Port of Weipa long‐term seagrass monitoring program, 2000‐2020
Other Publication ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
Monitoring in 2020 found seagrasses in the port of Weipa were in good condition overall. - Most monitoring meadows were in good or very good condition for all three indicators measured; biomass, area and species composition. - Total area of seagrass meadows in the region closest to the port (Intensive Monitoring Area (IMA)) was one of the highest recorded in the 20‐year monitoring program history. Seagrass cover across the broader port area (including Pine River Bay, Embley, Hey and Mission Rivers) was higher than any other survey since monitoring began in 2000. Light conditions were above the threshold for seagrass growth and survival throughout the year, with the exception of an expected period during the wet season. Favourable climate conditions for multiple years has led to greater seagrass cover across the port and the overall good condition of Weipa’s seagrass in 2020. The healthy state of Weipa’s seagrassin 2020 means they should be resilient to planned maintenance dredging activities in 2021 assuming that there are no major seagrass losses associated with the predicted La Nina weather conditions leading up to the 2021 maintenance dredging campaign.
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20/58
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49
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TropWATER, James Cook University
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Cairns, QLD, Australia
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