Carter, A.B., Davies, J.D., Bryant, C.V., Jarvis, J.C., McKenna, S.A., and Rasheed, M.A. (2015) Seagrasses in Port Curtis and Rodds Bay 2014: annual long-term monitoring, biannual western basin, and updated baseline survey. Report. TropWATER, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.

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Abstract

Key Findings:

1. Seagrass meadows in the Port Curtis region and in Rodds Bay generally improved in condition in 2014 compared with 2013, when substantial declines in the condition of many meadows were recorded.

2. Annual monitoring in 2014 found 13 of the 14 monitoring meadows had increased in area. The average condition of monitoring meadows within the Port and in the Rodds bay reference area were classified as 'fair'. Despite increases in area, meadow biomass was below the long‐term average in 13 of the 14 monitoring meadows.

3. In addition to the long‐term monitoring meadows, an updated baseline survey of all seagrasses in the entire Port Curtis region (The Narrows to Rodds Bay) was conducted in 2014. From November 2013 to November 2014 seagrass habitat had expanded by over 8,300 ha.

4. The majority of this expansion occurred in deepwater areas offshore of the Port limits (> 18,000 ha mapped) which increased by over 6,000 ha from 2013 to 2014.

5. Coastal seagrass meadows also expanded in area, particularly in Rodds Bay and The Narrows regions where much of the 2013 declines had occurred.

6. Despite increases in meadow area in 2014, seagrass meadow area and biomass generally remain below the long‐term average following significant declines in 2009/2010. This has likely reduced seagrass resilience to further impacts; it may take some time for meadows to reach historical peak levels documented in 2007 ‐ 2008.

7. Dugong feeding trails continued to be observed in the survey area at Pelican Banks and Quoin Island during the 2014 survey.

8. Environmental monitoring within seagrass meadows indicates that the light environment generally remained favourable for seagrass growth during the 2014 growing season.

9. Broad patterns in seagrass condition in Gladstone have been consistent with other areas of Queensland's east coast where seagrasses are monitored. All of these locations experienced major losses of seagrass in the period around 2010 with these declines associated with climate impacts. These locations have shown variable signs of recovery to preflood levels.

Item ID:	39683
Item Type:	Report (Report)
Keywords:	recovery, resilience, management, environmental monitoring, marine monitoring, marine water quality, seagrass, reproduction, seagrass habitats, Great Barrier Reef, port development, dredging
Related URLs:	Publisher
Additional Information:	This report is confidential and cannot be made public.
Funders:	Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC)
Date Deposited:	20 Aug 2015 04:22
FoR Codes:	05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050206 Environmental Monitoring @ 50% 05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050205 Environmental Management @ 50%
SEO Codes:	96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960507 Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Marine Environments @ 50% 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960503 Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Coastal and Estuarine Environments @ 50%
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