McKenna, S.A., Hoffmann, L., and Van De Wetering, C. (2022) Port of Townsville Seagrass Monitoring Program, Brief Report: May 2022. Report. TropWATER, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.

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Abstract

This report summarises the results of the Townsville Channel Upgrade Seagrass Program (CUSP) 2022 postwet season (May) survey and builds on the Long-term Seagrass Monitoring Program (LTSMP) established in 2007.

The May 2022 survey was expanded to include the LTSMP meadows and sections of meadows that are not common with the CUSP. This increase in survey extent was to identify if the March heatwave in Townsville had any impacts, and the scale (if any) of these impacts on seagrass in Townsville. There is no evidence at this stage that the March 2022 heatwave or periods of low light recorded in May 2022 have impacted seagrass condition.

• The large Magnetic Island, Cockle Bay reef top meadow (Meadow 5) had been declining in recent surveys but has stabilised in May 2022, remaining in a satisfactory condition measured against long-term baselines.

• Green sea turtles, dugongs and their feeding trails in seagrass meadows were observed during helicopter and boat-based field surveys indicating a high use of the area by megafauna.

• The next seagrass monitoring survey is scheduled for July 2022. This is an additional survey requested by Port of Townsville to capture any potential delayed response of seagrass loss from the March 2022 heatwave and periods of low light recorded in May 2022.

Item ID:	80571
Item Type:	Report (Report)
Keywords:	Port of Townsville, seagrass, monitoring
Related URLs:	Publisher
Copyright Information:	© James Cook University, 2022.
Funders:	Port of Townsville Limited (PoTL)
Date Deposited:	25 Sep 2023 23:20
FoR Codes:	41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4199 Other environmental sciences > 419999 Other environmental sciences not elsewhere classified @ 100%
SEO Codes:	18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1899 Other environmental management > 189999 Other environmental management not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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