Survey Methods Manual - AWI · impacts have also occurred, for example, the 2011 Queensland flood....

UniDivePLEAMethodsManual 1/05/2014 1|P a g e

SurveyMethodsManual

Authors:RuthThurstan,JasonFlower,MariaBeger,ChristineDudgeon,K‐leGomezCabrera,JuanOrtiz,EvaKovacs,JenniferLoder,MeganSaunders,JoshPassenger,DianaKleineand

ChrisRoelfsema.

Preferredcitation:Thurstan,R.,Flower,J.,Beger,M.,Dudgeon,C.,Gomez,K.,Ortiz,J.,Kovacs,E.,Loder,J.,Saunders,M.,Passenger,J.,KleineD.andRoelfsema,C(2014).SurveyMethodsManualUnidivePointLookoutEcologicalAssessment(PLEA).TheUniversityofQueenslandUnderwaterClub,Brisbane,Australia.


1. Introduction 4

2. GeneralMethods 5

2.1 SurveyWeekend 5

2.2. Preparation 7

2.3. SurveySequence 7

2.4. Surveyconsiderationsandsafety 8

2.5. SurveyEquipmentfor2divespertrip 9

2.6. SurveyEquipmentforweekend 9

3. StudySiteandTransectLocation 10

4. Fishidentification 11

4.1. SurveyMethod 11

4.2. FishFamiliesID 12

4.3. FishSpeciesIndicatorsID 12

4.4. DataEntry 13

5. SubstrateandBenthic 13


5.2. Categories 14

5.3. DataEntry 15

6. CoralHealthChart 15


6.2. DataEntry 15

7. Invertebratesurvey 16


7.2. Categories 16

7.3. DataEntry 16

8. Impacts 17


8.2. Categories 17

8.3. DataEntry 17

9. SpeciesList 18


9.2. DataEntry 18

10. Mapping 18


10.2. DataEntry 18

11. GeoreferencedPhotoTransect 19


11.1. Method 19

11.2. DataProcessingandanalysis 19

12. Acknowledgements 20

13. References 20

14. Appendices–Projectforms 20


1. IntroductionThismanualwilldescribethestandardsurveymethodsusedfortheUnidivePLEAprojectorganizedbythemembersofUnidive(theUniversityofQueenslanddiveclub).ThismanualisbasedonusermanualscreatedfortheUnidiveCoastcareproject(McMahonetal.2002),andinmappingthehabitatsofthecriticallyendangeredgreynurseshark(Fordetal.2003).ThesurveymethodsarebasedonthesepreviousvolunteerprojectsandthegloballyrecognizedReefCheck(www.reefcheck.org)andCoralWatch(www.coralwatch.org)methods.Between2001‐2002UnidiveconductedthefirstecologicalassessmentoffloraandfaunaatthePointLookoutdivesites,locatedonNorthStradbrokeIslandinsoutheastQueensland.In2002‐2003UniDiveconductedtheGreyNurseSharkHabitatMappingProject.ThePointLookoutdivesitescompriseanumberofrockyoutcropsandreefecosystemsthatsupportandattractadiverserangeofmarinefloraandfauna.Priorto2002anumberofrecreationalandcommercialactivitiestookplaceatthePointLookoutsitesthatcouldpotentiallyimpactupontheecologicalhealthofthearea.TheseincludedSCUBAdiving,specimencollection,aquariumcollection,anchordamage,recreationalandcommercialfishing.SincetheinitialsurveystookplaceseveralchangeshaveoccurredinthemanagementofthePointLookoutarea.FlatRockhasbeenprotectedfromextractiveactivities(i.e.,allrecreationalandcommercialfishingandcollectionactivities)andanchoringbyvesselsunlesstheyaremooredonthepermanentmarkersnowinplace.Thenumberofdiveoperatorsvisitingthearea,inparticular,ShagRock,hasincreased.Large‐scalenaturalimpactshavealsooccurred,forexample,the2011Queenslandflood.Despitethis,nosurveyshavetakenplaceatacomparablescaletothe2001‐2002Unidivesurveys.TheaimoftheUnidivePLEAprojectistorepeattheecologicalassessmentoffloraandfaunaatthePointLookoutdivesitesandreportonthechangespresentwhencomparedwith2001.Theseresultswillbecommunicatedtothewidercommunityandtogovernmentagencies.Thesurveymethodswillbedirectlycomparabletothesurveysundertakenin2001‐2002.In2014Unidivewillundertake2trainingweekendsand4surveyweekends,eachwith24diversassessingthe3mostcommonlydivedlocations;ShagRock,MantaRayBommieandFlatRock.Thefollowingactivitiesareplannedforeachlocation,withsurveystoberepeatedacrossthefourweekendswithdatathusshowinganyseasonalvariations:(a)Broadscalemapping:georeferencedunderwatervideo/photowillbeusedtomapeachdivesite,itsmajorfeaturesandregions(depthprofiled),thetypesofcommunitiespresentandthelocationofuniquespecies/impactedareas.(b)Transectsurveys:6x20mtransectswillassessthesubstratetype,extentofdamageorimpact,speciesdistributionandabundanceateachofthethreesites.Photoswillalsobecapturedforeachtransectduringthe4surveyweekends.(c)Photoandvideolibrarieswillbecollatedfordocumentingtheproject,creatingaspecieslistandforpublicationpurposes.


