Olds, Andrew, Bradley, Michael, Borland, Hayden, Carter, Alex, Ceccarelli, Dani, Emslie, Mike, Henderson, Chris, and Smith, Tim (2023) Identifying and conserving seascape nurseries on the Great Barrier Reef. In: [Presented at the Australian Society for Fish Biology Conference 2023]. 397. From: ASFB 2023: Australian Society for Fish Biology Conference 2023, 20-24 November 2023, Auckland, New Zealand.

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Abstract

Many juvenile reef fish use alternative habitats as nurseries, but despite decades of research on nursery function, these habitats and their interconnections are often overlooked in coastal conservation. This is because coastal habitats are largely studied in isolation, and there are little data to identify and describe key seascape linkages at scales that are relevant to management. This project addresses these shortcomings by surveying juvenile fishes in the full diversity of inshore habitats on the Great Barrier Reef. It is one component of the wider Integrated Reef Fish Monitoring Program for the GBR, and has been designed and implemented with Traditional Owners to integrate their perspectives on seascapes nurseries. Fish are surveyed with stereo Remote Underwater Video Stations, and on each survey event we complete 900 deployments along 200km of coastline. The survey program has revealed diverse fish assemblages from a range of habitats on the inshore GBR, many of which had not been surveyed previously, and provides a platform that delivers hands-on training for local Sea Rangers. We have identified habitats, and seascape connections, that are critical for the juveniles of species that are of high fisheries, conservation and cultural significance. Our findings illustrate how the functions of nursery habitats depend on their ecological condition, conservation status and spatial context in wider coastal seascapes. We suggest that a deeper understanding patterns of seascape nursery use is needed to better support coastal management decisions for fish and fish habitats.

Item ID:	88468
Item Type:	Conference Item (Abstract / Summary)
Related URLs:	Organisation https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5...
Date Deposited:	08 Sep 2025 02:18
FoR Codes:	31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310305 Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) @ 50% 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410401 Conservation and biodiversity @ 50%
SEO Codes:	18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1802 Coastal and estuarine systems and management > 180299 Coastal and estuarine systems and management not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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