Commonwealth Environmental Research Facilities (CERF)
Programme: Final Report
October 2010
Project Name: Volunteer monitoring of the state of Australian rocky reef
communities
Project leader: Assoc. Prof. Graham Edgar (Senior Marine Ecologist, TAFI)
Host organization: Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute (now part of the
Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies), University of Tasmania
Activity:
The Activity is to develop and resource a network of skilled recreational divers to
assess the state of the inshore marine environment at the continental scale using
standardised methods. The Activity will extend across larger spatial scales and,
through the long-term, an ecological monitoring network established through
collaboration between the University of Tasmania and state conservation management
agencies.
Total funds: CERF: $535,776.00 incl. GST (Phase II: Nov 2008-Oct 2010)
Activity Period to which progress report relates: November 2008 – October 2010
Progress of activity to date, including objectives achieved:
The progress and achievements of the project continued through the last activity
period, such that at its conclusion the project has exceeded expectations of Steering
Committee members, collaborating members and staff alike in terms of goals
surpassed. While the project has concluded, the Reef Life Survey (RLS) program that
was established directly through the project, along with the many partnerships formed
with management, local boards and community groups, is continuing strongly. The
long-term outlook for RLS is very promising, with continuation not only assured but
expansion likely to new areas and with new partnerships formed.
Specific goals/objectives for Phase II of the project, which consists of years 2 and 3 of
the original grant proposal, with an update of progress, are as follows:
Objective 1. Consolidate the work of the pilot year, by training at least 60 new divers
to the level of a scientific diver.
The goal of 60 new divers trained in the 2 year duration of Phase II of the project has
been exceeded, with a total of 84 skilled volunteer divers trained between November
2008 and December 2010, taking the total pool of trained divers to 136 (including
1
those trained during the pilot year). A total of 1,957 transects applicable for scientific
analyses have been surveyed by this network (not including training surveys) during
phase II of the project, bringing the total survey effort all up to approximately 2,900
transects on reef sites around Australia. An additional 680 training transects were
completed, and a further 286 transects were surveyed by RLS divers while overseas, a
dataset outside the core region of investigation for this project, but which provides a
context for understanding, for example, impacts of intensive fishing on tropical reefs.
Objective 2. Undertake further analysis of the quality of volunteer-collected data
considering the recommendations in the review of the pilot study.
The analysis of the quality of volunteer-collected data, taking into consideration the
recommendations in the review of the pilot study, was undertaken and results
presented in the May 2009 progress report. Summary results were distributed in a
paper published in the international scientific literature (Edgar and Stuart-Smith,
2009).
Objective 3: Identify a range of core sites in each southern state that will be
monitored each year by targeted survey trips. These will include sites for monitoring
MPAs as well as sites near major cities.
A set of core long term monitoring sites has been identified, as outlined in a previous
progress report, and directed surveys at these sites have been continuing on an annual
basis. The Reef Life Survey website (http://reeflifesurvey.com/sites/) is currently
being upgraded to clearly display the location of priority sites around Australia with
red pins.
Objective 4: Assess the potential for corporate sponsorship of the program, and
identify potential additional funding sources, ultimately identifying and securing
means for on-going funding for the project after the three years of CERF funding.
This includes seeking financial support from stakeholders for survey effort in their
regions.
Six monthly updates on sources of funding generated for the volunteer diver project
additional to CERF, have been provided in previous progress reports (May 2010, Dec
2009 and May 2009). More recently, a successful application for ARC Linkage Grant
funding was made that will, in part, support continuation of the RLS program for the
next 5 years, including employment of two key staff. This project includes
collaboration with state government management agencies in NSW, Victoria,
Tasmania and SA. Extension of RLS has also been included in a bid for the NERP
Marine Biodiversity Hub, as well as a proposal to DSE for reef resilience research in
Victoria. These successful and potential funding sources illustrate the value of the
established program and emphasise the support of numerous partner agencies. The
value of the program and the number of opportunities for successful funding into the
future continues to grow as the database and scientific and management outputs from
the program build.
