Brief description
Field surveys undertaken between 2006 and 2009 have been compiled to provide an extensive baseline of the distribution and abundance of rock lobster species from the Muiron Islands in the north to Turtles sanctuary in the south of Ningaloo Marine Park. The abundance of lobsters of all species were low, however there were regions that held significantly higher abundances of lobsters. The geographic regions and habitats types in which lobsters were found varied with lobster species.Lineage
Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlanned
Statement: *CSIRO Broad scale surveys*
A series of surveys conducted in 2006 and 2007 were undertaken principally to assess fish populations in the Ningaloo Marine Park, however any lobsters encountered during this survey were also counted, providing a broad picture of distribution and allowing later surveys (May 2007 to April 2008)to be targeted more efficiently. Survey sites in the Ningaloo Marine Park were selected from among coastal areas stretching from of Gnaraloo in the south to the Muiron Islands in the north. Potential sites were initially identified from a series of digital spatial data sets including geo- referenced aerial photograph mosaics, benthic habitat maps, and marine park zonings for both new and old plans. The marine park zoning data were loaded into a GIS (Arc View 3.3), where the old and new plans were overlaid to generate an entire coverage including pre-existing zone boundaries and the recent extensions to the pre-existing zones.
A series of surveys conducted in 2006 and 2007 were undertaken principally to assess fish populations in the Ningaloo Marine Park, however any lobsters encountered during this survey were also counted, providing a broad picture of distribution and allowing later surveys (May 2007 to April 2008)to be targeted more efficiently. Survey sites in the Ningaloo Marine Park were selected from among coastal areas stretching from of Gnaraloo in the south to the Muiron Islands in the north. Potential sites were initially identified from a series of digital spatial data sets including geo- referenced aerial photograph mosaics, benthic habitat maps, and marine park zonings for both new and old plans. The marine park zoning data were loaded into a GIS (Arc View 3.3), where the old and new plans were overlaid to generate an entire coverage including pre-existing zone boundaries and the recent extensions to the pre-existing zones.
Statement: *CSIRO Field Sampling*
Fish and Lobster within the Ningaloo Marine Park were sampled using underwater visual census (UVC). Survey sites were located in the field using a hand-held GPS unit; at each site a single SCUBA diver swimming along a 100m x 10m belt transect, identifying, counting, and estimating the total length of fishes observed within the transect.
In addition to surveying fishes and spiny lobsters, each diver characterized the benthic habitat by estimating percent cover of sessile life forms (e.g. coral, algae) and substratum classes (e.g. sand, rubble, boulders), and the cover of live versus dead coral (English et al. 1997). Other information recorded by the SCUBA diver included the depth, visibility, and the compass bearing of the direction swum. A snorkel diver would follow the SCUBA diver and record the percentage cover of the various coral growth forms (branching, tabulate, digitate, massive, encrusting, sub-massive), and the species composition of algae and sea grasses. To complement this habitat data, the snorkel diver also took multiple photographs of the benthos along the length of each transect.
For further information download final report.
Fish and Lobster within the Ningaloo Marine Park were sampled using underwater visual census (UVC). Survey sites were located in the field using a hand-held GPS unit; at each site a single SCUBA diver swimming along a 100m x 10m belt transect, identifying, counting, and estimating the total length of fishes observed within the transect.
In addition to surveying fishes and spiny lobsters, each diver characterized the benthic habitat by estimating percent cover of sessile life forms (e.g. coral, algae) and substratum classes (e.g. sand, rubble, boulders), and the cover of live versus dead coral (English et al. 1997). Other information recorded by the SCUBA diver included the depth, visibility, and the compass bearing of the direction swum. A snorkel diver would follow the SCUBA diver and record the percentage cover of the various coral growth forms (branching, tabulate, digitate, massive, encrusting, sub-massive), and the species composition of algae and sea grasses. To complement this habitat data, the snorkel diver also took multiple photographs of the benthos along the length of each transect.
For further information download final report.
Statement: *CSIRO Targeted lobster surveys*
During April 2008 a series of sites were surveyed for lobsters from Lighthouse Bay in the north to 3-Mile Sanctuary in the south. Sites that appeared to be suitable lobster habitat were chosen from a series of geo-rectified aerial photographs and loaded onto a hand-held GPS. At each site two divers entered the water and each diver swam a 100 × 5 m transect, identifying, counting and estimating carapace length of any lobsters encountered. the narrower transect width allowed divers to target lobster habitat more effectively. The divers also recorded visual estimates of percent cover of major substrate and habitat categories.
