Field surveys to investigate the status of mangroves impacted by oil spills, were undertaken between December 1996 and April 1997. Nine sites were investigated, based initially on information supplied by the APPEA Research Working Group and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. The site locations surveyed include: Torres Strait, Queensland; Cape Flattery, Queensland; Yorkeys Knob, near Cairns, Queensland; Botany Bay, Sydney, New South Wales; Parramatta River, Sydney, New South Wales; Spencer Gulf, South Australia; Cape Lambert, Western Australia; Johns Creek, Point Samson, Western Australia; Withnell Bay, Western Australia. These sites included most of the sites around the Australian coastine where mangroves had been affected by oil spills between 1970 and 1996.For each site measurements were made of tree and seedling condition, sediments were sampled for hydrocarbon analyses, an incident report was compiled using a standard format and information was collected on any prior studies conducted at each site (see Data Quality for further details). This research was a component of the project "Fate and effects of oil and dispersed oil on mangrove ecosystems in Australia" and was undertaken to provide a assessment of the longer term impacts of oil spills on mangrove habitat. The objectives of these surveys were:1) to assess damage to mangrove habitat, particularly deforestation, if any;2) to describe the status, recovery and recruitment of trees following the spill;3) to determine the current status of hydrocarbons in the sediments, and4) to systematically document the findings in standardised case study reports All sites, but one, were visited by the research team. The site near Port Pirie in Spencer Gulf was inaccessible at the time of the survey, and the team relied on data collected for the South Australian Department of Environment and Land Management.

Densities and individual wet weights of Holothuria atra and Stichopus chloronotus were measured on near-shore reefs of the central Great Barrier Reef, to determine the effect of asexual reproduction by transverse fission on the population structure of holothurians. Permanent stations were established at Fantome Island, Brook Island and at two sites in Little Cannon Bay, Great Palm Island.Holothurian densities were estimated every 1 to 3 months between March 1995 and August 1996 and again in April 1997 after Cyclone Justin, which occurred in March 1997. Fixed transect lines were established parallel to the shore and for each survey, a number of sub-transects, each 10 m long were deployed at random intervals, perpendicular to the transect line and all individuals within 1 m either side of each 10 m transect were counted. Only Holothuria atra was counted at Brook and Fantome Islands as Stichopus chloronotus does not occur at these sites.At Brook Island, transect lines were established at 5-15 m and 25-35 m seawards from the mean high tide level and 10 sub-transects were deployed per line. Twenty sub-transects were deployed from a single 100 m transect line at Fantome Island. At Great Palm Island, 10 sub-transects were deployed along a single transect line at one site and along two transect lines at a second site, which were set 10-20 m and 30-40 seaward of the mean high tide level. Additional 50 x 2m line transects were counted at both sites on Great Palm Island on a number of occasions.Weight frequency distributions were determined for Stichopus chloronotus from both sites at Great Palm Island and for Holothuria atra from Fantome Island and Brook Island. Random samples of each population, including intact individuals and fission products were collected and wet weights were measured on shore after allowing individuals to eject water from their respiratory trees. In addition, 151 recently divided Holothuria atra and 120 Stichopus chloronotus were weighed to determine the size range of fission products.All weights were grouped into 10 or 15 g size classes and biomass for each sampling month was calculated as the frequency of each weight class x the modal value of the class x the density. For months where size structure or density was not estimated, values for closest sampling occasion were used in calculations.A conceptual model based on these and previous findings was developed and 5 factors (mortality, habitat stability, optimum individual size, food availability and larval supply) were hypothesized as having an influence on promotion or repression of transverse fission. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of asexual reproduction by transverse fission on the population structure of holothurians.

The distribution of seedlings of the two subspecies of Ceriops tagal (Ceriops tagal var. tagal and Ceriops tagal var. australis) was measured in relation to soil pore water salinity in the "Wet Desert" in Missionary Bay on Hinchinbrook Island and at Chunda Bay. At each location, three 60 m transects, spaced 10 m apart, running from the interface between the terrestrial and mangrove forests into the mangroves were established. Three replicate soil cores were taken at 10 m intervals along each transect and the salinity of pore water draining into each hole was measured using a conductivity meter. If water did not percolate into the hole, soil samples were taken to the laboratory and squeezed under low pressure to obtain a pore water sample. The density of seedlings of both subspecies was also measured in 3 replicate 10 m² quadrats at each 10m interval along each transect.Freshly picked, mature hypocotyls were weighed and planted out in trays in a shadehouse in different combinations of salinity and proportion of each subspecies. The salinities used were 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 ppt, while the proportions of subspecies were 100% of a given subspecies, 67% tagal-33% australis and 33% tagal-67% australis. Stem height, percent mortality and percent leaf emergence were measured every week for six weeks and every 2 weeks for a further 4 months. This research was undertaken to determine if competition between the two subspecies of Ceriops tagal contributed to the difference in the distribution of the two subspecies along a salinity gradient.