2. GeneralMethods

2.1 SurveyWeekendTwotrainingandfoursurveyweekendswilltakeplacethroughouttheyeartoensurethatfaunaateachsitearesurveyedinthedifferentseasons.Threeregions(FlatRock,ShagRockandMantaRayBommie;Fig.1)willbesurveyedusingbroadscalemappingtechniquesandfaunaandsubstratesurveysalongtransectlinesdeployedatadepthof10mbelowchartdatum.TwoseparateareasatFlatRockandShagRockwillbesurveyedandresultswillbecomparedtothe2001‐2002surveyfindings.OnenewsiteatMantaRayBommiewillalsobesurveyed.

Figure1.MapofsurveysitesatPointLookoutwithapproximatelocationsandorientationsoftransects

Ateachsurveylocation,permanentmarkerswillbelaidalongalengthof70m;at0m,25mand50m.Withinthis70mlength,three20mlonglinetransectswillbedeployedandsurveyed(Fig2).Each20mtransectwillfollowthedesignateddepthcontour,separatedfromthenexttransectbya5mgap.


Figure2.Transectline

Foreachsurvey,6pairsofdiverswillundertakemappingand/ortransectsurveystoidentifythespeciespresentandmajorfeaturesofeachsite.Alongeachtransecttargetinvertebratespecieswillbeidentified,impacts(humanandnatural)willbedetected,substratetypeswillbeidentifiedandpercentagecovercalculated,targetfishspeciesandfamilieswillbeidentifiedandabundancecalculated,coralhealthsurveysandmappingofsiteswillbeundertaken.Duringtheweekendtherewillbe8divesconducted,dividedover2tripsperday,amorningandafternoontrip.Toensureappropriatetransferofdataandsurveyequipmentbetweentripsandcorrectstorageofdatacollectedseveraljobsneedtobeassigned.Adiveleaderperboatwillbeassignedtoorganisedivingandsurveyactivities.DataOfficerThedataofficerisresponsibleforensuringalldatasheetscomeonthesurveyweekend,thatcompleteddatasheetsarecopiedusingacameraandenteredintoacomputer,andthatdatasheetsareproperlystoredaftertheweekend.Thedataofficerdistributesandcollectsdatasheetswiththehelpofdatacops.DataCopsEverytriphasadatacopassigned,whoisresponsibleforplacingdatasheetsonslatesbeforedivesandcollectingthemaftereachdiveandstoringthemindedicatedfolders.Onceonshorethedatacopsneedtoprovidethedatasheetstothedataofficer,ortransferremainingsheetstothedatacopforsecondtrip.SeeAppendixAforfurtherdetails.SurveyEquipmentOfficerThesurveyequipmentofficerisresponsibleforallsurveyequipmentcomingonthesurveyweekendandensuresthatsurveyequipmentisreadytobeusedbeforegoingoneachtrip.Theywilldistributeandcollectsurveyequipmentwiththehelpofgearcops.GearCopsEverytripgetsassignedagearcop,whoisresponsibleforhandingoutsurveyequipmentbeforeeachdiveandcollectingthemafteradiveandstoringtheminadedicatedbox.Onceonshoretheboxneedstobehandedovertothegearcopofthenextboat,orneedstobecleanedandstoredatadedicatedlocationDiveOfficerThediveofficerisresponsibleforcollatingtheparticipants’forms,medicalforms,safetyforms,andliabilityformsbeforethetrip.Theybringonthetripthedivelogs,clipboards,andonshoreO2kit.Theyalsoprovidediveleaderswiththedivelogforeachtripandcheckthecompletenessofthedivelogafterthetrip.Finallytheytakeaphotoofthelogandstoreboththehardandsoftcopyinadedicatedlocation.


2.2. PreparationToensurethatgoodqualitydataiscollected,eachdiverhasattendedlecturesessionstounderstandthesurveymethodsusedandtoassistincorrectlyidentifyingflora,faunaandimpacts.Eachdiverwillberequiredtopassanexam(80%passmark)andtakepartinatrainingweekendwheretheywillbeinstructedinunderwatermapping,surveyingandspeciesidentificationtechniques.Priortothesurveyweekend,permanentmarkerswillbesetupatthe5surveysitestomarkthelocationsofthestartofeach20msegmentoftransect.ThepositionofeachpermanentmarkerwillberecordedusingGPS,underwaterfeaturesandbearings.Thesemarkerswillberemovedattheendofthe2014surveyseason.

