McCormack, C.V., Sankey, T.L., Hedge, S.A.M., and Rasheed, M.A. (2011) Gladstone Permanent Transect Seagrass Monitoring: July 2011 update. Report. Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Cairns, QLD, Australia.

PDF (Published Version) - Published Version Restricted to Repository staff only

Abstract

This update report details the findings of the latest of the regular quarterly assessments of permanent seagrass transects in Gladstone conducted in late July 2011 and an assessment of seed banks from samples collected during an additional survey conducted in March 2011.

In July 2011 seagrass cover and above-ground biomass at permanent transects had increased significantly at most locations since the previous survey in April 2011. Seagrass had returned to all sites, including new shoots of Halophila ovalis and Zostera capricorni at sites where seagrass had previously been absent or very low in abundance along transects.

Seed banks for Zostera capricorni were discovered in March 2011 at Wiggins Island and Pelican Banks and for Halophila ovalis at Wiggins Island and Fishermans Landing. In July 2011, new shoots of both species were reported across sites which had previously contained very little above-ground biomass. This provides evidence for the beginning of recovery of some meadows from seeds stored in the sediment.

Lower rainfall and higher levels of light available to seagrasses were likely to have contributed to the onset of recovery in July 2011. Should climate conditions continue to be favourable for seagrass growth, we would expect to see further recovery in the November 2011 survey.

Item ID:	45898
Item Type:	Report (Report)
Keywords:	seagrass, monitoring, dredging, Gladstone, Port Curtis, Western Basin Dredging and Disposal Project
Related URLs:	Publisher
Additional Information:	A Report for Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC).
Funders:	Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC), Fisheries Queensland (FQ), Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI)
Date Deposited:	28 Sep 2016 23:43
FoR Codes:	05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050206 Environmental Monitoring @ 100%
SEO Codes:	96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960503 Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Coastal and Estuarine Environments @ 100%
Downloads:	Total: 3
	More Statistics