)."Extremeclimaticeventdrivesrangecontractionofahabitat‐formingspecies."ProceedingsoftheRoyalSocietyB:BiologicalSciences280(1754).Wernberg,T.,B.D.Russell,etal.(2011)."SeaweedCommunitiesinRetreatfromOceanWarming."CurrentBiology21(21):1828‐1832.
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7. AppendicesAppendixA:ParticipantsList
Name Cert Survey Job Training Organisation Science Methods Book Report Video
Aaron Aeberli ADV Buddy
Alexandra Lea DM Fish x x x xAlyssa Ryan ADV Buddy
Andy Findlay N/A Support x
Beth Kita RES Substrate, inverts
Bruce McClean DM Inverts Finance
Chris Roelfsema INS Mapping Organisation x xChristine Dudgeon SCI fish x x xCraig Bolland ADV Buddy
David Warren RES Buddy xDee Passenger DM Inverts xDiana Kleine INS Fish
Donna Easton RES Inverts Sales
Douglas Stetner INS Photo, Video, mapping Photo x xDunia Brunner ADV Substrate xEva Kovacs RES Fish, Inverts x Quality control x x x xGavin Bott DM Video Video xJames Sadler ADV Buddy
Jason Flower INS Methods x x x xJennifer Loder DM Impacts x x x x x xJenni Calcraft RES Coral Health
Josh Passenger DM Impacts x transport
Juan Carlos SCI Impacts x x x xJulie Klint RES Fish Food
Justin Mariner DM Buddy x xKaren Johnson ADV Fish, coral health Food xK‐Le Gomez SCI Trainig, Inverts x x x xLachlan Pollard DM Mapping Accomodation x xLee Raby INS Mapping
Liette Boisvert ADV Coral Health Facebook
Maria Beger SCI Trainer, Fish x x x x xMark Stenhouse DM Substrate
Megan Saunders SCI Inverts x x
Melanie Oey RES Mapping, Coral Health, Facebook, survey gear
Michael Pheasant DM Mapping Dive officer, data x x xMichele Gallo RES Video, impacts x x x xOlivier Cheneval INS Substrate, impacts xPeran Bray RES Inverts, impacts, mapping x Data Management
Robert Cook DM Buddy
Roxane Borruat RES Coral Health
Ruth Thurstan DM Fish x x x x xRyan Booker INS Mapping, video, photo x Safety xSarah Buckley RES Buddy
Stefano Freguia DM Substrate, inverts xTrevor Barrenger DM Mapping Food
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AppendixB:SpeciesList
FLOWERINGPLANTSSCIENTIFICNAMEHalophilaovalis(DugongGrass)HalophilaspinulosaHaloduleuninervisALGAEChlorophytaAcetabulariasp.BoergesenuaforbesiiBoergesenuaspBometellanitidaBoodleacompositaBoodleasp.BryopsisindicaBryopsissp.CaulerpabrachypusCaulerpalentilliferaCaulerpanummulariaCaulerpapeltataCaulerparacemosaCaulerpataxifoliaChlorodesmisfastigiataTurtleWeedCodiumsp.Dictyosphaeriasp.Enteromorphasp.HalimedadiscoideaNeomerisvan‐bosseaeUlvalactucaSealettuceValoniasp.Ventricariasp.PhaeophytaColpomeniasinuosa
Colpomeniasp.DictyopterisspDictyotasp.DilophusmarginatusHormophysatriquetraHydroclathrusclathratusLobophoravariegataPadinasp.Sargassumsp.Stypopodiumsp.Zonariasp.
RhodophytaAcanthophorasp.Amansiasp.AsparagopsistaxiformisIodineWeedChampiasp.Dictyomeniasp.Euchemasp.Gelidiellasp.Gelidiumsp.Gracilariasp.Griffithsiasp.Halymeniasp.Hypneasp.Laurenciasp.Peysonneliasp.Sarconemasp.
