Appendix F. AIMS Regional Shoals and Shelf Assessment (Heyward Et
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Appendix F. AIMS Regional Shoals and Shelf Assessment (Heyward et al. 2017) Includes Addendum: Regional Biodiversity Patterns and Connectivity Amongst the Submerged Shoals and Banks in Relation to the Area of Influence from a Hypothetical Uncontrolled Release BAROSSA ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE STUDY 2015 AIMS FINAL REPORT SERINGAPATAM REEF BASELINE SURVEYS 2012-2013 Regional Shoals & Shelf Assessment 2015 Authors: Andrew Heyward, Ben Radford, Mike Cappo, Mary Wakeford, Rebecca Fisher, Jamie Colquhoun, Mark Case, Marcus Stowar, Karen Miller PRODUCED FOR ConocoPhillips Australia Pty Ltd Contract No. 251834.0-MSA-COMP-2.0 PERTH April 2017 Rev 1 BAROSSA ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE STUDY 2015 AIMS FINAL REPORT SERINGAPATAM REEF BASELINE SURVEYS 2012-2013 Final: 30 March 2009 Australian Institute of Marine Science PMB No 3 Townsville MC Qld 4810 University of Western Australia Oceans Institute (M096) 35 Stirling Hwy Crawley WA 6009 PO Box 41775 Casuarina NT 0811 This report should be cited as: A Heyward et al. 2017; Barossa Environmental Baseline Study, Regional Shoals and Shelf Assessment 2015 Final Report. A report for ConocoPhillips Australia Exploration Pty Ltd by the Australian Institute of Marine Science, Perth 2017. 143pp Corresponding Author: Dr Andrew Heyward [email protected] © Copyright Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and ConocoPhillips Australia Pty Ltd. 2017 All rights are reserved and no part of this document may be reproduced, stored or copied in any form or by any means whatsoever except with the prior written permission of AIMS and COPA. Revision History Issue Rev 1 Apr 2017 Issue Rev 0 Oct 2016 Draft Rev B Sept 2016 Draft Rev A June 2016 Acknowledgments: This survey relied on the professionalism and support of RV Solander’s Master & crew. We gratefully acknowledge Anne Kennedy for exemplary use of the multibeam system and Shaun Hahn for maintenance of the towed video system. Olwyn Hunt provided administrative support for the field program and report production. DISCLAIMER While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this document are factually correct, AIMS does not make any representation or give any warranty regarding the accuracy, completeness, currency or suitability for any particular purpose of the information or statements contained in this document. To the extent permitted by law AIMS shall not be liable for any loss, damage, cost or expense that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of or reliance on the contents of this document. ERINGAPATAM REEF BASELINE SURVEYS 2012-2013 BAROSSA ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE STUDY 2015 FINAL REPORT Contents List of Figures.................................................................................................................. ii List of Tables .................................................................................................................. ix Summary ....................................................................................................................... 1 Background ..................................................................................................................... 5 1 Methods ................................................................................................................. 6 1.1 Field sampling – Benthic habitats ......................................................................................... 7 1.1.1 Sampling design ............................................................................................................... 7 1.1.2 Multibeam ......................................................................................................................... 7 1.1.3 Towed video .................................................................................................................... 7 1.1.4 Still photo analysis .......................................................................................................... 7 1.2 Fish Communities ................................................................................................................ 10 1.2.1 Video Analysis ............................................................................................................... 11 1.3 Statistical analysis .................................................................................................................. 13 1.3.1 Benthic Spatial Models ................................................................................................. 13 1.3.2 Benthic composition within and between shoals .................................................. 15 1.3.3 Fish community composition within and between shoals ................................... 15 1.3.4 Analysis of regional patterns in benthic and fish communities. ......................... 18 1.4 Data management ................................................................................................................. 19 2. Results .................................................................................................................. 20 2.1 Spatial coverage of sampling ............................................................................................... 20 2.2 Shelf area characteristics ..................................................................................................... 20 2.2.1 Shelf Area Modelling results ....................................................................................... 21 2.3 Shelf Sediments ...................................................................................................................... 26 2.3.1 Regional comparisons - sediment ............................................................................. 27 2.4 Shoal characteristics ............................................................................................................. 29 2.4.1 Benthic habitats ............................................................................................................. 29 2.4.1.1 Broadscale Shoal features ........................................................................................... 29 2.4.1.2 Fine scale image analysis of Evans, Tassie and Blackwood Shoals ..................... 31 2.4.1.3 Shoal Benthic Habitat Modelling results .................................................................. 43 2.4.1.4. Fish communities .......................................................................................................... 58 2.5. Regional comparisons .......................................................................................................... 72 2.5.1 Benthos ........................................................................................................................... 72 2.5.2 Regional scale habitat model ............................................................................................. 78 2.5.3 Fish community comparisons .................................................................................... 81 3 Discussion ............................................................................................................ 84 4 References ........................................................................................................... 88 Appendix 1 .................................................................................................................... 91 Appendix 2 .................................................................................................................. 102 Appendix 3 .................................................................................................................. 112 Australian Institute of Marine Science Issue Rev 0 Oct 2016 Page | i ERINGAPATAM REEF BASELINE SURVEYS 2012-2013 BAROSSA ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE STUDY 2015 FINAL REPORT List of Figures FIGURE 1: LOCATION OF SHOAL AND SHELF STUDY SITES. TRACK OF THE RV SOLANDER DURING AIMS CRUISE 6251. ...................................................................................................................................... 6 FIGURE 2: STEREO‐BRUVS UNITS READY FOR DEPLOYMENT, DURING THE PROCESS OF RETRIEVAL, AND IN ACTION CAPTURING VIDEO ON THE SEABED. ............................................................................. 12 FIGURE 3: GOODRICH BANK AREA EXAMPLES – LIMITED PARTIAL HARD CORAL HABITAT AT 25 M DEPTH (LEFT IMAGE) WAS RARE AND ONLY ENCOUNTERED AT THE SHALLOWEST SITES, WHILE COARSE SANDY SUBSTRATE AND SPARSE FILTER FEEDERS (RIGHT IMAGE) WERE MORE TYPICAL. .............. 20 FIGURE 4: GOODRICH BANK AREA EXAMPLES ‐ MEDIUM DENSITY MIXED FILTER FEEDER COMMUNITY ASSOCIATED WITH PATCHES OF LOW RELIEF OUTCROPPING ROCK. .............................................. 21 FIGURE 5: TOWED VIDEO SAMPLING COMPLETED ADJACENT TO GOODRICH BANK. THE BATHYMETRIC REPRESENTATION OF THE SHOAL WAS PRODUCED FROM THE EXPEDITION’S MULTIBEAM DATA. A 3D REPRESENTATION OF THE SHOAL IS SHOWN IN THE LOWER RIGHT BOX. WARMER COLOURS ASSOCIATED WITH SHALLOWER DEPTHS. THE MULTI‐COLOURED “WORMS” SUMMARISE THE BENTHOS AS OBSERVED FROM THE REAL‐TIME TOWED VIDEO. ..................................................... 22 FIGURE 6: GOODRICH BANK SURVEY AREA ‐ MODELLED SPATIAL DISTRIBUTIONS DESCRIBING THE PRESENCE/ABSENCE PROBABILITIES FOR MAJOR BENTHIC HABITAT CLASSES GENERATED USING OBLIQUE FORWARD FACING REAL‐TIME SCORED TOWED VIDEO. THE 30 AND 50M DEPTH CONTOURS ARE SHOWN IN WHITE. ................................................................................................. 23 FIGURE 7: TOWED VIDEO SAMPLING COMPLETED