Data Collection Protocol for Mapping and Monitoring Mangrove
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Data collection protocol for mapping and monitoring mangrove communities in Queensland March 2011 Background There have been a number of key surveys undertaken of mangrove communities in Moreton Bay and other regions of Queensland over the last 4 decaddecades.es. In resporesponsense to concerns about the variation in data collection methods and in attempting to compare the findings ffrromom various research anandd survey activities underundertakentaken on the Employment, Economic Development and Innovation and Innovation Development Economic Employment, extent, condition and hehealthalth of mangrove communities in Moreton Bay, the Moreton Bay Mangrove Dieback Working Group was establisheestablishedd in 2009 (membership included the University of Queensland; Queensland Department of Department Herbarium; DERM (Mari(Marinene Parks); EHMP; Griffith DevelopmeDevelopmentnt of a separseparateate guide to in-field visuavisuall University; Port of Brisbane and DEEDI mangrove hhealth asseealth assessment,ssment, with photographic (Fisheries QQueensland).ueensland). and text descriptors of ththee mangrove health categories, would complement the protocol. The WorkinWorkingg Group has developed the Mangrove Data Collection Protocol for use as a Statewide standard of data points fforor future sursurvvey,ey, Research reportreportss monitoring and mapping works. The Protocol is Researchers are encourencouragedaged to provide a copy of applicable QQueenslandueensland wide for determining the any work undertaken on Mangrove ccommunitiesommunities distributiondistribution and monitoring the healthhealth of or other fish habitats to FFiisheries Qusheries Queenslandeensland mangrove ccoommunities.mmunities. (DEEDI). A summary of each researresearchch report will be placed oonn the DEEDI website. The protocol is divided inintoto three tables. Table 1 describes the reporting / ContContactactss monitoring zones to be used in Moreton Bay mangrove community studies, where applicable. In other Queensland regions, For further information on the Mangrove data an existing zonal scheme should be collectcollection prion protocolotocol and itsit applicas applicattionion to research adopted. projects inprojects in Queensland contact DawnDawn Couchman at DEEDI on 07 3224 22224949 or email Table 2 sets out the water quality, site [email protected]@deedi.qld.gov.au or contact and regional attributes ththatat may be the DEEDI customer information centre on measured or referred to and the quality 132523. assurance pprrocessocess that needs to be undertaken fforor mapping projects. Table 3 lists the categories and Links descriptors fforor assessinassessingg mangrove health (cond(condition),ition), collatcollateded from a number Protection & Management of marine plants of research programs and reports. The supporting rreferenceseferences prprovideovide further Fish habitat management research program detail and pphotographichotographic examples of each category. 1 Table 1 – Reporting / monitoring zones (e.g. Moreton Bay) vation Term Descriptor Reference A. Moreton Bay Nine (9) reporting zones, inclusive of the major waterways EHMP annual technical report 2006 – 07 Estuarine / marine Estuaries reporting as defined for Moreton Bay Region (Caloundra to Nerang methods lopment and Inno zones (EHMP) Figure River). EHMP Report Card 2010 1 below 1. Pumicestone Passage http://www.healthywaterways.org/inner.aspx?pageid=147 2. Deception Bay – Caboolture River mic Deve 3. Central Bay 4. Eastern Bay 5. Bramble Bay – Brisbane River, Oxley Creek, Bremer nt, Econo River, Cabbage Tree Creek, North Pine River 6. Eastern Banks 7. Waterloo Bay – Eprapah Creek, Tingalpa Creek 8. Southern Bay – The Logan / Albert Rivers, Pimpama Employme River, Coomera River 9. Broadwater – Nerang River nt of rtmeaDep nt of vation Table 2 - Description of data attributes / indicators Term Descriptor Reference Water Quality lopment and Inno pH Term for potential hydrogen - a measure of free hydrogen ions or the EHMP annual technical report 2006 – 07 acidity of water. Estuarine / marine methods mic Deve Measure surface and pore water pH Useful to specify where in the mangroves observations should be made. nt, Econo Surface water Measure of concentration of inorganic ions, usually mineral salts in EHMP annual technical report 2006 – 07 Salinity water. Measured indirectly with a YSI 6920 salinity sensor. Salinity is Estuarine / marine methods measured from conductivity which is highly dependent on water temperature – varies as much as 3% for each change of 1 degree Employme Celsius. nt of rtmeaDep nt of Pore water salinity Pore water samples are collected using an apparatus based on McKee FHC Environmental Fisherman Islands and