REPTILESCarettacarettaLoggerheadTurtleCheloniamydasGreenTurtleEretmochelysimbricataHawksbillTurtleMAMMALSMegapteranovaengliaHumpback(heard)TursiopstruncatusBottlenoseDolphinDugongdugonDugongOrcinusorcaKillerwhale
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INVERTEBRATESCNIDARIA(Hardcorals)AcanthastreabowerbankiEncrustingAcanthastreaechinataEncrustingtomassiveAcanthastrealordhowensisMassiveAcroporacythereaPlateAcroporadigitiferaDigitateAcroporadivaricataDigitatetoplateAcroporagemmiferaDigitateAcroporaglaucaPlateAcroporalatistellaPlateAcroporasarmentosaDigitatetoplateAcroporasolitaryensisPlateAcroporasubulataDigitateCyphastreaserailiaMassiveFaviaspeciosaMassiveFaviastelligeraCollumnarFavitesspp.HardGoniastreaaustraliensisEncrustingtosubmassiveHydnophoraexesaEncrustingtosubmassiveLobophylliacorymbosaMassiveMontastreacurtaMassiveMontiporacaliculataMassiveMontiporapeltiformisSubmassivetoplateOulophylliabennettaeMassiveOxyporalaceraEncrustingtofoliosePavonavariansEncrustingtofoliosePlatygyradaedaleaEncrustingtomassivePocilloporaverrucosaBranchingPocilloporaaliciaeBranchingPocilloporadamicornisBranchingPsammocoracontiguaCollumnarSeriatoporahystrixBranchingStylophorapistillataBranchingTubastreafaulkneriOrangeTubeTurbinariafrondensFolioseTurbinariameseterinaolioseTurbinariapeltataFoliose
CNIDARIA(Soft)Dendronephthyasp.PricklyRedTreeSarcophytonsp.LeathersoftXeniasp.SoftCladiellasp.Spottedsoft
OtherCnidaria MacrorhynciaphillipinaWhitestingingSeaCastostylusmosaicusBlueblubberDiscosomasp.limorpEntacmaeaquadricolorBulb‐tentacleMacrorhynchiaphoeniceaSeafirPalythoacaesiaSandyzooanthidPhysaliaphysalisBluebottleTubiporamusicaOrganpipe
PORIFERA(Sponges)
AcanthellacostataOrangeRibbedNiphatessp.BrownFurryVasePseudaxinellaaustralisFurryredSpirastrellavagabundaRoamingburrowingClionasp.BurrowingCallispongiasp. Blue
ARTHROPODA(Crustaceans/Barnacles)CalcinusgaimardiiGaimard'sHermitDardanuslagopodesSwift‐FootedHermitDardanusmegistosSpottedHermitGonodactylaceusfalcatusYellow‐spotSmashingMantisNeopetrolisthesmaculatusDottedAnemoneCrabPanulirusversicolorPaintedSpinyLobsterPericlimenesbrevicarpalisPacificClownAnemoneShrimpPericlimenessororStarfishShrimpRhynchocinetesbruceiBruce'sHinge‐BeakPrawnStenopushispidusBandedShrimpThenussp.MoretonBayBugThoramboinensisBold‐SpottedAnemoneShrimpTrapeziaseptataHoneycobCrabParribacusantarticusSlipperlobsters
MOLLUSCAAplysiadactylomelaBlack‐ringedSeaHareCeratosomatrilobatumThreeHornedNudibrachChromodorisaurepurpureaPurple‐edgenudibranchChromodoriskuiteriKuiter'sNudibranchConuscapitaneusCaptain'sConeConustextileTextileConeCuthonasibogaeSibogaAeloidCypraeacaptuserpentisSerpent's‐HeadCowrieCypraeatigrisTigerCowrieEuprymatasmonicaCuttlefishExobranchussanguineusSpanishDancerFlabellinarubrolineataRed‐LinedAeolidGlaucusatlanticusSeaLizardGlossodorisatromarginataBlack‐EdgedNudibranchHypselodorismaculosa Purple‐SpeckledNudibranchHypselodorisobscuraObscureNudibanchJorunnafunebrisFuneralPyreNudibranchOctopuscyaneaDayOctopusOvulaovumEggCowriePhyllidiaocellataEyedPhyllidiaPhyllidiavaricosaVaricosePhyllideaPteraeolidiaianthinaBlueDragonSepiaapamaGiantCuttlefishSepioteuthislessonianaTigerSquidTrisidostortuosaPropellerArk(dead)