2.3. SurveySequenceBuddypairingswillgenerallyconsistofacorediver(CD)andnon‐coredive(NCD).Ideally,acorediverisadiverwithsurveyexperience,whilstnon‐corediverscanbethosewithlimiteddiveorsurveyexperiencebutwhocanconductsimpletasksunderwater.Buddypairswillconducttheirdivesinthefollowingorder:1.Mapper(CD)andbuddy(NDC)2.Fishspecies(CD)andfishfamilyidentification(CD)3.Invertebrateidentification(CD)andbuddy(NCD)4.Impactidentification(CD)andcoralheath(NCD)5.Substrateidentification(CD)andcoralhealth(NCD)6.Photographer(CD)andvideo(NCD)Buddypairsenterthewateraspertheorderstated,witheachpaircompletingfinalchecksasthoseaheadofthementerthewater.Asthepreviousbuddypairdescends,thenextbuddypairentersthewatertoawaitthestartoftheirdive.Diveactivitieswillproceedasfollows(seeFig3forsummary):·Buddypair1descendwithtransectlineandsurfacefloat/anchorequipment,followedbybuddypair2.Buddypair1willfindthestartofthetransect,andifconditionsaresuitabletheywilldeployasurfacefloatatthebeginningofthefirsttransecttohelpotherdiversfindthestartpoint.Diver1ofbuddypair1willrolloutthetransecttapesanddiver2willcommencethegeoreferencedphototransectsurvey,atwhichpointtheywillleavethetransecttocommencebroadermappingofthesite.Oncebuddypair1isoutofsightallowingfishtoreturn,buddypair2willfollowtocommencethefishcount.·Afterbuddypairs1and2descend,buddypair3descendsatthefloat,andstartstheinvertebrateidentificationsurvey,ensuringthattheydonotovertakethediversconductingthefishsurvey.·Afterbuddypair3descends,buddypair4descendsatthefloat,andstartstheimpactidentificationsurvey.


·Afterbuddypair4descends,buddypair5descendsatthefloatandstartsthesubstrateandcoralhealthsurvey.·Afterbuddypair5descends,buddypair6descendstovideothetransectsandphotographdiversconductingthesurveys.·Attheendofthedive,buddypair6willrecoverthetransecttapeandmarkerfloat.Theymustensuresufficientreservesofair/timeremaininordertocarrythisoutandmakeasafereturntosurface.

Figure3.Sequencingofdiversonasurvey

Eachdivebuddypairwillspendnolongerthan50minutesunderwater,withamaximumof10mdepthforthetransectsurveyand20mdepthforthemappingsurveys.Uponcompletionofthefirstdiveaone‐hoursurfaceintervalwilltakeplaceanddiverswillthenundertakeasurveyatasecondsite.Twowavesofdivers(TeamAandTeamB)willrunthroughouttheday,withtheaimtosurveyeachofthe5transectsatthe3sitesbytheendofthetrip(Figs.4,5,and6).TeamAwillconducttwosurveysduringthefirstwaveandTeamBwillconductonesurveyandusetheirseconddiveforanyuncompletedorextrawork.OntheseconddaythetwoteamswillswapandTeamBwillcompletethetwomorningsurveydives.

2.4. SurveyconsiderationsandsafetySafetywillbeparamountinalldivesconducted.Diverswillalldiveinpairsandwillberequiredtomaintaingoodcontactandawarenesswiththeirbuddythroughout,includingregularcheckingoftheirownandtheirbuddy’sair.Tofacilitategoodpractice,diverswillberequiredtofillintheirdivetimeandairremainingontheirdatasheetsattheendofevery20mtransect.Diversmustsurfacewithaminimumpressureof50barintheirtanks.Alldiversmustremainwithintheirno‐decompressionlimitsandsurfaceonorbeforethe50minutemark.


Duringthedives,diversshouldbeawareoftheirpositionandorientationinthewater.Goodbuoyancyandtrim(remaininginahorizontalposition)isrequiredatallstagesofthedive,butinparticularwhenpositioningmarkers,rollingouttransecttapes,whenmakingnotesondatasheetsandwhilsttakingphotographsorvideo.Diverswillhavetheopportunitytopracticetheseskillsduringthetrainingweekend.Allgear(e.g.,cameras,slates,pressuregaugeandalternativeairsourcedevices)shouldbepositionedsothattheyareneatlystowedandwillnotmakecontactwiththesubstrate.

2.5. SurveyEquipmentfor2divespertrip

‐ 2xsetsof:o Mappingdatasheetwithslateo Fishspeciesdatasheetwithslateo Fishfamilydatasheetwithslateo Substratedatasheetwithslateo Invertdatasheetwithslateo Impactdatasheetwithslateo Coralhealthchart

‐ 1xsetofsparedatasheets‐ 2xphototransectcamera‐ 3x50mSurveytapes(includesaspare)‐ 1xGPSindrybagandreal‐ 1xmagnadoodle‐ 1+1spareplumbline‐ Boxwithspares(pencils,rubber,rubberbands,pencilsharpener)‐ Divelog‐ Copyofpermit‐ Copyofinsurance‐ Mapoftransectlocation‐ Cheatsheets

2.6. SurveyEquipmentforweekend

‐ Surveyequipmentfor2divespertrip(asabove),withsufficientdatasheetsforalltrips

‐ Laptop(s)todownloaddata,camerasandGPS‐ IDbooks‐ Whiteboard‐ Whiteboardmarkers‐ UniDivePLEAbanner‐ UniDivePLEAstamp‐ Spares

o Slateso Pencilso Rubberso Pencilsharpenerso Rubberbands


3. StudySiteandTransectLocation

Figure4.FlatRockmapshowingtransectlocations(inblue).Cross‐sectioncut‐awayviewsshownbysolidblackletteredlines.