Continued stakeholder financial and in-kind support have been provided by, and are
anticipated to continue with, the Rottnest Island Authority for annual surveys around
the Island, and the Kangaroo Island Natural Resource Management Board and the
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Lord Howe Island Board for repeat surveys in those locations. These allow annual
surveys of these remote priority areas to be undertaken despite survey costs at these
locations that would otherwise be prohibitive. Funding has also been obtained for
future surveys in the Derwent Estuary in areas of importance to the threatened spotted
handfish through collaboration with the Derwent Estuary Program and ‘Caring for our
Country’.
The Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation (CLCAC) also recently
financially supported surveys of the remote Mornington Island in the Gulf of
Carpentaria. This support included all costs for a small dive team to undertake an
intensive 3 day survey of the island’s reef systems, of which virtually nothing was
previously known by the scientific community. Support for a more detailed survey of
this area is likely, with the CLCAC highly supportive of the RLS program and very
keen to obtain more information on local reef biodiversity.
Objective 5: Assess the effectiveness of Australian marine protected areas by
undertaking more detailed analysis of continental-scale data as more data become
available.
At project conclusion, the RLS network has now surveyed almost all of the major
coastal marine parks around the Australian coastline (as can be seen on the map:
http://reeflifesurvey.com/sites/), including the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
Detailed analyses of this dataset are underway now that in-filling of spatial gaps in the
continental dataset has concluded. Analyses planned include an examination of
patterns of MPA effects at the full continental scale by extending the previous
analysis of RLS data (Edgar et al. 2009, Edgar & Stuart-Smith 2009) to include the
tropical and more remote MPAs. This will comprise the largest examination of MPA
effects using a systematically-collected data set so far attempted worldwide. The
analysis will include further examination of higher order trophic effects generated by
increasing fish biomass in sanctuary zones.
Objective 6: Assess impacts of pollution associated with large urban areas on nearshore marine communities using gradient analyses.
Analysis of data collected in the local waters of three major metropolitan areas in SE
Australia (Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart) have been undertaken to assess patterns in
marine biodiversity related to anthropogenic disturbance such as shipping activity,
heavy metals and land use. More details on these analyses and results are presented
below.
Objective 7: Undertake a cost-benefit analysis of the volunteer collected data
compared to scientific field team data based on years two and three of the project.
A cost-benefit analysis was undertaken to assess how collection of the volunteercollected data compared to scientific field team data for MPAs surveyed during years
two and three of the project. This analysis is presented below.
3
Objective 8: Generate awareness and interest by the recreational diving community in
the program and its outcomes and benefits.
While ongoing, this objective relating to diver engagement has largely been achieved,
as evidenced by the positive correspondence we regularly receive from recreational
divers, clubs and community groups in relation to the program. A major outreach tool
for the program is the Reef Life Survey website (www.reeflifesurvey.com), which
outlines past and future surveys and provides information on sites surveyed. Diver
interest and awareness will continue to accelerate as more and more people find out
about the program. Members of the Australian recreational dive community regularly
use the website and contact project staff in relation to upcoming survey and training
opportunities and posted project findings. We expect the development and posting of
reef condition reports will also greatly elevate public interest in progress of the
program, and more importantly, in the condition and changes in inshore marine
biodiversity. Reef condition reports have not yet been posted given the short period
that surveys are underway; however, meaningful assessment of changes in the inshore
environment at key sites should be possible when three years of data have been
collected.
Another recent diver and public engagement activity is the development of public
educational material based on surveys undertaken by RLS volunteers in Sydney,
Melbourne and Hobart. A presentation of data and photographs from the local area,
describing special values and observed impacts, is currently being produced and
loaded onto USB memory sticks in the shape of the RLS logo. These outreach tools
expected to be finalised by 31 October 2010. They will then be distributed to dive
clubs and community groups, NRM bodies and other interested parties, with
information provided on the memory sticks tailored for each of the three regions.
The strength of the community outreach programs for this CERF project was
explicitly recognised during the 2010 Victorian Coastal Awards for Excellence. Reef
Life Survey received the ‘Community Action and Partnerships Award’ and was one
of four finalists for the ‘Natural Environment Award’ (see
http://www.vcc.vic.gov.au/coastalawards.htm#3). RLS was a also a finalist in two
categories in the United Nations Association of Australia, World Environment Day
Awards 2010; the Excellence in Marine and Coastal Management Award & the
Community Award. In addition, the SA Premier’s ‘NRM Award – NRM Research’
was awarded to the community group 'Friends of Sceale Bay' for scientific dives
conducted by RLS divers. The Sceale Bay marine surveys developed directly from
this CERF project and were led by RLS staff.