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ECHINODERMATA(Starfish/Seacucumbers/Featherstars/Seaurchins)
AcanthasterplanciCrownofThornsStarfishAsthenosomapericulosumStingingSeaUrchinAstrobrachionconstrictumGraspingBrittlestarCalcitanovaeguineaeCushionStarCenoliasp.BlackFeatherstarComanthenanobilisNoble(Yellow)FeatherstarDiademasavignyiLong‐SpinedBlackUrchinEchinasterluzonicusLuzonSeastarEchinostrephusaciculatusBurrowingSeaUrchinEchiometramathaeiWhite‐TippedUrchinFromiaindicaIndianSeastarGomophiamamilliferaOrnamentedSeastarHolothurianobilisTeatfishLeiastercoriaceusTannedSeastarLinckialaevigataBlueSeastarSeastarDana'sBrittlestarOxycomanthusbennettiBennett'sFeatherstar(Blackandyellowfeatherstar)PentagonasterdubeniVermillionSeastarPrionocidariscallistaBeautifulSeaUrchinTamariasp.SeastarTemnopleurusalexandriAlexander'sSeaUrchin
CTENOPHORABeroesp.CombJelly
TUNICATEClavelinesaustralis(Seasquirt)Sea‐squirtPolycarpapapillata(Seasquirt)Polycarpaprocera(Seasquirt)
ANNELIDASpirobranchussp.ChristmastreewormFilogranaimplexaFanwormSabellastarteindicaFanWorm
PlatyhelminthesPseudocerosgloriosus GloriousflatwormPseudocerossp.Flatworm
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FISHESPomacanthidae(Angelfish)
Centropygebicolor(BicolourAngelfish)
Centropygeflavissima(Lemonangelfish)
Centropygetibicen(Keyholeangelfish)
Centropygevrolikii(Pearlscaleangelfish)
Chaetodontoplusmeredithi(Yellowfindangelfish)
Pomacanthussemicirculatus(Semicircleangelfish)
Ephippidae(Batfish)
Plataxpinnatus(Pinnatespadefish)
Plataxteira(Commontall‐finbatfish)
Chaetodontidae(Butterflyfish)
Chaetodonaureofasciatus(Goldenbutterfly)Chaetodonauriga(Threadfinbutterfly)
Chaetodoncitrinellus(Citronbutterfly)
Chaetodonflavirostris(Duskybutterfly)
Chaetodonguentheri(GuenthersButterfly)Chaetodonkleinii(Klein'sbutterfly)
Chaetodonpelewensis(Sunsetbutterfly)Chaetodonplebeius(Bluespotbutterfly)
Chaetodonrainfordi(Rainford'sbutterfly)
Chaetodonspeculum(Mirrorbutterfly)
Chaetodontrifascialis(Chevronedbutterfly)Chaetodonunimaculatus(Teardropbutterfly)Chaetodonvagabundus(Vagabondbutterfly)Chlemonrostratus(Beaked)
Forcipigerflavissimus(Longnosebutterfly)
Forcipigerlongirostrus(Verylongnosebutterfly)
Heniochusacuminatus(Longfinbanner)
Heniochusmonoceros(Maskedbanner)
Pomacentridae(Damselfish)
Abudefdufbengalensis(Bengalsergeant)
Abudefdufseptemfasciatus(Sevenbarsergeant)
Abudefdufsexfasciatus(Scissor‐tailedsergeant)
Abudefdufvaigensis(Indopacificsergeant)
Abudefdufwhitleyi(Whitleyssergeant)
Amphiprionakindynos(BarrierReefanemonefish)
Chromisatripectoralis
Chromishypsilepis(Brownpuller)
Chromislepidogenys
Chromismargaritifier(Bicolorchromis)