Figure5.ShagRockmapshowingtransectlocations(inblue).Cross‐sectioncut‐awayviewsshownbysolidblackletteredlines.


Figure6.MantaRayBommiemapshowingtransectlocations(inblue).

4. Fishidentification

4.1. SurveyMethod Fishpopulationsareassessedusingvisualcensusalongthe3x20mtransects.Thediversinthisbuddypairwilleachcarryadatasheet:afishfamiliesandanindicatorspeciesdatasheet.Eachtransectwillbe5mwide(2.5meithersideofthetransecttape),5mhighand20minlength(seeFig.7).Eachdiverinthebuddypairassignedtocountfishwillbegivenadifferenttask.Onediverwillcountthetargetfishfamiliesandtheotherwillcountindicatorspeciesashighlightedonthedatasheets.Bothdiverswillswimadjacenttoeachotherwhilstproceedingtotheendofeachtransect.Diversshouldaimtocovereach20mtransectin7‐10minutes.


Figure7.Fishtransectsurveyshowingwire‐frameof“diver’sview”.Notefishoutsideof“diver’sview”maysubsequentlyenterviewandbecounted,e.g.mantaray

Aninitialsurveywillbeconductedasdiverspauseandcountfishinasectionofthetransectwellwithintheboundsofvisibility(e.g.,usingthe5mmarkonthetransecttape).Duringthisfirstscanofthesectionmostofthemobilefish(e.g.,wrasse,parrotfish)shouldbecounted.Oncethesemobilespecieshavebeenrecordedtheobservermovesalongthecentreofthetransectsearchingforthemorecrypticandslowermovingtargetspecieswhichwereobscuredfromviewbythestructureofthereefduringtheinitialcountofthearea.Thisprocessisrepeatedforeachtransectsection.Fishenteringthetransectduring,orafter,thatareaoftransectiscountedarenotincludedastheywerenotpresentduringtheinitialcount.

4.2. FishFamiliesIDFishfamilieshavebeenchosenthatareindicativeoftheecologicalhealthoftheecosystemandthatareeasilyidentifiedbytheirbodyshape.Fordatasheet,seeAppendixB.

4.3. FishSpeciesIndicatorsIDFishspecieshavebeenchosenasthosetypicallytargetedbyrecreationalandcommercialfishersortargetedbyaquariumcollectors.Fishspeciesthatyouconsiderrareorotherwise


specialshouldalsoberecordedatthebottomofthedatasheet.Takepicturesofthefishifyouareunsureofitsspeciesorifyoususpectitisrarelyobservedinthearea.Fordatasheet,seeAppendixC.

4.4. DataEntryFishsurveysareabundancecounts,soindividualsfromeachofthetargetfishfamiliesorindicatorspeciesthatareobservedwithineachtransectshouldbetalliedindividuallyonthedatasheet.Airanddivetimemustbecompletedattheendofeachtransectandenteredontothedatasheet.

5. SubstrateandBenthic

5.1. SurveyMethodSubstratesurveyswillbeconductedusingthepointsamplingmethod,withthegoaltocollectpercentagecoverestimateofsubstratetypesandbenthicorganisms.Toassistthediverinaccuratelydeterminingthesubstratebelowthetapeandtoreducebias,thediverwillgentlyplaceaplumbline(aweightedline)uponeach0.5mpointandidentifythesubstrateitlandsupon.Ateach0.5minterval(beginningon0.0mandendingon19.5m),thedivergentlylowerstheplumblineandrecordsthesubstrate/benthiccategorydirectlybelow(Fig.8).Thisprocedureisrepeatedfortheremainingtwotransectsegments.

Figure8.Break‐downofsubstratesurvey.Pointsevery0.5moftransectlinearerecorded,withaplumblineusedtoavoidbias.

Wherehardorsoftcoralarebleached(tissuemustbepresent!),includethesubstratetypeandaddalower‐case‘b’.Ifuncertain,takeaphotoandincludephotonumberonthedatasheet.