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CERF Project Coordinator Dr Rick Stuart-Smith, RLS volunteer Don Love and RLS Victorian
Coordinator Jacqui Pocklington (three at bottom right) with other 2010 Victorian Coastal
Award Winners, and the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, The Hon. Gavin
Jennings MLC, and Libby Mears, Chair of the Victorian Coastal Council.
Summary and effectiveness of work
Training/Survey weekends
A total of 34 training and survey expeditions were undertaken during the CERF
project, ranging from 4 days to 2 weeks each. Total attendance at these was 231
volunteer divers (this figure includes many of the same divers participating on
multiple weekends), making a total of approximately 943 diver days in the field. In
addition to these, a recent expedition was undertaken along mid to northern WA and
QLD coasts over a 3-month period, where different groups of the RLS volunteer
divers joined a small core team for different legs. A total of 21 volunteers attended
one or more components of these very challenging tropical surveys for a total of 311
volunteer diver days in the field. The estimated contribution of volunteer time in
terms of volunteer diver days (total 1,254) is extremely conservative because it does
not account for a range of other necessary activities that require significant time
commitments from the volunteers. To contribute to the RLS program, volunteers must
spend a substantial amount of time learning species prior to and during field surveys,
preparing, washing and maintaining dive gear, entering survey data, compiling and relabelling photo-quadrats then burning them to CD and posting off, regularly liaising
with staff and so on. It is estimated (conservatively) that each transect surveyed
represents a time commitment of between 8 and 10 hours for temperate surveys, and
5
10 and 15 hours for tropical surveys, and this does not include travel time. Thus, a
more accurate representation of the total volunteer time put into the RLS program
(than volunteer diver days), but still excluding travel time, would be 29,800 hrs – or
3,725 x 8hr work days (based on the number of transects surveyed during the CERF
project). This is a massive time contribution from the recreational dive community,
and represents an enormous success in terms of effective community participation,
above and beyond the commitment that could be expected for a team of volunteers
this size.
Reef biodiversity data
Surveys have now been undertaken around the entire continent, with an increasing
amount of additional data provided by divers from the Indian and Pacific Ocean
regions (now totalling 12 countries). The location of Australian sites surveyed is
indicated in Fig. 1 below. The set of sites mapped is in the process of being uploaded
onto the Reef Life Survey website (http://reeflifesurvey.com/sites/), a process delayed
because we have reached the maximum number of sites that can be mapped using our
current website design. The Google Map, which includes site information that can be
zoomed from the global to the local spatial domain, provides public-accessible data on
the latitude, longitude and name of each site surveyed. Priority sites for annual
surveys, as determined by the national Steering Committee and stakeholder support
are displayed with red pins, whilst all other surveys undertaken during the project are
displayed with blue pins.
Fig. 1. Map showing Australian reef sites surveyed during CERF volunteer
monitoring project (note many sites hidden behind other symbols and each site may
include a number of transects), plus Indonesian sites surveyed opportunistically by
volunteers while on holiday).
6
Stakeholder engagement
The Steering Committee has met at monthly to bimonthly intervals throughout the
project, with much useful input provided by Committee members and their
affiliations.
The enormous stakeholder support and enthusiasm generated by the project has been
evident in the assistance and support of NRM boards and local councils and groups
around the country. Specific examples include:
 The Kangaroo Island NRM board, which has twice contributed the bulk of
costs associated with a 4-day training and survey weekend at Kangaroo Island
(SA) in order to assist KINRM meet their coastal information needs.
 The Rottnest Island Authority, which has annually (3 times) supported the
survey of Rottnest Island reefs by providing accommodation, ferry tickets,
SCUBA tank hire and air fills for the 4 days of surveys.
 The Lord Howe Island Board and the Lord Howe Island Marine Park have
also provided a similar level of support twice.