Chromisnitida(Yellow‐blackpuller)
Chromisopercularis
Chromisvanderbilti(Vanderbilt’spuller)
Chromisviridis(Blue‐greenpuller)
Chromisweberi
Chromisxanthochira
Chrysipteraflavipinnis
Chrysipterarex
Chrysipteraunimaculata
Dascyllusaruanus
Dascyllusreticulatus(Reticulateddamsel)
Dascyllustrimaculatus
Neoglypthidodonnigroris(Yellowfindamsel)
Neopomacentrusazysron(Yellowtaildemoiselle)
Parmaoligolepis(Bigscaleparma)
Parmapolylepis(Buffalofish)
Parmaunifasciata(Girdledscalyfin)
Plectroglyphidodondickii(Dick'sdamsel)
Plectroglyphidodonjohnstonianus
Plectroglyphidodonleucozonus
Pomacentrusamboinensis
Pomacentrusaustralis
Pomacentrusbankanensis(Speckleddamsel)
Pomacentruscoelestis(Neondamsel)
Pomacentrusimitator
Pomacentrusmollucensis
Pomacentrusnagasakiensis
Pomacentruspavo
Pomacentruswardi(Wardsdamsel)
Stegastesgascoynei
Apogonidae(Cardinalfish)
Apogonangustatus(Stripedcardinalfish)
Apogonaureus(Ring‐tailcardinalfish)
Apogoncavitiensis(Cavitecardinalfish)
Apogoncyanosoma(Yellowstripedcardinalfish)
Apogonlimenus(Sydneycardinalfish)
Serranidae(Cods/Groupers/Anthiases)
Cephalopholisurodeta(Flagtailrockcod)
Diploprionbifasciatum(Two‐bandedsoapfish)
Epinepheluscoioides(Estuarycod)
Epinepheluscyanopodus(Purplerockcod)
Epinephelusfasciatus(Black‐tippedrockcod)
Pseudoanthiasbicolor(Bicoloranthias)
Pseudoanthiashuchti(Red‐cheekedanthias)
Pseudanthiassquamipinnis
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Pseudochromidae(Dottybacks)
Labracinuslineatus(Lineddottyback)
Lethrinusnebulosus(Spangledemperor)
Lutjanidae(Snappers)
Lutjanusfulviflamma(Black‐spotsnapper)
Lutjanuskasmira(Blue‐stripedseaperch)
Lutjanusquinequelineatus(Five‐linesnapper)
Lutjanussebae(Redemperor)
Haemulidae(Sweetlips)Plectorhinchusflavomaculatus(Gold‐spottedsweetlip)Plectorhinchusgibbosus(Brownsweetlip)
Plectorhinchuspicus(Magpiesweetlip)
Plectorhinchusunicolor
Siganidae(Rabbitfish)
Siganusargenteus(Forktailrabbitfish)
Siganusfuscescens(Happymoments)
Siganusvulpinus(Foxface)
Mullidae(Goatfish)
MulloidichthysvanicolensisParupeneuscyclostomus(Yellowsaddlegoatfish)
Parupeneusmultifasciatus(Bandedgoatfish)
Parupeneuspleurostigma(Sidespotgoatfish)
Parupeneusspilurus(Black‐spotgoatfish)
Upeneustragula(Bar‐tailedgoatfish)
Tetradontidae(Pufferfish)
Arothronhispidus(Stars&stripestoadfish)
Arothronmeleagris(Guineafowlpuffer)
Arothronnigropunctatus(Blackspottedpuffer)
Arothronreticularis
ArothronstellatusCanthigasterbenetti(Bennett'spuffer)
Canthigasteraxiologus(Crownedpuffer)
Canthigastervalentini(Black‐saddledtoby)
Diodontidae(Porcupinefish)
Cyclichthysjacauliferus(Long‐spinedporcupinefish)
Dicolichthyspunctulatus(Threebarporcupinefish)
Diodonholocanthus(Fine‐spottedporcupinfish)
Diodonhystrix(Black‐spottedporcupinefish)
Diodonliturosus(Blotchedporcupinefish)
Ostraciidae(Trunkfish/Boxfish)
Ostracioncubicus(Yellowboxfish)
Ostracionmeleagris(Blackspottedboxfish)
Tetrosomusconcatenates(Turretfish)