5.2. CategoriesCategoriesincludevariousgrowthformsofhardcoralandsoftcoral,keyspecies/growthformsofalgae,otherliving(i.e.,sponges,cyanobacteria),recentlykilledcoralandnon‐livingsubstratetypes(i.e.,barerock,sand,rubble,silt/clay).Adescriptionofthegrowthformsisincludedbelowforquickreference,alsoseeAppendixDfordatasheet.Hardcoral‐Other/unknown(HC)‐Massive(HM):Coralwhichisgenerallycoveringahardsubstrateandhascoverthicknessofseveralcmtomaybe10cm.Oftenbouldershaped.‐Encrusting(HE):Coralovergrowinghardsubstrateandhascoverthicknessofnotmorethenseveralcm.Edges‘hug’thereefsubstrate.‐Branching(HBR):Containsecondarybranches(abranchgrowingfromanotherbranch).‐Foliose(HF):Containsdelicate‐lookingleafy,soliddiskorplates,whichliftupattheedges.‐Platelike(HP):Coralwhichconsistsofacontinuousareawithsmallfusedbranches.Platecoralsdonothavegapswithintheplateitselfandgrowfromasinglestalk.Softcoral‐Other/unknown(SC)‐Ornate(SCO):Coralwhichcharacterisesitselfbylittletree‐likeshapes(max20cm)whichareoftenpurpleoryellow/green.Thestemofthetreehaslittlewhitelinescalledspicules.‐Leatherycover(SCL):Thesecoraloftenarecomparedtogiantcauliflowersorbroccolis;appearleatherywhenpolypsarenotfeeding.‐Zoanthids(SZ):Non‐reefbuilding,willclosewhenwafted.Recentlykilledcoral(KC)definescoralthathasdiedwithinthepastyear.Thecoralmaybestandingorbrokenintopieces,butappearsfresh,whitewithcorallitestructuresstillrecognizable,onlypartiallyovergrownbyencrustingalgae.Ifrecentlykilledcoralhasturfalgaeormacroalgaepresent,labelitasKCTAandKCArespectively.Sponges(SP)containirregularholesontheirsurfacewhichwillnotclosewhenwafted,theyarerelativelystiff.Cyanobacteria(CY)often‘smothers’othersubstrateandmaybebrightlycoloured.Other(OT)includesanythingnotinaparticularsubstratecategoryi.e.,ascidians,hydroids,gorgonians,calcareousalgae,tubeworms,anemonesetc.However,ifanythingisingreatabundance,makeanoteofitonthebottomofthedatasheet.Algae‐Encrusting(CA):Verythincover(fewcellsthick)uponthesurfaceofrocks.Hastheappearancethattherockhasbeenpainted(usuallyred/pinkcolour).‐Turfalgae(TA):Communityofsmall/short(<3cm)algaeformingamatoverthesurfaceoftherock.‐Asparagopsis(AS):Lightpurpletobrownincolour,oftenformsrelativelydensestandsbutcanalsobesolitary.Frondsaresoftwithmanyshortbranchesandmovesaroundeasilywithwatermovement.Shapedlikeasparagusstalks.


‐Lobophora(LB):Flatrounded/lobedleaves.Usuallylightbrownincolourandmayhaveverticalradiatingdarkerlines.‐Padina(PA):Leavesshapedlikepencilshavings,chalkycoating,horizontalbandsacrosstheleaf.‐Laurencia(LA):Thinredbranches,longaxiswithsmallerlateralbranches.‐Halimeda(HA)Calcareousflat,greenleaves.‐Ulva(UV):Greenlettuce‐likeleaves.‐Filamentous(FL):Madeupofmanyfinefilaments.‐Caulerparasemosa(CL):Lookslikegreengrapes.‐Caulerpataxifolia(CT):Mostlygrowsonsand/mud,lookslikegreenfeathers.‐Sargasum(SG):Elongatedleatheryleaves,mayhavesmallair‐filledbladders/sacs.‐Turbinaria(TU):trumpet/coneshapedleaveswithspikyedges,growsfromasinglelongstalk.‐Lyngbya(LY):Technicallynotanalgaebutcanlooklikeafilamentousalgae,usuallybrownandlooksliketangledhair.Non‐living‐Rock(RC):Anyhardsubstratumincludingshellsofclams,deadcoralthatismorethanabout1yearold,i.e.worndownsothatfewcorallitestructuresarevisibleandbarerock.Whenrockiscoveredinturforencrustingcorallinealgae,labelitasTAandCArespectively.‐Rubble(RB):Includesbrokencoral,shellpiecesandrocks(oftenlayingoversand)between0.5and15cmdiameter.Ifitislargerthan15cmitisrock,smallerthan0.5cmitissand.Rubbleismobileandcanmoveinstrongcurrents.‐Sand(SD):Smallsedimentparticlesthatfallquicklytothebottomifdisturbed.‐Silt/Clay(SI):Sedimentthatremainsinsuspensionifdisturbed.

5.3. DataEntrySubstratesurveysarepointcounts,undertakenatevery0.5m.Airanddivetimemustbecompletedattheendofeachtransectandenteredontothedatasheet.

6. CoralHealthChart

6.1. SurveyMethodCoralhealthchartsdevelopedbyscientistsatUQwillbeusedtomeasurethehealthofcoralsandextentofcoralbleaching.Diverswillselectindividualcoralcolonies(toamaximumof20colonies)alongthe3transects.Foreachcolonythediverwillusethecoralhealthcharttorecordthedarkestandlightestcolourgradientpresent.Thecolourcodecorrespondingtothehealthchartwillbeinputtedintothespreadsheetandthecoraltype(branching,boulder,plateorsoft)willberecorded.Forcoralhealthchartandmoredetailedinstructions,seewww.coralwatch.org.

6.2. DataEntry


Dataistobeentereddirectlyontothecoralhealthchart.

7. Invertebratesurvey

7.1. SurveyMethodTargetinvertebratepopulationsareassessedusingvisualcensusalongthe3x20mtransects.Onediverinthebuddypairwillcarryadatasheetwiththekeyinvertebratespeciestobecounted.