 The Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation supported surveys of
Mornington Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria by covering costs of transport
from Burketown by light plane, accommodation and diving costs on the island,
arranged with support and assistance from traditional owners.
Public communication
The RLS program has been building a strong public profile, with communication of
results in the form of scientific papers and reports (outlined below), magazine articles
and web stories (the RLS website has continually updated informal updates on survey
activities, participation and special findings on survey expeditions). The program has
also generated numerous magazine and newsletter articles, blogs and links on the web
from divers who have participated or community groups and clubs that are supportive
of the RLS program. Some of the magazine and newsletter articles include:





An article on an RLS survey expedition to the Chain of Bays in South
Australia in CSIRO’s Ecos magazine (available for download at:
http://www.ecosmagazine.com/?paper=EC149p18). The same expedition was
also described in stories in Australian Wildlife (the journal of The Wildlife
Preservation Society of Australia Limited, Volume 2, Autumn 2009), a south
Australian newspaper (http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/southaustralia/fragile-underwater-world-in-our-hands/story-e6frea831225697722179), and the (then) Department of Environment and Heritage,
South Australia, Landscapes magazine (winter 2009).
An article based on a survey expedition to the Abrolhos Islands was the
subject of an article in Sport Diving magazine (Margo’s gobbleguts and the
Abrolhos Islands, 2009).
An article based on the 2010 survey expedition to Lord Howe Island was in
the Lord Howe Island Board’s Community Information Bulletin (Volume 4,
Edition 2 - February 2010).
Multiple articles in Dive Log magazine by RLS volunteer divers Tom Davis
and Keith Saunders, relating to training and post-training survey experiences
(e.g. May and September 2008 editions).
An article following an early training course in Waves, the magazine of the
(former) Marine Coastal Community Network, Volume 14, Number 2, 2008.
7

A local newspaper article based on a training course in Jervis Bay (2008)
(http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/news/local/news/general/diverssurvey-life-in-depth/373910.aspx).
Other communication on the web relating to RLS includes posts/articles/blogs by:
 The Sydney Aquarium Conservation Fund (with a link to RLS at:
http://www.sacf.org.au/get-involved/volunteer).
 The Tasmanian University Dive club
(http://www.tudc.org.au/conservation/rls.php).
 Ocean trek (http://www.oceantrek.com.au/08-05%20tas.htm).
 Rolex ‘our world underwater scholarship’ recipient Steve Lindfield
(http://owussaustralasia.org/?p=280).
 Other volunteers after training, e.g:
(http://scubachronicles.wordpress.com/2009/01/14/reef-life-survey-divingexpedition-around-the-tasmanian-peninsula/).
Application of project outcomes for improved coastal management
Outputs of the project are directly assisting government agencies in improving coastal
management through better planning, assessment and monitoring of biodiversity
assets.
MPA Planning
Reef survey data provided through the project were used in planning locations of
protected areas within the proposed SA MPA network. With additional data generated
through scientific studies by Graham Edgar and colleagues, and analytical tools
developed through the CERF Marine Biodiversity Hub, the CERF data will provide
the basis for a SA MPA network that is not only comprehensive, adequate and
representative for mapped habitat types, but also for the range of community types
within shallow reef habitats.
MPA Assessment
Data generated through this project has been providing the major biological basis for
assessment of efficacy of existing management zones within the Lord Howe Island
Marine Park. The location of these LHIMP zones is currently under review, with final
recommendations of changes to boundaries of zones due in late 2010.
The following reports relating to MPA assessment were produced using RLS data:
Stuart-Smith, R.D., Stuart-Smith, J.F., Cooper, A.T., Edgar, G.J. 2009. Baseline
Biodiversity Survey of the Cod Grounds Commonwealth Marine Reserve. Report to
the Department of Environment, Heritage and Arts.
http://www.environment.gov.au/coasts/mpa/publications/cod-groundsbiodiversity.html
Edgar, G., Valentine, J., Cooper, A., Stuart-Smith, R., Gudge, S., Kerr, I. (2010).
Ecological monitoring of reef communities at Lord Howe Island Marine Park, NSW
2006-2010. Report for NSW Marine Parks Authority.