Monocanthidae(Leatherjacket)
Cantherhinespardalis(Wire‐netfilefish)
Canthescheniagrandisquamis(Large‐scale)
Monacanthuschinensis(Fan‐belliedleatherjacket)
Oxymonacanthuslongirostris(Long‐nosefilefish)
Paraluterespriorurus(Mimicfilefish)
Pervagoralternans(Yellow‐eyedleatherjacket)
Pervagorjanthinosoma
Balistidae(Triggerfish)
Balistapusundulatus(Orangestriped)
Balistoidesconspicillum(Clown)
MelichthysviduaSufflamenchrysopterum(Flagtail)
Sufflamenfraenatum
Scaridae(Parrotfish)Scarusghobban(Blue‐barredparrotfish)
Scarusniger(Blackparrotfish)
Labridae(Wrasse)
Anampsescaeruleopunctatus(Diamondwrasse)
Anampsesgeographicus(GeographicWrasse)Anampsesfemininus(Blue‐tailwrasse)
Anampsesneoguinaicus(Black‐backedwrasse)
Bodianusaxillaris(hogfish)
Bodianusmesothorax(Black‐belthogfish)
Bodianusperditio(Gold‐spotpigfish)
Cheilinustrilobatus
Choerodoncephalotes(Grasstuskfish)
ChoerodongraphicusChoerodonfasciatus(Harlequintuskfish)
Choerodongraphicus(Graphicaltuskfish)
Choerodonschoenleinii(Black‐spottuskfish)
Choerodonvenustus(Venustuskfish)
Corisaygula(Bulbheadcoris)
Corisbatuensis(Batucoris)
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Corisdorsomacula(Pale‐barredcoris)Corisgaimard(Gaimardwrasse)
Cirrhilabruspunctatus(Dottedwrasse)Diproctacanthusxanthurus(Yellowtailtubelip)
Gomphosusvarius(Birdwrasse)
Halichoereschrysus(Canarywrasse)Halichoereshortulanus(Checkerboardwrasse)
Halichoeresnigrescens
Hologymnosusannulatus(Ringwrasse)
Hologymnosusdoliatus(Pastelringwrasse)Labroidesdimidiatus(Cleanerwrasse)
Leptojuliscyanopleura
Macropharyngodonchoati(ChoatsWrasse)Macropharyngodonmeleagris(Blackspottedwrasse)
MacropharyngodonnegrosensisNovaculichthystaeniourus(Reindeerwrasse)
Oxycheilinusbimaculatus
Pseudolabrusguentheri
PteragoguscryptusStethojulisbandanensis(Bluelined,red‐spotwrasse)
Stethojulisinterrupta(Cut‐ribbonwrasse)
SuezichthysarquatusThalassomahardwicke(Sixbarwrasse)
Thalassomajansenii(Jansen'swrasse)
Thalassomalunare(Moonwrasse)
Thalassomalutescens(Sunsetwrasse)
Blennidae(Blennies)
PlagiotremusrhinorhynchosPlagiotremustapeinosoma(Mimicblenny)
Scorpaenidae(Lion/Stonefish)
Dendrochiruszebra(Zebralionfish)
Pteroisvolitans(Commonlionfishorturkeyfish)
Synanceiahorrida(Estaurinestonefish)
Cirrhitidae(Hawkfish)
Cirrhitichthysaprinus(Blotched,threadfinhawkfish)
Cirrhitichthysfalco(hawkfish)
CirrhitichthysoxycephalusParacirrhitesarcatus(Ring‐eyedhawkfish)
Paracirrhitesforsteri
Acanthuridae(Surgeonfish)
Acanthurusalbipectoralis(Whitefinsurgeon)
Acanthurusauranticavus(Orange‐socketsurgeon)
Acanthurusdussumieri(Blue‐tailedsurgeon)
Acanthurusmata
AcanthurusnigrofuscusAcanthurusnigroris
Acanthurusolivaceus(Orange‐blotchsurgeon)
Acanthurusxanthopterus(Yellowfinsurgeon)
Ctenochaetusstriatus(Linedbristletooth)
Nasobrachycentron
Nasohexacanthus
Nasolituratus(Orangespineunicorn)Nasounicornis(Blue‐spineunicorn)
Paracanthurushepatus(Bluetang)
Prionurusmicrolepidotus(Sixplatesawtail)