Figure9.Invertebratetransect

Eachtransectwillbe5mwide(2.5meithersideofthetransecttape)and20minlength.Thediversurveyinginvertebrateswillproceedalongthetransectconductinga‘U‐shaped’searchpattern,covering2.5moneithersideofthetransecttape(Fig.9).Diversshouldaimtocovereach20mtransectin7‐10minutes.Manyinvertebrateswillbelocatedincreviceswithintherockyreef,sodiversshouldtakecaretoinspectunderandamongcoralsoroverhangingsubstrate.Bewareofbuoyancyandtrimwhilstdoingthis.

7.2. CategoriesTargetspeciestobecountedinclude3seacucumberspecies,3urchinspecies,3gastropods,2lobsterspeciesandthebandedcoralshrimp.Ifurchinsarepresentinnumberstoohighforcountsofindividualstobefeasible,diversmayestimatetheabundanceofthesespecieswithinthetransect.Diversarealsotocountthenumberofanemoneswithinthetransectareaandseparatethosewithandwithoutanemonefishpresent.Additionalspeciestobeidentifiedandmeasuredifpresent(usingapre‐markedslateasaguide)includethecrownofthornsstarfishandgiantclams.Crownofthornsaretobemeasuredacrosstheirdiameter,includinglegs.Clamsaretobemeasuredalongthelongestlengthoftheirshell,i.e.alongtheopening.Fordatasheetcategories,seeAppendixE.

7.3. DataEntryInvertebratesurveysareabundancecounts,soeachindividualistalliedupforeachtransect.Crownofthornsstarfishandgiantclamsarealsomeasuredtothenearest5cm.Airanddivetimemustbecompletedattheendofeachtransectandenteredontothedatasheet.


8. Impacts

8.1. SurveyMethodThreemainimpactshavebeenselectedasindicatorsofreefhealth:•Bleaching(includingthe%ofeachcolonythatisbleachedand%ofcoloniesbleachedineach20mtransect)•Disease•Coraldamage(includinganchor,dynamite,cyanide,trash,other)Inaddition,thefollowingscarswillalsobesurveyed:•Drupellacoralscars•Crownofthornscoralscars•OtherunknowncoralscarsTargetimpactsareassessedusingvisualcensusalongthe3x20mtransects.Eachtransectwillbe5mwide(2.5meithersideofthetransecttape)and20minlength.Thediversurveyingimpactswillproceedalongthetransectconductinga‘U‐shaped’searchpattern,covering2.5moneithersideofthetransecttape(Fig10).Diversshouldaimtocovereach20mtransectin7‐10minutes.

Figure10.Impacttransect

8.2. CategoriesCategoriesincludecoralbleaching(tissuestillpresent,possiblegradationofcolour),coraldamage(anchordamageorother–anchordamagecanonlybeclassedassuchiftheanchorispresentorifthedamageisundeniablycharacteristic),coraldisease,coralscars(Drupella,crownofthornsorother–canonlycategoriseasDrupellaorcrownofthornsifthesespeciesarepresentuponthecoral)andtrash,identifiedaseitherfishingline,fishingnetsordebris.Fordatasheet,seeAppendixF.

8.3. DataEntryImpactsurveysarepercentagecover(onlyforcoralbleaching)andcounts(forallotherincidentsofimpacts).Forcoralbleachingthepercentageofeachindividualcoralcolonybleachedisestimated(sosurveyorsmayhaverecordmultiplepercentagestobeaverageduponcompletion),asisthetotalpercentageofcoralbleachedforeach20mtransect(onefigurethatdivershouldcompletethisattheendofeachtransect).Note:ifthediverrecordsanybleachedcolonies,thentheyshouldincludeafigureforoverallcoralpopulation


bleachingtoo.Otherimpactse.g.,damage,disease,scarsandtrasharecounts.Ifunsure,diversshouldfollowthekeyonthebottomofthedatasheettohelpdeterminethecorrectimpacttorecord.Incasesofuncertaintyorsuspectedcoraldisease,photosshouldalsobetakenandthenumberofeachphotorecordedonthedatasheetforanalysisafterthedive.Airanddivetimemustbecompletedattheendofeachtransectandenteredontothedatasheet.

9. SpeciesList

9.1. SurveyMethodSpecieslistswillbegatheredduringthewholesurveyseasonusingtwoapproaches.1)Photoandvideo:diverswilltakepicturesofanylivingfeatureforidentificationpurpose.2)Experiencedandknowledgeableidentifierswillgoondedicateddivestofindandrecordasmanyspeciesaspossible.

9.2. DataEntryPhotosandvideowillbestoredbythephotoofficerandplacedonline;twopeoplewillthenassignandverifythespecies.Aspecieslistwillthenbeenteredintoaspreadsheet.

10. Mapping

10.1. SurveyMethodDiversundertakingthemappingofeachsitewillbethefirstbuddypairtodescend.OnediverwillbeholdingalineattachedtoaGPSmarkerfloatingonthewaterssurface.ThisdiverwillmaintaintensiononthelinethroughoutthedivetoensuretheGPSispositionedabovethebuddypair.Afterlayingoutthetransecttape,theywillconductarovingsurveytoamaximumdepthof20m,searchingforcharacteristicfeaturesofthesite.Thesemayincludeswim‐throughs,gulliesortrenches,rockyoutcrops,cavernsandpinnacles.Ateveryfeaturetheyidentifythecorediverwillwritedownthetime,depth,height,widthofthefeatureandsubstratetype.ThediverswillthenpausetoensurethatenoughtimehaspassedfortheGPStorecordseveralpositions(30seconds),beforemovingontothenextfeature.

