Benthic macro-invertebrates of Cairns Harbour and Trinity Inlet: survey: 2012/13
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This report details results of the algae and benthic macro-invertebrate component of the Cairns Harbour and Trinity Inlet baseline survey conducted between October 2012 and January 2013 as part of investigations for the Cairns Shipping Development Project EIS. The 2012/13 baseline survey of the Port of Cairns provided a comprehensive assessment of algae and benthic macro-invertebrates, and the most comprehensive assessment of seagrass distribution and abundance since 2001. Results of the survey found that the Port of Cairns contained a diverse range of benthic community types that were typical of communities found in estuarine and deep water areas elsewhere in the tropical Queensland such as the Port of Abbot Point, Port of Hay Point, and Port Curtis. Typically the majority of these areas are dominated by open substrate with only a low density of benthic individuals. In the Port of Cairns habitat forming benthic macro-invertebrates were predominantly found in the outer harbour area with little to no benthic macro-invertebrates occurring in the inner harbour or Trinity Inlet. This result contrasted the occurrence of macro algae which tended to occur in areas of the inner harbour and Trinity Inlet rather than the outer harbour area. While a diversity of taxa and community types were found, the dominant benthic habitat feature in the Port of Cairns was open substrate containing a low per cent cover of benthic life. There were no benthic communities that could be described as "high density" and there were no unique or unusual benthic macro-invertebrate or algal communities found within the survey area. Many of the algae and benthic macro-invertebrate communities described in this survey occurred in proximity to maintained channels, port facilities and the dredge spoil disposal site. This was the first time that algae and benthic macro-invertebrate communities have been examined at this scale in the Port of Cairns and the 2012/13 survey provides a baseline from which future changes can be assessed. The survey provides a good indication of the location of significant benthic communities in the port but it is likely that many of the communities described would vary seasonally and between years and the potential for changes to distribution and density should be considered when interpreting the results.
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13/39
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32
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TropWATER, James Cook University
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Cairns, QLD, Australia
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