et al (1988) which consists of an outer rigid plastic tube (15mm diam, Whyte island mangrove Health Assessment sealed at lower end) and an inner plastic tube (5mm diam), both of 2008 which are perforated and connected to a 50mL syringe. Water temperature Measure of ambient water temperature using a YSI 6920 sensor. Dissolved Oxygen Measure of levels of dissolved oxygen in the water column using a multi EHMP annual technical report 2006 – 07 probe YSI 6920 sensor. DO is measured as a concentration of oxygen in Estuarine / marine methods mg/l and recalculated using temperature to return percentage saturation (%) Redox potential Redox potential (Eh) measures the affinity of a substance for electrons compared to that of hydrogen (set at 0). Substances more strongly electronegative than hydrogen (and capable of oxidising) have positive redox potentials while those less electronegative than hydrogen (capable of reducing) have negative redox potentials. This determines whether soils are aerobic or anaerobic, and whether chemical compounds such as Fe oxides or nitrate have been chemically reduced or are present in their oxidized forms. 2 vation Term Descriptor Reference Surface and pore water Samples are collected using specific field techniques and analyzed by EHMP annual technical report 2006 – 07 nutrients – N & P Qld Health Estuarine / marine methods Chlorophyll a Measure used to determine phytoplankton biomass as an indicator of EHMP annual technical report 2006 – 07 the nutrient and light conditions present Estuarine / marine methods lopment and Inno Turbidity Measure of light scattering by suspended particles in water, providing an EHMP annual technical report 2006 – 07 indirect measure of light penetration. A YSI 6920 turbidity sensor is Estuarine / marine methods mic Deve used. Output is recorded in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTUs) Water clarity A Secchi disk is used to measure light penetration. EHMP annual technical report 2006 – 07 Estuarine / marine methods nt, Econo Sample site characteristics Sediment type Dominant substratum at the site e.g.: Fisheries guidelines for conducting an Employme Fines / mud - <0.06 mm inventory of instream structures in coastal Queensland (Lawrence et al 2009) nt of rtmeaDep nt of Sand – 0.06 – 2 mm Gravel – 2 – 16 mm Pebble – 16 – 64 mm Cobble – 64 – 256 mm Boulder - > 256 mm Bed rock / Reef Measured using a sediment grab or visual assessment at low tide Seedling density / Seedling abundance categories FRC Environmental Fisherman Islands and abundance Whyte Island Mangrove Health Assessment Very abundant: 100% of space is covered. Seedlings form a dense 2008 carpet, no gaps. Abundant: Most space covered, some gaps. For Port of Brisbane Common: Seedlings are common but do not form a carpet. Sparse: < than 1 seedling per square meter Absent: No seedlings present Tree diameter Measure diameter of mangrove trees at breast height (dbh) May demonstrate a strong link between girth & age 3 vation Term Descriptor Reference Epiphytic algae cover Abundance of epiphytic macroalgae on mangrove pneumatophores FRC Environmental Fisherman Islands and Very abundant > 75% cover (heavy coating) Whyte Island Mangrove Health Assessment Abundant 50-75% cover (easily visible) 2008 Common 10-50% cover (some algae visible) Rare < 10% cover For Port of Brisbane lopment and Inno Macroalgae mat density Mat-forming algae abundance as % cover of sediment FRC Environmental Fisherman Islands and and abundance Very abundant > 75% sediment covered Whyte Island Mangrove Health Assessment mic Deve Abundant 50-75% sediment covered 2008 for Port of Brisbane Common 10-50% sediment covered Rare < 10% sediment covered Seagrass wrack presence Measure of amount (percent cover & depth) of seagrass wrack present FRC Environmental Fisherman Islands and nt, Econo and height of berm created by the seagrass wrack Whyte Island Mangrove Health Assessment 2008 for Port of Brisbane Light intensity beneath Measured using a ST – 1301 light meter Marine Blancher, May 2008 Honours Thesis Employme the canopy This value will vary on season, time of day and cloud cover etc and is nt of rtmeaDep nt of subject to variation at the one site and from day to day and over a day. Light percentage Measured by dividing under canopy light intensity with open-canopy light Marine Blancher, May 2008 Honours Thesis intensity. Macrofauna abundance Number of crab holes covering the sediment FRC Environmental Fisherman Islands and Very abundant > 50% sediment covered Whyte Island Mangrove Health Assessment Abundant 25-50% sediment covered 2008 for Port of Brisbane. Common < 25% sediment covered Rare No macrofauna or crab holes evident Crabs are considered a key stone species and are used as an indicator of productivity & importance of site to support marine fauna. .Active crab