Zebrasomascopas(Twotonetang)
Muraenidae(MorayEels)Echidnanebulosa(Starry)
Gymnothoraxeurostus(White‐speckeled)
Gymnothoraxpseudothrysoidea(HighfinorCoastal)
Gymnotoraxfavagineus(Black‐blotched)
Gymnotoraxjavanicus(Giant)
Gymnotoraxundulatus(Undulate)
Sidereathyrsoidea(White‐eyed)
Gobiidae(Gobies)
Amblyeleotrisfasciata(Bandedshrimpgoby)Cryptocentrusmaudae(Maude'sshrimpgoby)
Gobiodoncitrinus(Poisongoby)Valencienneastrigata(Golden‐headsleepergoby)
Pinguipedidae(Grubfish)
Parapercisclathrata(Latticedsandperch)Paraperciscylindrica(Sharp‐nosegrubfish)
Parapercismillepunctata(Blackdottedsandperch)Parapercisstricticeps(White‐streakedgrubfish)
Cheilodactylidae(Morwongs)
Cheilodactylusfuscus(Redmorwong)
Cheilodactylusvestitus(Magpiemorwong)
NEMIPTERIDAE(Spinecheeks)
Scolopsisbilineatus(Twolinespinecheek)
Scolopsismonogramma(Barredspinecheek)
Pentapodusparadiseus(Paradisewhiptail)
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Carangidae(TREVALLIES)
Alectisciliaris(Treadfintrevally)
Carangoidesferdau(Bluetrevally)
Pseudocaranxdentex(Whitetrevally)Seriolalalandi(Yellowtailkingfish)
Trachinotusblochii(Subnosedart)
Trachurusnovaezelandiae(Southernyellowtailscad)
Caesionidae(Fusiliers)
Caesiocaerulaurea(Blueandgoldfusilier)
Caesiolunaris(Lunarfusilier)Paracaesioxanthurus(Southernfusilier)Pterocaesiodigramma(BlacktippedorYellow‐linedfusilier)Pterocaesiomarri(Marr'sfusilier)
Sphyraenidae(Barracudas)
Sphyraenaflavicauda(Yellowtailbarracuda)Sphyraenaobtustata(Stripedseapike)
Microdesmidae(Dartfish)
Ptereleotrisevides(Two‐tonedartfish)
Pempherididae(Bullseye)
Pempherisaffinis(Black‐tippedbullseye)Pempherisanalis(Bronzebullseye)
Pempheriscompressa(Small‐scalebullseye)
Holocentridae(Squirrelfish&Soldierfish)
Myripristiskuntee(Pearlyorepaulettesoldierfish)
Myripristismurdjan(Crimsonsoldierfish)
Sargocentrondiadema(Crownsoldierfish)
Sargocentronrubrum(Redcoatsquirrelfish)
Aulostomidae(Trumpetfish/Cornetfishes)
Aulostomuschinensis(Trumpetfish)
Fistulariidae(Flutefish)
Fistulariacommersonii(Flutemouth)
Monodactylidae(SilverBatfish)Monodactylusargenteus(DiamondfishorButterbreamorSilverbatfish)Schuetteascalaripinnis(Easternpomfret)
Elasmobranchii(Sharks&Rays)Rays/Numbfish
Aetobatusnarinari(Eagle)
Neotrygonkuhlii(Bluespottedsting)
Himanturauarnak(Coachwhip)
Hypnosmonopterygium(NumbfishorElectric)
Mantaalfredi(Manta)
Pastinachussephen(Cowtailsting)
Rhynochobatusdjddersis(White‐spottedshovelnose
Trygonopteratestacea(Commonsting)
Sharks
Carcharhinusbrachyurus(Bronzewhaler)
CarchariasTaurus(Greynurseshark)
Carcharodoncarcharias(Whitepointershark)Chiloscylliumpunctatum(Brown‐bandedcatshark/Bambooshark)Galeocerdocuvier(Tigershark)
Orectobulusmaculatus(Spottedwobbegong)
Orectobulusornatus(Bandedwobbegong)
Rhincodontypus(Whaleshark)
Sphyrnasp.(Hammerheadshark)
Stegostomafasciatum(Leopardshark)
OtherFish
Atypichthysstrigatus(Australianmado)Aeoliscusstrigatus(shrimpfish)