10.2. DataEntryGPScoordinateswillbedownloadedandcheckedagainstdatasheets.FeatureinformationandwaypointswillbeenteredintothetracklistanddatawillbetransformedandimportedintoArcGIS.GISpointsandannotatedfielddrawingswillbeusedtogenerateafinalmapofeachofthedivesites.


11. GeoreferencedPhotoTransect

11.1. MethodGeoreferencedphotoswillbegatheredalongthefivetransects,consistingofphotosat1mintervals.0.5mfromthesubstrate,whiletowingadrybaginwhichastandardGPSisloggingthetrackofthetransect.Formoredetailseegeoreferencedphototransectmanual(Roelfsemaetal.2009).

Figure11:Conceptualmodelofgeoreferencedphototransects.

Beforecommencingasurvey: Forsynchronizationpost‐dive,aninitialphotopriortobeginningthetransectneeds

tobetakenoftheGPSscreenwhichshowsthetime. Whentakingphotosalongthetransectthecameraneedstoremainataconsistent

height,thisisdonewiththehelpofaplumbline.Theplumblinewillbecalibratedbyholdingthecameraabovethegroundsothepicturewillencompassesa1x1mfootprint.

TheGPSneedtobesetontrackingmodesoitstoresitspositionevery2seconds.

11.2. DataProcessingandanalysisAfterthesurveytheGPSandcamerawillbedownloadedusingDNRGarminGPSsoftwarethephotoswillbeprovidedwithaGPScoordinate.PhotoswillbeanalysedforcompositionusingthesoftwareCoralPointCountwithexcelextension(CPCe)(Kohler&Gill2006).Twentyfourpointswillberandomlydistributed,andeachpointwillmanuallybegivenansubstrateorbenthiccategory,followingthesameclassesasassignedinthefield(seesubstratesurvey)(Roelfsemaetal.2009).


12. AcknowledgementsRedlandCityCouncilprovidedfundingfortheUniDivePLEAMarineConservationprojectaspartoftheCommunityGrantsProgramtoassisttheRedlandsCommunity.SibelcoStradbrokeSandMiningalsoprovidedfundingfortheproject.In‐kindsupportisgratefullyacknowledgedfromStradbrokeFerriesbyprovidingsubsidisedtransporttoandfromtheislandforeachtripandPointLookoutSCUBACharterforasignificantreductioninpriceforaccommodationanddiving.GeneralsupportcomesfromUQ:CentreforMarineScience;BiophysicalRemoteSensingGroup;SharkandRayResearchGroup;MoretonBayResearchStation,QCIFOther:ReefCheckAustralia;CoralWatch;GreyNurseSharkWatch,MantaLodgeandQuandamookaLandCouncil.

13. ReferencesFordS.,Langridge,M.,Roelfsema,C.M.,Bansemer,C.,Pierce,S.,Gomez,K.,Fellegara,I.,McMahon,K.,Keller,M.,Joyce,K.E.,Aurish,N.&Prebble,C(2003).SurveyingHabitatsCriticaltotheSurvivalofGreyNurseSharksinSouth‐EastQueensland.Unidive,TheUniversityofQueenslandUnderwaterClub,Brisbane,Australia.Kohler,K.&Gill,S.M(2006).CoralPointCountwithExcelextensions(CPCe):AVisualBasicprogramforthedeterminationofcoralandsubstratecoverageusingrandompointcountmethodology.Computers&Geosciences,32(9),pp.1259–1269.

McMahon,K.,Bansemer,D.L.C.,Fellegara,I.,Keller,M.,Kerswell,A.,Kwik,J.,Longstaff,B.,Roelfsema,C.M.,Thomas,J.&Stead,J(2002).AbaselineassessmentofthefloraandfaunaofNorthStradbrokeIslanddivesites,Queensland.CoastcareProject.Unidive,TheUniversityofQueenslandUnderwaterClub,Brisbane,Australia.

Roelfsema,C.M.&Phinn,S.R(2009).Amanualforconductinggeoreferencedphototransectssurveystoassessthebenthosofcoralreefandseagrasshabitatsversion3.0.CentreforRemoteSensingandSpatialInformationScience,TheUniversityofQueensland,Brisbane,Australia.http://ww2.gpem.uq.edu.au/CRSSIS/publications/GPS_Photo_Transects_for_Benthic_Cover_Manual.pdf

14. Appendices–ProjectformsAppendixA.DataDelegatesAdditionalInformationAppendixB.FishFamiliesAppendixC.FishSpeciesIndicatorsAppendixD.SubstrateAppendixE.InvertebratesAppendixF.ImpactsAppendixG MappingAppendixH GearCheckList


AppendixA.DataDelegates

1. Foreachdoubledivewerequireadatadelegate.

2. DD1andDD3maybethesamepersonfortheweekend.

3. DD2andDD4maybethesamepersonfortheweekend.Datadelegatejobs:Saturdaymorningdives(DD1)

Loadsurveysheetsontoslates(Fridaynight) Logdate,location,surveytypeandpersonacquiringthedatapriortodiving(Friday

night)Onreturn,removedatasheetsfromslates,handemptyslatestoDD2(Saturdayafternoondives)

