Biological Data from a Survey of the Major Marine Benthic Habitats of the South Coast Between Red Island and Starvation Boat Harbour (23 March-2 April 1998)
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MARINE RESERVE IMPLEMENTATION: WA SOUTH COAST BIOLOGICAL DATA FROM A SURVEY OF THE MAJOR MARINE BENTHIC HABITATS OF THE SOUTH COAST BETWEEN RED ISLAND AND STARVATION BOAT HARBOUR (23 MARCH-2 APRIL 1998) Data Report: MRI/WSC/FBR - 41/2000 A collaborative project between the Marine Conservation Branch and the South Coast Region of the Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management, and the University of Western Australia Prepared by K.P. Bancroft & J.A. Davidson Marine Conservation Branch November 2000 Marine Conservation Branch Department of Conservation and Land Management 47 Henry St Marine Conservation Branch CALM T:\144-Marine Conservation Branch\Shared Data\Current_MCB_reports\MRI\mri_4100\mri_4100.doc 11:24 25/06/01 MARINE RESERVE IMPLEMENTATION: WA SOUTH COAST BIOLOGICAL DATA FROM A SURVEY OF THE MAJOR MARINE BENTHIC HABITATS OF THE SOUTH COAST BETWEEN RED ISLAND AND STARVATION BOAT HARBOUR (23 MARCH-2 APRIL 1998) Data Report: MRI/WSC/FBR - 41/2000 A collaborative project between the Marine Conservation Branch and the South Coast Region of the Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management, and the University of Western Australia Prepared by K.P. Bancroft & J.A. Davidson Marine Conservation Branch November 2000 Marine Conservation Branch Department of Conservation and Land Management 47 Henry St Marine Conservation Branch CALM Fremantle, Western Australia, 6160 T:\144-Marine Conservation Branch\Shared Data\Current_MCB_reports\MRI\mri_4100\mri_4100.doc 11:24 25/06/01 Marine Conservation Branch CALM T:\144-Marine Conservation Branch\Shared Data\Current_MCB_reports\MRI\mri_4100\mri_4100.doc 11:24 25/06/01 Marine Conservation Branch CALM ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CALM Collaboration · Tim Daly - Technical Officer, MCB. · John Watson - Manager, South Coast Region. · Peter Collins - District Wildlife Officer, Albany District. · Mark True - Ranger, Fitzgerald River National Park. · John Lukins - CALM Volunteer. · Rein von Nordheim - CALM Volunteer. External Collaboration · Gary Kendrick - Botany Department, University of Western Australia. · Simon Montgomery - Botany Department, University of Western Australia. · Albertus Smit - Botany Department, University of Western Australia. · Jamie Allnutt - South Coast Regional Co-ordinator, Coastwest-Coastcare. Funding and resources · Funding for this project was provided by CALM’s Marine Conservation Branch (MCB). · Resources including scientific and technical assistance, logistical support and field equipment were provided by the Botany Department, University of Western Australia and MCB. · Resources including administrative assistance and logistical/operational support were provided by CALM’s South Coast Region. Cover: Courtesy of Eva Boogaard. This report may be cited as: Bancroft, K. P. and Davidson, J. A. (2000). Biological data from a survey of the major marine benthic habitats of the South Coast between Red Island and Starvation Boat Harbour (23 March-2 April). Data Report: MRI/WSC/FBR-41/2000. November 2000. Marine Conservation Branch, Department of Conservation and Land Management (Unpublished report). Copies of this report may be obtained from: Marine Conservation Branch I T:\144-Marine Conservation Branch\Shared Data\Current_MCB_reports\MRI\mri_4100\mri_4100.doc 11:24 25/06/01 Marine Conservation Branch CALM Department of Conservation and Land Management 47 Henry St., Fremantle, Western Australia, 6160 Ph: 61-8-9432 5100; Fax: 61-8-9430 5408 II T:\144-Marine Conservation Branch\Shared Data\Current_MCB_reports\MRI\mri_4100\mri_4100.doc 11:24 25/06/01 Marine Conservation Branch CALM SUMMARY This report presents the results of a shore-based biological field survey of the major benthic habitats of the nearshore marine environment adjacent to the eastern section of the Fitzgerald Biosphere Reserve, from Red Island to Starvation Boat Harbour. The survey was carried out to systematically and quantitatively examine the shallow water fish fauna and macroalgal communities of the major benthic habitats within this region. The field survey was conducted from 23 March 1998 to 2 April 1998 and coordinated by the Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management’s (CALM’s) Marine Conservation Branch in collaboration with staff from CALM’s South Coast Region, and marine scientists from the University of Western Australia. The report of the Marine Parks and Reserves Selection Working Group (CALM, 1994), identified a number of marine areas adjacent to existing terrestrial reserves along the south coast, that were considered suitable candidate areas for possible incorporation into the state system of representative marine conservation reserves. This included several areas adjacent to the Fitzgerald Biosphere Reserves. As a result of the high conservation value of these areas, a biological field survey of the major benthic habitats adjacent to the western section of the Fitzgerald Biosphere Reserve, from Groper Bluff to Red Island, was undertaken in March 1997. A second biological field survey (presented in this document) was conducted as a follow-up survey, to gather data on the major benthic habitats adjacent to the eastern section of the Fitzgerald Biosphere Reserve, from Red Island to Starvation Boat Harbour. The primary objectives of this follow-up survey were to provide quantitative information on the fish fauna and macroalgal communities at representative sites within the major benthic habitats and to qualitatively investigate the influence of physical parameters, such as substrate type and wave exposure, on community diversity. The survey also involved the collection of data that can be utilised as baseline information for long-term monitoring of biological communities in these waters. The objectives of the survey were achieved. The data acquired during this survey is important for the determination of the relative conservation values of the respective major benthic habitats of the nearshore marine environment, adjacent to the eastern section of the Fitzgerald Biosphere Reserve. It will also contribute to the information base that would be required for any future marine conservation reserve planning process, during which marine reserve boundaries and management zones would be considered for areas such as the Fitzgerald River and Stokes Inlet region. III T:\144-Marine Conservation Branch\Shared Data\Current_MCB_reports\MRI\mri_4100\mri_4100.doc 11:24 25/06/01 Marine Conservation Branch CALM CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.........................................................................................................I SUMMARY..............................................................................................................................III LIST OF FIGURES.................................................................................................................. IV LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................... IV 1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 BACKGROUND....................................................................................................................1 1.2 OBJECTIVES........................................................................................................................2 2 METHODS......................................................................................................................... 2 2.1 SURVEY AREA ....................................................................................................................2 2.2 SITE SELECTION..................................................................................................................5 2.3 QUANTITATIVE SAMPLING METHODOLOGY.........................................................................5 2.3.1 Visual census of fish fauna ....................................................................................... 5 2.3.2 Quadrat sampling of macroalgal assemblages.......................................................... 6 2.4 QUALITATIVE SAMPLING METHODOLOGY ...........................................................................6 3 RESULTS............................................................................................................................ 6 3.1 SITE AND HABITAT DATA ..................................................................................................6 3.2 FISH DATA .......................................................................................................................12 3.3 MACROALGAE DATA .......................................................................................................12 4 DATA MANAGEMENT .................................................................................................. 12 4.1 DATA REPORT..................................................................................................................12 4.2 HABITAT DATA ...............................................................................................................13 5 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 13 APPENDICES.......................................................................................................................... 14 APPENDIX I LATITUDE AND LONGITUDES OF SITES SAMPLED IN THE MAJOR BENTHIC HABITATS OF THE STUDY AREA ....................................................................................