Brief description
The benthic cover on reefs from the central Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea was surveyed between 1984 and 1985, using the line transect technique. The reefs surveyed were 2 inner-shelf reefs (Pandora and Phillips), 5 mid-shelf reefs (Davies, John Brewer, Lodestone, Rib and Wheeler), and 3 outer-shelf reefs (Bowl, Dip and Myrmidon) from the Great Barrier Reef and 2 Coral Sea reefs (Flinders Cay and South Flinders Reef).The sites for location of transects were chosen as follows for each reef, where the reef structure allowed:Front reef slope: (5 sites) 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 m depth, using the reef crest as datumReef flat: (2 sites) front and back reef flatLagoon: (2 sites) usually 1 site on bommies and the other off bommiesBack reef slope: (3 sites) 0, 5, 10 m depth on talus slope using the reef crest as datum.Transect lengths varied between 50m and 100m to accommodate available diving times and the beginning of each transect was marked with a starpicket and a buoy to facilitate location during future surveys. Data collected were benthic lifeform and substrate attributes (from a list of 32 biotic and abiotic attributes) and percentage cover.This study was designed to describe the patterns of major components of the Great Barrier Reef over ecologically significant spatial and temporal scales.
Lineage
Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlanned
Statement: Statement: A description of the standardization and application of the line transect technique is given in: DeVantier LM, Barnes GR, Daniel PA and Johnson DB (1985) Assessment protocol. Studies in the assessment of coral reef ecosystems. no. 1. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 23 p.Codes used to describe the benthic community:Hard corals:ACB - Acropora branchingACT - Acropora tabulateACE - Acropora encrustingACS - Acropora submassiveCB - non-Acropora branchingCM - non-Acropora massiveCS - non-Acropora submassiveCE - non-Acropora encrustingCF - non-Acropora foliateSoft corals:SCL - large stalked soft corals diameter >= 20cmSCS - small stalked soft corals diameter SCE - encrusting soft coralsGO - gorgoniansOther fauna:OTZ - zooanthidsOTA - Acanthaster planciOT - anemones, ascidians etcSponges:SPC - cup shaped spongesSPM - massive spongesSPE - encrusting spongesSPF - foliose spongesAlgae: TA - turf algaeCA - coralline algae TA/CA - turf-coralline algal areasBFA - cyanophytic film algaeMA - macro-algae except HalimedaHA - HalimedaAbiotic components: S - sandR - rubbleS/R - sand-rubble mixtureSI - siltDC - recently dead coralWA - water (cracks deeper than 50cm)
Notes
CreditSweatman, Hugh PA, Dr (Custodian)
Modified: 03 2024
text: westlimit=146.26; southlimit=-18.975; eastlimit=148.5; northlimit=-17.733
Other Information
Flinders reefs. Studies in the assessment of coral reef ecosystems: Daniel PA, DeVantier LM, Johnson DB and Barnes GR (1985) Flinders reefs. Studies in the assessment of coral reef ecosystems. no. 12. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 40 p.
local : articleId=7610
Dip reef. Studies in the assessment of coral reef ecosystems: Johnson DB, Daniel PA, DeVantier LM and Barnes GR (1985) Dip reef. Studies in the assessment of coral reef ecosystems. no. 10. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 34 p.
local : articleId=7607
Myrmidon reef. Studies in the assessment of coral reef ecosystems: DeVantier LM, Barnes GR, Daniel PA and Johnson DB (1985) Myrmidon reef. Studies in the assessment of coral reef ecosystems. no. 9. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 29 p.
local : articleId=7606
Wheeler reef. Studies in the assessment of coral reef ecosystems: Daniel PA, Johnson DB, DeVantier LM and Barnes GR (1985) Wheeler reef. Studies in the assessment of coral reef ecosystems. no. 8. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 24 p.
local : articleId=7605
Davies reef. Studies in the assessment of coral reef ecosystems: Daniel PA, Johnson DB, DeVantier LM and Barnes GR (1985) Davies reef. Studies in the assessment of coral reef ecosystems. no. 7. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 39 p.
local : articleId=7604
Lodestone reef. Studies in the assessment of coral reef ecosystems: Johnson DB, DeVantier LM, Daniel PA and Barnes GR (1985) Lodestone reef. Studies in the assessment of coral reef ecosystems. no. 6. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 25 p.
local : articleId=7603
John Brewer reef. Studies in the assessment of coral reef ecosystems: Johnson DB, Daniel PA, DeVantier LM and Barnes GR (1985) John Brewer reef. Studies in the assessment of coral reef ecosystems. no. 5. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 37 p.
local : articleId=7602
Rib reef. Studies in the assessment of coral reef ecosystems: DeVantier LM, Johnson DB, Daniel PA and Barnes GR (1984) Rib reef. Studies in the assessment of coral reef ecosystems. no. 4. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 27 p.
local : articleId=7601
Phillips reef. Studies in the assessment of coral reef ecosystems: DeVantier LM, Barnes GR, Daniel PA and Johnson DB (1986) Phillips reef. Studies in the assessment of coral reef ecosystems. no. 3. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 28 p.
local : articleId=7600
Pandora reef. Studies in the assessment of coral reef ecosystems: Johnson DB, Daniel PA, DeVantier LM and Barnes GR (1986) Pandora reef. Studies in the assessment of coral reef ecosystems. no. 2. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 23 p.
local : articleId=7599
Assessment protocol. Studies in the assessment of coral reef ecosystems: DeVantier LM, Barnes GR, Daniel PA and Johnson DB (1985) Assessment protocol. Studies in the assessment of coral reef ecosystems. no. 1. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 23 p.
local : articleId=7598
Bowl reef. Studies in the assessment of coral reef ecosystems: DeVantier LM, Daniel PA, Johnson DB and Barnes GR (1985) Bowl reef. Studies in the assessment of coral reef ecosystems. no. 11. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 33 p.
local : articleId=7608
Identifiers
- global : 54e8ee80-601a-11dc-b5db-00008a07204e
