Port of Karumba long term seagrass monitoring: progress report: October 2004
Other Publication ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
The October 2004 monitoring survey has seen seagrass area and density (biomass) recover from the record low levels that occurred in 2002. The beginnings of the recovery process first observed in 2003 had continued with biomass and area returning to levels that occurred prior to the 2002 decline. There was a corresponding reduction in colonising seagrass species and seeds stored in the sediment (seed bank), indicating that some of the recovery had occurred through germination of stored seeds. Results of the seagrass monitoring program indicate that the Port of Karumba's marine environment appears relatively healthy. The most likely drivers of the observed seagrass loss and recovery in Karumba were related to regional climate rather than human activities or port related factors. The recovery of the seagrass meadows corresponded with a return of some climatic factors such as rainfall and cloud cover (solar irradiance) to more typical levels for the region than had occurred during 2002 and 2003. Changes to the Karumba seagrass meadows may have implications for commercial and recreational fisheries in the region. Initial investigations show declining catches for many fisheries species occurred at the same time as the seagrass decline. While further work is required to better establish links, the recent recovery of the seagrass meadows may herald a return to increased catches. Monitoring tools recently added to the program such as seed sampling, temperature and climate monitoring, and analysis of fisheries trends have increased our ability to interpret the causes of seagrass change, and enhanced our overall assessment of marine environment health for the survey region.
Journal
N/A
Publication Name
N/A
Volume
N/A
ISBN/ISSN
N/A
Edition
N/A
Issue
N/A
Pages Count
18
Location
N/A
Publisher
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F)
Publisher Url
N/A
Publisher Location
Cairns, QLD, Australia
Publish Date
N/A
Url
N/A
Date
N/A
EISSN
N/A
DOI
N/A