Aulopuspurpurissatus(Sergeantbaker)
Batrachomoeusdubius(Easternfrogfish)
Cleidopusgloriamaris(Pineapplefish)
Dactyloptenaorientalis(Flyinggunard)
Echeneisnaucrates(Commonsuckerfish)
Enoplosusarmatus(Oldwife)
Equetuslanceolatus(Jacknife‐fish)
Heteropriacanthuscruentatus(Duskyfinredbullseye)
Kyphosuscinerascens(Highfinrudderfish)
Microcanthusstrigatus(Stripey)
Pagrusauratus(Snapper)Platycephalusendrachtensis(Bar‐tailedflathead)
Plotosuslineatus(Stripedcatfish)
Priacanthushamrur(Moontailbullseye)
Rhabdosargussarba(Goldlinedseabream)
Scorpislineolata(Silversweep)Synodusdermatogenys(Two‐spotlizardfish)
Zancluscornutus(Morishidol)
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MantaRayBommie
AppendixD:TransectCoordinates
TransectName Point_Type EastWGS854 NorthWGS84ShagRockWest Start 551987 6967660ShagRockWest End 551920 6967680ShagRockEast Start 552041 6967540ShagRockEast End 552091 6967590FlatRockWest End 554395 6970310FlatRockWest Start 554447 6970360FlatRockEast End 554648 6969980FlatRockEast Start 554595 6969940MantaRayBommie End 554162 6966480MantaRayBommie Start 554087 6966510
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AppendixG:SubstrateCover
H1:Transectphotoanalysisaveragedpersite
H2:Diver‐recordedtransectdataaveragedpersite.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Shag Rock West Shag Rock East Flat Rock West Flat Rock East Manta RayBommie
Substrate Cover (%
) Photo
Coral (Branch. Folio. Plate.) Coral (Encrust + Massive) Coral OtherSoft Coral Macro Algae Other LobophoraAsparagopsis Laurencia Turf on rockNon Living Other
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
ShagRockWest ShagRockEast FaltRockWest FaltRockEast MantaRayBommie
SubstrateCover(%)
Coral(Branch.Folio.Plate.) Coral(Encrust+Massive) CoralOtherSoftCoral MacroAlgaeOther LobophoraAsparagopsis Laurencia TurfonrockNonLiving Other
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H3:Transectphotoanalysisaveragedperseasonforeachsite
H4:Diver‐recordedtransectdataaveragedperseasonforeachsite.
0
20
40
60
80
100Summer
Autum
n
Winter
Spring
Summer
Autum
n
Winter
Spring
Summer
Autum
n
Winter
Spring
Summer
Autum
n
Winter
Spring
Summer
Autum
n
Winter
Spring
ShagRockWest ShagRockEast FlatRockWest FlatRockEast MantaRayBommie
SubstrateCover(%)
Coral(Branch.Folio.Plate.) Coral(Encrust+Massive) CoralOtherSoftCoral MacroAlgaeOther LobophoraAsparagopsis Laurencia TurfonrockNonLiving Other
0
20
40
60
80
100
Summer
Autum
n
Winter
Spring
Summer
Autum
n
Winter
Spring
Summer
Autum
n
Winter
Spring
Summer
Autum
n
Winter
Spring
Summer
Autum
n
Winter
Spring
ShagRockWest ShagRockEast FaltRockWest FaltRockEast MantaRayBommie
SubstrateCover(%)
Coral(Branch.Folio.Plate.) Coral(Encrust+Massive) CoralOtherSoftCoral MacroAlgaeOther LobophoraAsparagopsis Laurencia TurfonrockNonLiving Other
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AppendixH:CoralHealthChartScoresaveragedforeachseasonpersite.