Tracking State of the Environment Indicators
8
In addition to general availability of data for tracking SOE indicators across temperate
Australian waters, the Kangaroo Island NRM Board and Rottnest Island Authority are
both providing additional resources to the CERF project to facilitate tracking of trends
in marine ecological condition in these two regions.
Assessing impacts on the marine environment
A key aim of the project is to develop cost effective indicators for assessing impacts
and tracking trends in condition of inshore ecosystems. A Community Coastcare grant
has provided funds to assist this process through quantitative descriptions and
assessments of pollution gradients in the Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart regions. A
University of Tasmania honours thesis project assessing impacts of fish farms on
sessile reef organisms in southeastern Tasmania was facilitated by this CERF project.
The thesis project resulted in an Honours Class IA awarded to the student, Liz Oh.
Results of analysis of reef data in relation to pollution gradients in the Sydney,
Melbourne and Hobart regions is presented below.
Threatened species monitoring
Data generated through the project assist monitoring of populations of threatened
marine species and charismatic mammals. For example, the following marine reptiles
and mammals have been recorded along transects: Loggerhead turtle (Caretta
caretta), Green turtle (Chelonia mydas), Australian fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus),
Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea), Bottlenose dophin (Tursiops truncatus). The
recent tropical survey expedition saw an increase in the number of turtles recorded,
covering some key areas for these reptiles (e.g. Ningaloo Reef).
Cost-Benefit analysis
The RLS program has allowed collection of reef biodiversity data across a far greater
spatial scale than possible by a scientific team, and has generated perhaps five times
more data than could have been achieved by the project staff over the duration of the
CERF project without skilled volunteer assistance. These benefits alone indicate the
enormous value of the RLS program. A more quantitative basis for assessing the cost
effectiveness of the RLS program is provided below by comparing costs for organised
RLS survey expeditions during the CERF project with costs of a contracted university
research team.
Comparisons were based on surveys at locations that can be considered fairly typical
in terms of costs (Jervis Bay, NSW and Jurien Bay, WA), as well as a more
expensive, remote location (Lord Howe Island, NSW). Costs, broken down into the
major items/components and average costs per full 50m transect are presented in
Table 2, below. During the CERF project, volunteer divers arranged their own
transport to and from survey locations and meals at their own cost. Thus transport and
meal costs for RLS surveys were for staff only, but accommodation included group
accommodation for volunteers and staff, which along with the charter vessel, typically
represented the main costs for RLS survey expeditions. As it was assumed that costs
for university vessels to be transported to the survey locations would be prohibitive,
vessel costs for both RLS and a university team were those involving charter of a
suitable vessel where necessary.
RLS costs are reduced by in-kind support of local boards and discounts applied by
vessel charter operators. These were based on actual discounts/support for RLS
9
surveys at these locations over the period of the CERF project, but should be
considered as fairly representative of the support provided at the majority of survey
locations. Personnel costs for RLS were based on university staff time from one
academic and one technical staff member, including on-costs. University research
team costs were calculated based on staff at the same level, but including an
additional technical staff member (see below for details of teams). A university
consultancy cost calculator was used, and thus included university indirect costs.
Estimates in Table 2 do not include personnel time for organising logistics and
planning the expeditions, but these would be expected to be similar for both teams.
Personnel time for the entry of data associated with the university research team
surveys after the survey expedition has not been included and would further add
significantly to the costs in comparison to the RLS survey expedition, on which
volunteers enter the data each afternoon.
Although the number of volunteer divers that participated on RLS survey expeditions
was variable, six volunteers and two staff were chosen for comparisons,. RLS
volunteers typically undertake two dives per day, with one 50 m transect covered per
dive, taking the total number of transects for the team to 16 per day. A university
research team following a standard dive code (the University of Tasmania Dive code
has been used as an example) requires a minimum of two university divers in the
water and one on the vessel at any given time, and this team would be expected to
survey the equivalent of two 50 m transects per dive for each of three dives in a day.
Thus the team of three would be expected to survey six 50 m transects per day. An
expedition duration of 4 days surveying (or 6 days and 5 nights for staff when travel
time is included) was used as this was typical of those undertaken during the CERF
project. However, survey expeditions of more than 4 days will obviously be more
cost-effective than shown here for both teams, due to the costs of travel being once off
and largely independent of the duration of the expedition.