Takepicturesofsheets Rinsesheetsandhangtodry Ensurealldataisenteredbybuddypairspriortothereturnoftheafternoondivers

(superviseifnecessaryandchaseupthosethatarewaiting) Backupdata

Saturdayafternoondives(DD2) AcquireemptyslatesfromSaturdaydatadelegate1(DD1)andloadsurveysheets

ontoslates Logsurveytypeandpersonacquiringthedatapriortodive Onreturn,removedatasheetsfromslates,handemptyslatestoDD3(Sunday

morningdives) Takepicturesofsheets Rinsesheetsandhangtodry Ensurealldataisenteredbybuddypairspriortosleepy‐bytime(superviseif

necessaryandchaseupthosethatarewaiting) Backupdata

Sundaymorningdives(DD3)

Loadsurveysheetsontoslates(Saturdaynight) Logsurveytypeandpersonacquiringthedatapriortodive(Saturdaynight) Onreturn,removedatasheetsfromslates,handemptyslatestoDD4(Sunday

afternoondives) Takepicturesofsheets Rinsesheetsandhangtodry Ensurealldataisenteredbybuddypairspriortoreturnofafternoondivers

(superviseifnecessaryandchaseupthosethatarewaiting) Backupdata

Sundayafternoondives(DD4)


AcquireemptyslatesfromSundaydatadelegate1(DD3)andloadsurveysheetsontoslates

Logsurveytypeandpersonacquiringthedatapriortodive Onreturn,removedatasheetsfromslates Takepicturesofsheets Rinsesheetsandhangtodry Ensurealldataisenteredbybuddypairspriortodeparture(superviseand(really)

chaseupthosethatarewaiting) Backupdata Packallslatesandsheetsappropriately

DataEntryByBuddyPairs

* Entrymuchisfasterifdoneinpairs–onereading,oneentering* Dataintegrityishighifenteredbytheindividualsthatcollectedthedata* Usecomputer‘hub’infronthouse* Onceentered–takepicofsheets* Erasesheets

DataDelegateLOGNAME:_______________TASKS

□ Logownersoftasksforyourtracking□ Loadsheetsontoslatespriorandbetweendives□ Rinsedatasheetsinfreshwateranddry□ PHOTOGRAPHEACHDATASHEETforqualitycontrol(recordcameraused:

cameraused:______________)□ UPLOADPHOTOSTOHARDDRIVE(recordharddrive)□ Ensuredataisenteredbybuddypairs

Date:__/__/____Harddriveusedforphotos:______________Circle: Saturday/Sunday Morning/Afternoon

Task OwnerMapper1Mapper2FishFamiliesFishSpeciesInvertsImpactsSubstrateCoralHealth


DataEntryCHECKLIST

ENTERDATAinbuddypairs–RECORDwhichcomputerwasused TAKEPHOTOofdatasheet–RECORDwhichcamerawasused ERASEdatasheetandFILEin“outbox”

Date:Circle:Saturday/Sunday Morning/AfternoonTask Owner

(BuddyPair)Dataonwhichcomputer

PhotoTakenwithwhichcamera

EraseSheetandfileinoutbox

Mapper1

Mapper2

FishFamilies

FishSpecies

Inverts

Impacts

Substrate

CoralHealth


AppendixB.FishFamilies


AppendixC.FishSpeciesIndicators


AppendixD.Substrate


AppendixE.Invertebrates


AppendixF.Impacts


AppendixG.Mapping


AppendixH.GearCheckList

SurveyandAdminMaterial(BlueBox)

BlueFoldero Riskassessmento Waterproofpapero Datadelegate

Log CheckList

o Datasheetsonwaterproofpaper: Impacts Inverts Substrate FishSpecies FishFamilies Mapping Divelogs

Boxbigo PLEAStampo SpareRubberbandso Erasero WhiteBoardmarkerso PermanentMarkero Whiteboarderaser

BoxSmallo Plumplineso SpareRubberpencilholder

Loseo SpareGraphitePencilso DuctTapeo Ziptieso SquareLargeBannero 2xRectangleLargeBanner

2xDiveroster/folderwithsparesforboat

o PLEABannerA4o Cheatsheets:Fish,Invert,SubstrateImpacto Permito DiveLogo Sparepencilwithrubbero Penciltowriteo Erasero Pencilsharpenero Plumpweight


SurveyMaterial(RedBox)forboat 10xDataslates

o Rubberbandso Pencilandrubberattachmento linewithcarabin

2xMagnaDoodle 3xTape50m 2xReals30m 1xyellowcanisterwith:

o Graphitepencilwithrubbero Erasero Pencilsharpenero 3xplumpweight

5xCoralHealthChartswithslateandpencil

Other(nospecificbox) Extensioncord Powerboard Externalharddrives Laptops Floatwithdiveflag Whiteboard

Mappinggear 2xGPS Camerawithwideanglelens Downloadcables DrybagwithfloatfortowedGPS Real Magnadoodle

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