Great Barrier Reef Wide

Long-term monitoring of coral reefs of the Great Barrier reef World Heritage Area

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The project provides long-term quantitative data on coral reefs spanning much of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Each year, information is gathered on corals, algae, reef fishes from 48 reefs and Crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) are surveyed on about 100 reefs.

The Long-term Monitoring Project is designed to detect changes in reef communities over time at a regional scale. In this context, reefs in a region are those that lie in one of three of three positions across the continental shelf (inshore, mid-shelf, outer shelf) within one band of latitude (a sector).

Surveys by the Long-term Monitoring team involve three tasks; manta tow surveys for crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) and reef-wide coral cover (broadscale surveys), surveys of sessile benthic organisms using video and visual counts of reef fishes. Broadscale surveys cover reefs in 11 sectors. Reefs in six of the sectors are surveyed intensively. Outcomes: More informed management of issues concerning coral reefs within the GBRMP by documenting the impact of natural disturbances on fish and coral communities.

Detection of unusual trends at reef and/or regional scales, including COT outbreaks and coral bleaching, which may indicate need for response and/or forewarn of important change.

Accumulation of standardised long-term data that can be used in the future to detect large-scale change from chronic stressors including climate change.

GBRWHA Monitoring Program: River mouth water quality monitoring

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River mouth water quality monitoring will assess change over time in concentrations and loads of the major land sourced pollutants that have the potential to adversely affect coral reef and seagrass ecosystems. This monitoring will provide the primary indicator of the delivery of pollutants to the waters of the Great Barrier Reef, and consequently of the effectiveness of measures aimed at reducing that delivery. Parameters measured will include nutrient species, suspended solids and pesticides. Monitoring will consist of a conventional grab sampling program, as well as the use of innovative water quality sampling techniques at the mouths of the major rivers flowing into the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (e.g. Fitzroy, Burdekin, Herbert, and Johnstone Rivers). Sampling will occur during both the wet and dry seasons. Outcomes: Information about current status and long-term (10 year) trends in water quality and marine ecosystem status in the GBRWHA.

GBRWHA Monitoring Program: Marine Water Quality

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Water quality monitoring will be carried out in the nearshore waters of the Great Barrier Reef to assess change over time in concentrations of key water quality indicators. Monitoring of marine water quality is required to establish the extent of improvement in lagoon water quality as a consequence of any reductions in delivery of pollutants to the marine environment. This monitoring will include the measurement of chlorophyll as a surrogate nutrient indicator, as well as the measurement of water turbidity and pesticide and pharmaceutically active compound concentrations at key inshore reef sites. Sampling methods will include state of the art water quality sensors with long-term data logging capacity to minimise fieldwork in the marine environment. Sampling of marine sediments will also be carried where necessary to assess long- term change in the accumulation of pesticides in the seafloor if these types of pollutants are being sequestered. Outcomes: Information about current status and long-term (10 year) trends in water quality and marine ecosystem status in the GBRWHA

GBRWHA Monitoring Program: Pollutatnt Bioaccumulation Monitoring

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Organisms exposed to pollutants often develop subtle cellular differences and may accumulate certain toxicants. The assessment of body burdens of pollutants in key ecosystem indicator organisms can provide a sensitive, early warning of the presence of pollutants. Extensive surveys of inshore Queensland crab pollutant concentrations have demonstrated this type of organism as a useful monitoring vehicle to use to assess changes in pesticide concentrations in nearshore marine biota. This program will be augmented by new methodologies as they become routinely available. Outcomes: Information about current status and long-term (10 year) trends in water quality and marine ecosystem status in the GBRWHA.

Enhanced Nutrient Modelling in the GBR

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Develop an improved representation of nutrient sources, transformation and fate in GBR Catchments to assist Regional Bodies with target setting and prioritisation. Outcomes: Knowledge of the sources, transformation and fate of sediment and nutrient in the GBR catchments to assist target setting

GBR Water benefits assessment and accounting program

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“The objective of this program is to mitigate impacts from the GBR catchments in the reef without undermining regional economic and communities. The project will give:
• Integrated regional economic models based on hydrological, ecological and socio- economic data
• Predictive understanding of the functioning of the region’s ecosystem from the perspective of water use – benefits and disadvantages
• Informed policy and investment decisions arising from new analytical capacity
Quantifying of social and economic indicators for use in water benefits accounting derived by the community”

Identifying critical marine plant habitats in the GBRWHA

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“This task addresses the issue of maintaining marine plant ecosystems and is integral to Program C – Maintaining ecosystem quality. The task will measure the health of marine plant species (productivity) and looking at causative factors influencing health.
This task is of significance to the 25 year Strategic Plan for the GBRWHA, as seagrasses are described as one of the biological communities which the GBRWHA ensures the persistence of (broad area 1. Conservation). This task is necessary to obtain and disseminate accurate and timely information on seagrasses (broad area 4. Research and Monitoring) which will help decision makers (broad area 2. Resource management; broad area 5. Integrated planning) and maximise community confidence (broad area 3. Education, communication, consultation and commitment) in decisions made regarding seagrasses in the GBRWHA.
An outcome will be maps of tropical seagrasses for management of the resource and assessment of possible impacts. Much of the seagrass mapping conducted in the GBRWHA is issue related (e.g. cyclone and flood events, dredging, coastal developments) and requires up-to-date maps for best practice management decisions.”

Long-term chlorophyll monitoring of Great Barrier Reef waters

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“Enhanced runoff of terrestrial nutrients (esp. N and P) into the Great Barrier Reef as a result of human land use in the GBR catchment is regarded as a threat to the health and status of reef and coastal benthic ecosystems. As external nutrients are rapidly and largely taken up by phytoplankton, concentrations of chlorophyll a, provide a robust and convenient index of nutrient availability and nutrient-related water quality status. An increase in chlorophyll concentration can be regarded as indicative of increased nutrient availability and eutrophication.
To maintain a watch on regional water quality status and trends within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, GBRMPA established water quality sampling sites throughout the park. Basic water quality parameters (temperature, salinity, surface chlorophyll, water transparency) have been sampled have been sampled since 1992 at regular intervals by tourism operators and the Queensland National Park & Wildlife Service. The chlorophyll analyses have been undertaken by AIMS. This task transfers the chlorophyll monitoring program from GBRMPA to the CRC to be managed by AIMS with the intention that the latter will develop a more cost-effective program including satellite remote sensing.”

GBRWHA Monitoring Program: Inshore Reef Monitoring

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Monitoring of the inshore coral reefs most at risk from land-based sources of pollutants will be carried out to ensure that any change in their status is identified. Monitoring sites will be associated with the river mouth and inshore marine water quality-monitoring programs to enable correlation with concurrently collected water quality information. Monitoring will include the use of traditional video-transect monitoring, as well as the assessment of coral recruitment and population demography. Outcomes: Information about current status and long-term (10 year) trends in water quality and marine ecosystem status in the GBRWHA.

GBRWHA Monitoring Program: Intertidal Seagrass Monitoring

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Monitoring of the intertidal seagrass beds will be carried out to ensure that any change in their status is identified.

Monitoring sites will be associated with the river mouth and inshore marine water quality-monitoring programs to enable correlation with concurrently collected water quality information. Outcomes: Information about current status and long-term (10 year) trends in water quality and marine ecosystem status in the GBRWHA.