Survey Methods Manual - AWI · The survey methods will be directly comparable to the surveys...
Transcript of Survey Methods Manual - AWI · The survey methods will be directly comparable to the surveys...
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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.
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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
5.1. SurveyMethod 13
5.2. Categories 14
5.3. DataEntry 15
6. CoralHealthChart 15
6.1. SurveyMethod 15
6.2. DataEntry 15
7. Invertebratesurvey 16
7.1. SurveyMethod 16
7.2. Categories 16
7.3. DataEntry 16
8. Impacts 17
8.1. SurveyMethod 17
8.2. Categories 17
8.3. DataEntry 17
9. SpeciesList 18
9.1. SurveyMethod 18
9.2. DataEntry 18
10. Mapping 18
10.1. SurveyMethod 18
10.2. DataEntry 18
11. GeoreferencedPhotoTransect 19
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11.1. Method 19
11.2. DataProcessingandanalysis 19
12. Acknowledgements 20
13. References 20
14. Appendices–Projectforms 20
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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·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.
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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
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3. StudySiteandTransectLocation
Figure4.FlatRockmapshowingtransectlocations(inblue).Cross‐sectioncut‐awayviewsshownbysolidblackletteredlines.
Figure5.ShagRockmapshowingtransectlocations(inblue).Cross‐sectioncut‐awayviewsshownbysolidblackletteredlines.
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Figure6.MantaRayBommiemapshowingtransectlocations(inblue).
4. Fishidentification
4.1. SurveyMethod Fishpopulationsareassessedusingvisualcensusalongthe3x20mtransects.Thediversinthisbuddypairwilleachcarryadatasheet:afishfamiliesandanindicatorspeciesdatasheet.Eachtransectwillbe5mwide(2.5meithersideofthetransecttape),5mhighand20minlength(seeFig.7).Eachdiverinthebuddypairassignedtocountfishwillbegivenadifferenttask.Onediverwillcountthetargetfishfamiliesandtheotherwillcountindicatorspeciesashighlightedonthedatasheets.Bothdiverswillswimadjacenttoeachotherwhilstproceedingtotheendofeachtransect.Diversshouldaimtocovereach20mtransectin7‐10minutes.
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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
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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.
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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.
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‐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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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).
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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
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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)
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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
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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
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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
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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