Hoey, A.S., Harrison, H., McClure, E.C., Burn, D., Barnett, A., Cresswell, B., Doll, P.C., Galbraith, G., and Pratchett, M.S. (2021) Coral Sea Marine Park Coral Reef Health Survey 2021: Report on reef surveys February 2021. Report. Parks Australia, Townsville, QLD, Australia.

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

Abstract

The Coral Sea is a critically important and significant ecosystem, which (like coral reefs globally) is increasingly threatened by changing environmental conditions, particularly ocean warming. In early 2020 shallow reef habitats across the Coral Sea Marine Park (CSMP) experienced severe and widespread bleaching, with 63% of all corals surveyed across the CSMP, and up to 89% of corals at individual reefs being bleached. James Cook University was commissioned by Parks Australia to assess (i) the latest condition of fish and benthic communities, (ii) the impacts of the 2020 bleaching event on benthic, fish and invertebrate communities, and (iii) gain some understanding of the potential resilience and recovery of corals throughout the CSMP. The project undertook detailed surveys of coral, fish and macro-invertebrate communities and associated reef health at thirteen CSMP reefs in February 2021. Surveys were conducted to provide rigorous quantitative information on temporal (i.e., 2020 vs 2021) and spatial (i.e., among reefs and regions) patterns in (i) cover and composition of corals and macroalgae; (ii) regional patterns of biodiversity; (iii) coral health, injury and recruitment; and (iv) abundance and composition of reef fishes, sea snakes, and ecologically or economically important invertebrates.

Item ID:	80428
Item Type:	Report (Report)
Keywords:	Coral Reefs, Australian Marine Parks, Reef Health, Monitoring
Related URLs:	https://parksaustralia.gov.au/marine/pub...
Copyright Information:	© Commonwealth of Australia 2021. This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Commonwealth Copyright Administration, Attorney General’s Department, Robert Garran Offices, National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600 or posted at http://www.ag.gov.au/cca
Additional Information:	Report prepared for Parks Australia
Funders:	Parks Australia
Date Deposited:	14 Sep 2023 00:33
FoR Codes:	41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410402 Environmental assessment and monitoring @ 60% 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4101 Climate change impacts and adaptation > 410102 Ecological impacts of climate change and ecological adaptation @ 20% 31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310305 Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) @ 20%
SEO Codes:	18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1805 Marine systems and management > 180504 Marine biodiversity @ 10% 18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1805 Marine systems and management > 180501 Assessment and management of benthic marine ecosystems @ 60% 19 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, CLIMATE CHANGE AND NATURAL HAZARDS > 1905 Understanding climate change > 190504 Effects of climate change on Australia (excl. social impacts) @ 30%
Downloads:	Total: 3
	More Statistics