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AppendixI:DiveStatistics
Dates Number of
Divers SUM of Dives
SUM of Time (hrs.) Dive location Type of Dive
31/01/2014 10 21 9.3 Shag & Flat Rock Place markers 1/02/2014 Weekend 26 97 75.3 Shag Rock Training 22/02/2014 Weekend 23 59 41.1
Flat Rock West, Shag Rock Survey Summer
8/03/2014 2 2 1.3 Manta Bommie Place markers
22/03/2014 8 16 11.7Flat Rock East and Manta Ray Survey Summer
29/03/2014 Weekend 23 94 69.1
Shag Rock, Manta Bommie Training
3/05/2014 Weekend 21 76 57.8
Flat and Shag Rock, Manta Bommie Survey Autumn
19/07/2014 Weekend 23 67 44.2
Shag Rock, Manta Bommie, Flat Rock West Survey Winter
2/08/2014 12 24 17.2Flat Rock East and Manta Ray Survey Winter
26/09/2014 8 8 5.3 Shag Rock West Totally Wild 25/10/2014 Weekend 24 48 33.5 Flat and Shag Rock Survey Spring
30/10/2014 10 23 10.1Flat and Shag Rock, Manta Bommie
Transect + Marker recovery
Grand Total 44 535 375.6
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AppendixJ:MooringOptions
Placing a private mooring at the Point Lookout reefs requires a marine park permit (from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service- QPWS) and a buoy mooring authority (from Maritime Safety Queensland - MSQ). QPWS approval will depend on justification that the mooring, its installation and operation will cause the least damage to substrate when compared to alternatives. MSQ approval will depend on the mooring’s location not causing a navigation hazard. Both mooring applications should be lodged together. Given its location, it would be beneficial to have a registered professional engineer or naval architect certify that the design is fit for purpose. The Marine Park permit if approved,will require the permit holder to have public liability insurance of $20 million. There are three mooring options to consider: 1. Private, 2. Public but privately funded, and, 3. Public. Mooring Type Private Public (Privately
Funded)Public
Owner (liable) Trust, joint dive shops, one dive shop, or dive club etc.
QPWS, QPWS
Funding Whoever is interested and wants to use the mooring
Money is donated privately sufficient to fund at least three years maintenance and installation
QLD Government
Maintenance (responsibility of owner)
Given its environmentally sensitive location, the marine park permit may specify who, (e.g. someone who belongs to the Board of Professional Engineers (RPEQ)) can carry out and/or certify the maintenance
Every three months, by appropriate service provider
Every three months, by appropriate service provider
Liability Insurance (Paid by owner)
$20 million $20 million $20 million
Mooring type: (refer to below)
Any class as approved by MSQ.
C class mooring C class mooring
Users: Only those with approval from the mooring owner; mooring is marked as limited access
Any user Any user
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Mooring Class
Colour Band
Max Wind Strength
Monohull Maximum Length
Multihull Maximum Length
Tender (T) Brown 24 knots 6 metres 6 metres
Class A Yellow 24 knots 10 metres 9 metres
Class B Orange 34 knots 20 metres 18 metres
Class C Blue 34 knots 25 metres 22 metres
Class D Red 34 knots 35 metres 30 metres
Fromasafetypointofview,itisadvisedthatmooringpointsforcommondiveboats(e.g.12‐14diverRIBS)arelocatedinshallowwaters.ThemooringsatFlatRockdonotpromotesafedivingprofiles,andrequirediverstotakeunnecessaryrisk.Here,themooringsarelocatedwithbuoysconnectedviaaropetomooringblockswhicharelocatedatadepthof18‐30mfromwhichdiversexploretheareasurroundingit.Commondiveprotocolisthatdiversreturntotheboat.TodothisatFlatRockadiverisrequiredtolocatethemooring,indeepwater,thenreturntothesurface.Asaresultdiversneedtodropattheendofthedivetodeeperwatertofindthemooringlineandthenconductasafetystop.Alternatively,theydoamid‐waterascentinshallowerwaterwhereperformanceofasafetystopisoftenincurrentandswell.Assuch,diverswilldriftawayfromthedivesite,requiringdeploymentofasurfacemarkerbuoysotheboatmaythenretrievethemfromthewater.650divesweresafelyconducted,duringtheprojectundervariousconditions.Alldivers:predominantlyhadatleast100loggeddives;wererescuediverqualifiedorhigher;satanexamthatincludeddivesafety;readriskassessments;notedairandtimeduringeachdiveontheirdatasheets;wereremindedinbriefingsoftheimportanceofsafetyversuscollectinggooddata;and,briefedoncommonemergencyprotocols,suchassafetystopsonascent.DuringtheprojectvolunteerdiverswereexposedtounnecessaryreverseprofilesormidwaterassentswhenconductingsurveysatFlatrock.Thisisalsoanoccurrenceforrecreationaldiversatthesedivesites.Reverseprofilesduringadiveareconsideredanunsafedivepracticeundermostcommondivingagencies(e.g.PADI,SSI,NAUI,BSAC……).Therefore,itisrecommendedthatmooringsbeinstalledinshallowerwater.