For further information download final report.
During April 2008 a series of sites were surveyed for lobsters from Lighthouse Bay in the north to 3-Mile Sanctuary in the south. Sites that appeared to be suitable lobster habitat were chosen from a series of geo-rectified aerial photographs and loaded onto a hand-held GPS. At each site two divers entered the water and each diver swam a 100 × 5 m transect, identifying, counting and estimating carapace length of any lobsters encountered. the narrower transect width allowed divers to target lobster habitat more effectively. The divers also recorded visual estimates of percent cover of major substrate and habitat categories.
For further information download final report.
Statement: *AIMS Targeted lobster surveys*
Species identification and quantification of rock lobster were undertaken at locations from Lighthouse SZ in the north to Turtle SZ in the south (Table 1). Sampling of the NMP areas was designed in a hierarchical structure to enable analyses at different spatial levels of organization. Site selection was largely predetermined with the aim to balance four essential criteria, the need to consider / encompass; 1) the entirety of the NMP, 2) as many sanctuary / recreational zone borders as possible, 3) general trends in human usage patterns, and 4) logistical field constraints.
For further information download final report.
Species identification and quantification of rock lobster were undertaken at locations from Lighthouse SZ in the north to Turtle SZ in the south (Table 1). Sampling of the NMP areas was designed in a hierarchical structure to enable analyses at different spatial levels of organization. Site selection was largely predetermined with the aim to balance four essential criteria, the need to consider / encompass; 1) the entirety of the NMP, 2) as many sanctuary / recreational zone borders as possible, 3) general trends in human usage patterns, and 4) logistical field constraints.
For further information download final report.
Notes
CreditCSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research - Russ Babcock, Geordie Clapin, Mick Haywood, David Kozak, Andrew Limbourn, Nicole Murphy
Credit
Australian Institute of Marine Science - Martial Depczynski, Andrew Heyward, Ben Radford, James Moore, Ben Fitzpatrick, Max Rees, Jamie Colquhoun, Monica Gagliano
Australian Institute of Marine Science - Martial Depczynski, Andrew Heyward, Ben Radford, James Moore, Ben Fitzpatrick, Max Rees, Jamie Colquhoun, Monica Gagliano
Purpose
The Ningaloo Marine Park (State Waters) Plan 1989 was designated A-Class in 1990. A review of the Management Plan began in 2000; this resulted in a revised Management Plan being approved by the Minister in January 2005. Changes in the current Management Plan include extending the Marine Park southwards to incorporate the full extent of the reef, increasing the number and extent of Sanctuary Zones, introducing Special Purpose Benthic Protection and shore-based line fishing zones. The purpose of this project is to provide an assessment of whether there are any direct effects on benthic invertebrate populations resulting from fishing activities in the Park.
The Ningaloo Marine Park (State Waters) Plan 1989 was designated A-Class in 1990. A review of the Management Plan began in 2000; this resulted in a revised Management Plan being approved by the Minister in January 2005. Changes in the current Management Plan include extending the Marine Park southwards to incorporate the full extent of the reef, increasing the number and extent of Sanctuary Zones, introducing Special Purpose Benthic Protection and shore-based line fishing zones. The purpose of this project is to provide an assessment of whether there are any direct effects on benthic invertebrate populations resulting from fishing activities in the Park.
Modified: 08 06 2010
Data time period: 2006 to 30 11 2008
text: westlimit=113.5; southlimit=-24; eastlimit=114.5; northlimit=-21.5
Subjects
ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES |
BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION |
Biomass |
BIOSPHERE |
Biosphere | Zoology | Invertebrates |
EARTH SCIENCE |
ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS |
ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS |
Fish |
Herbivory |
Marine Reserves, MPAs, effects of fishing, effectivenss of MPAs, invertebrate communities, invertebrate biomass, Western Rock Lobster, Tropical Lobsters |
Trophic Dynamics |
VEGETATION |
biota |
environment |
oceans |
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Other Information
(Final report - WAMSI Node 3.2.2d - Milestone 3.2.2.26. Lagoon invertebrates final report and monitoring recommendations)
(Table_1_-_3.2.2d_-_Distribution_of_sampling_effort.png)
(Figure_1_-_3.2.2d_-_Diagram_of_sampling_design_-_CSIRO_Broad_scale_surveys.png)
Identifiers
- global : 4f4bb928-3e6e-4a2f-8b04-7575ca1b1990