Table 2. Cost comparison for RLS team vs contracted university research team.
Location
Cost item
University
RLS costs
research costs
Jervis Bay
Vessel charter
3600
4640*
(NSW)
Accomodation/meals
1470
0*
Personnel
5901
3570
Travel
1500
1200
University indirect costs & charges
9180
0
Total cost
21651
9410
Total transects
24
64
Cost per transect
$902
$147
Jurien Bay
(WA)
Vessel charter
Accomodation/meals
Personnel
Travel
University indirect costs & charges
Total cost
Total transects
Cost per transect
4000
1470
5901
2400
9779
23550
24
$981
3600
1960
3570
1800
0
10930
64
$171
10
Lord Howe
Island
(NSW)
Vessel charter
Accomodation/meals
Personnel
Travel
University indirect costs & charges
Total cost
Total transects
Cost per transect
3600
2400
5901
3600
10601
26102
24
$1088
2400
480
3570
2400
0
8850
64
$138
Mean cost per Transect
$990
$152
*Vessel charter for RLS at Jervis Bay is based on Ocean Trek liveaboard, with costs
including meals and accommodation at a discounted rate of $580 per diver.
The RLS program set up through the CERF project clearly represents the most costeffective method for collecting detailed information on reef biodiversity, representing
a saving of almost 85% off an already cost-effective form of data collection for the
level of detail gained and amount of post-processing required. As a consequence, RLS
surveys allow a far greater quantity of information to be generated over a much
broader spatial scale than could otherwise be possible.
Participation
Table 3 summarises participation figures associated with each reporting period to
date. The figures indicate a continued high level of achievement.
Table 3. Participation metrics over the course of the CERF project. Note that active
divers and transect numbers exclude trainees and training surveys, and thus the table
represents the building of the team and database that can contribute high quality
biodiversity information. Total transect numbers and diver participation including
trainee activity and data, are provided at the beginning of the report under the
achievements in relation to objective 1.
1/1/08 –
31/10/08
# additional divers trained
CERF project reporting period
1/11/08 – 1/6/09 –
16/12/09
31/5/09
15/12/09
– 1/6/10
2/6/10 –
1/10/10
Total
52
45
31
6
2
136
9
11
7
7
1*
35+
# reef transects surveyed
251
610
430
708
209
2,208
# transects per active diver
7.4
21.8
14.3
14.75
10.45
# active divers
34
28
30
48
21
# survey weekends
*This was an extended survey expedition of 3 months in total, consisting of numerous
smaller components.
Scientific outputs
Two scientific papers based on outcomes of the project have been published in highlycited international journals to date (the second including additional data from
scientific monitoring). Preparation of other publications, including one on the
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pollution analyses presented below, is currently underway, and another manuscript,
involving data collected during the project as a part basis for a global analysis of reef
fishes, has been submitted.
Edgar, G.J., Stuart-Smith, R.D. 2009. Ecological effects of marine protected areas on
rocky reef communities: a continental-scale analysis. Marine Ecology Progress Series
388, 51-62.
Edgar, G.J., Barrett, N.S., Stuart-Smith, R.D. 2009. Exploited reefs protected from
fishing transform over decades into conservation features otherwise absent from
seascapes. Ecological Applications 19, 1967–1974.
Appropriateness of the approaches used in the development and implementation of the
Activity
The success of the project in terms of the divers trained (and associated data quality
presented in a previous report and Edgar and Stuart-Smith 2009), the number and
spatial extent of surveys around the country, the scientific outputs, numerous
partnerships formed, and outlook for continuation of the RLS program long into the
future, provides very firm evidence that the approaches used to develop and
implement the project were appropriate. These successes have been outlined in detail
throughout this report, and were beyond the expectations of the project team and
steering committee. One key in this success has been learning during the process and
modifying the approaches used, particularly in the form of training format and data
collection expeditions, in an attempt to continually improve the processes and
outcomes.
