Bryant, C.V., York, P.H., Reason, C.L., and Rasheed, M.A. (2023) Post-Flood Seagrass Monitoring in the Great Sandy Marine Park - 2022. Report. TropWATER, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.

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

Abstract

Extensive flooding of the Mary River over two consecutive events in early 2022 resulted in persistent flood plumes in the Great Sandy Marine Park (GSMP), alerting marine managers to potential impacts on seagrass meadows and subsequent declines in the health of dependent species including dugongs and green sea turtles. In response, the Queensland Department of Environment and Science commissioned post-flood assessments of seagrasses in Hervey Bay and the Great Sandy Strait (both within the GSMP). Surveys were conducted in May 2022, during a typical low seagrass growth period and again in October/November 2022 during a typical high seagrass growth period. It had been more than 20 years since the last broad-scale mapping of seagrasses in the region so the state of seagrass resources prior to the flood event was not well known. These surveys aimed to quantify the state of seagrasses in the region at three months and at nine months following the flood events to help inform management decisions and future seagrass monitoring.

Item ID:	86565
Item Type:	Report (Report)
Copyright Information:	© James Cook University, 2023.
Funders:	Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation
Date Deposited:	07 Aug 2025 00:43
FoR Codes:	31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310305 Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) @ 33% 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410402 Environmental assessment and monitoring @ 33% 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410406 Natural resource management @ 34%
SEO Codes:	18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1802 Coastal and estuarine systems and management > 180201 Assessment and management of coastal and estuarine ecosystems @ 100%
	More Statistics