Metropolitan pollution analyses
Numerous reef transects were surveyed in Sydney Harbour (NSW, hereafter
abbreviated to SH), Port Phillip Bay (VIC, hereafter abbreviated to PPB) and the
Derwent Estuary (TAS, hereafter abbreviated to DE) by the RLS diver network to
contribute to a spatial analysis of reef data in urban centres. The main objectives were
to identify and characterise urban impacts on sub-tidal reef communities, and to
determine the relative contributions of the proximity to industry, shipping activity, the
CBD, heavy metal contamination, and the surrounding land use to spatial patterns in
reef fishes and mobile invertebrates near major metropolitan areas in SE Australia.
These data also provide a baseline for ongoing surveys of change. The distribution of
sites included in the analyses is shown in Figures 2-4.
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Fig. 2 Reef sites surveyed in Sydney harbour for metropolitan pollution analyses.
Fig. 3 Reef sites surveyed in Port Phillip Bay for metropolitan pollution analyses.
13
Fig. 4 Reef sites surveyed in Hobart for metropolitan pollution analyses.
Amongst various metrics of impact assessed, distance to the city port, heavy metals
and land use all added significant contributions to the variation explained by the
models on top of variation explained by environmental variables. With very few
exceptions, the nature of the impact of the pollution variables analysed was such that
sites at increasing distances from the city ports and decreasing heavy metal pollution
were characterised by increasing richness of fish and mobile invertebrate species.
Impacted sites close to city ports and in high heavy metal areas typically possessed
fewer species, but the average abundance of these few species was actually higher
than the average abundance of species found at less impacted sites.
A clear pattern in the composition of reef fauna was evident in relation to the
proximity of sites to the Hobart port. The proportion of mobile invertebrate and
cryptic fish individuals that consisted of introduced species was far greater at sites
close to the port than at the most distant sites. Figure 5 shows this pattern clearly.
Transects conducted close to the Hobart port indicated 100% of mobile benthic fauna
comprised introduced species at some sites. In contrast, no introduced species were
detected at downstream sites near the mouth of the estuary. The most frequently
recorded introduced reef species were Forsterygion varium (a teleost fish), Patiriella
regularis (an asteroid), and Metacarcinus novaezelandiae (a crustacean). Only two
introduced fish or invertebrate species were recorded in PPB; Asterias amurensis and
Tridentiger trigonocephalus, with the former a soft sediment species that strays onto
reef on occasion (this species was also common in the DE) and the latter only found at
one site near Corio Bay. No introduced fish or mobile invertebrate species were
recorded in SH, but benthic photo-quadrats included sessile introduced species in all
three urban estuaries.
14
Proportion of introduced individuals with distance to port (Hobart)
1
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
-8
0
8
16
24
Figure 5. The proportion of mobile benthic fauna recorded on transects in the Hobart
region that are introduced, at sites of varying distance to the Hobart Port/CBD (the Xaxis is distance to the Hobart port in km, with negative values representing sites
upstream of the port. The proportion of introduced individuals is on the Y-axis).
This study is currently being written up for a scientific publication. Thus more
information about the statistical analyses, the results and discussion of results will be
available in published format in the near future.
Milestones met:
Only milestone 5 is applicable to the period to which this report relates.
Table 4. Applicable Milestone
Activity
Output
Milestone 5
At least 30 new divers trained
and 500 transects surveyed
on organised trips in 2010
8 new divers trained and
917 (non-training)
transects on organised
trips in 2010
Long-term funding secured
Continued financial
support secured to cover
core staff for next 5
years
CERF final report, including
summarized outcomes of
various analyses and
statistics relating to diver and
stakeholder participation in
project. At least 100 divers
trained and 2000 reef sites
censused during project.
This report contains
results of pollution
analysis and cost-benefit
analysis, as well as
relevant statistics on
diver participation and
information on
stakeholder
participation. 136 divers
trained during project
and ca. 3,000 transects
surveyed.
Milestone
date
15 Oct
2010
Milestone
met
15 Oct
2010
Comments
Project total for
divers trained had
previously been well
exceeded.
Project outputs
exceeded
expectations in all
areas.
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Timeframes met
All timeframes for the activity have been met and goals exceeded.
Budget statement
The University Finance department will provide a financial statement for the project.
16