An Aanderaa RCM current meter was attached to mooring CM6, which was deployed in 50m of water. Deployment Details:Date Deployed: 2/4/1987Date Recovered: 6/9/1987Instrument Deployed:RCM #6332; Depth: 25m The aim of this project was to collect field data to calibrate a numerical model for the combined tidal and wind-forced circulation at John Brewer Reef, and to apply those circulation patterns to calculate the trajectories, residence times and likelihood of outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish on areas of the reef. The locations for moorings CM6, CM7, CM8 and CM12 were chosen on the basis of results from a complementary project, where numerical models of hydrodynamics and dispersion were used to simulate the wind, tidal, long-period current and wave circulation around GBR reefs, for examination of dispersal of larvae of the crown-of-thorns starfish.

2 deployments of tide gauges (Aanderaa WLR) were made at Flinders Reef (-17.867, 148.567). This dataset is a component of the project 'Water Level Variations along the Outer Great Barrier Reef 1985-1988' Deployment 1: Date deployed: 20/5/86Date recovered: 31/5/87 Deployment 2: Date deployed: 1/6/87 Date recovered: 10/5/88

A preliminary study on the effects of marine snow on organisms of the Great Barrier Reef was carried out experimentally in the laboratory.A 15 cm branch of Acropora sp. (from a coastal reef near Cairns) was cut into 20 pieces less than 1 cm and positioned in groups of four on slides and exposed to sedimentation in tanks with different water regimes: coastal water (contained some marine snow), offshore water (no marine snow detected), nearshore water (no marine snow detected). To test the short-term effects of deposition of TEP-enriched muddy marine snow and sediments on the survival of small reef associated organisms, by exposing them to sediments with and without TEP-enrichment.

A comprehensive study of the hydrodynamics of Britomart Reef was carried out over a 3 week period in July 1979. An Aanderaa RCM4 current meter was deployed 1.2 m above the seabed in 30 m of water at each of the deep passes south (Site 1) and north (Site 2) of Britomart Reef. Data were recorded at 10 minute intervals for 3 weeks.Aanderaa RCM4 current meters were also deployed 1.2 m above the seabed at the western entrance to the reef (Site 3), 100 m inside the lagoon from the northern reef flat (Site 4), in the pass between the central and western lagoons (Site 5) and at the southern entrance to the reef (Site 6). Data were recorded at 10 minute intervals for 10 days. Data from sites 5 and 6 are incomplete.A continuous recording Marinco Q-15 current meter was suspended from a frame at a depth of 90cm above the bottom on the southern reef flat, 100m from the reef edge (Site 7) for 1 week. Another Marinco Q-15 current meter was suspended 1.5m from the surface from a vessel at the northern entrance (Site 8) for one tidal cycle.A Microdata weather station was mounted on a 10m tower erected on the reef flat between the western and southern entrances (Site O). Data were recorded every 10 minutes. Additional weather data from the Townsville airport were provided by the Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology.Three stilling wells were installed beside towers erected approximately 200m apart from the reef edge to the lagoon, across the southern reef flat in the vicinity of Site 7.Curtain drogues (2m wide x 2m deep), suspended from a surface float connected to a buoy fitted with a radar reflector were deployed in the western lagoon and tracked by radar at half-hourly intervals.Microscale currents over the southern reef flat were studied qualitatively by observing the movement of dye released at 5 locations between the southern entrance and Site 7.The surface temperature field in the area was mapped using infra-red photographs from the Nimbus-N satellite. This research was initiated to collect hydrodynamic data from around Britomart Reef in order to assist in other scientific investigations.

During September 1991 and January 1993, permanent plots were established in the three major mangrove forest types in the Fly River delta to follow the growth rates of marked trees. A total of 13 plots were established in Nypa forests on Puruta, Aibinio and Wabuda Islands in September 1991. In January 1993, 5 plots were established in Rhizophora-Bruguiera forests on Umuda Island and 5 plots in Sonneratia-Avicennia forests on small islets east of Sumagi Island.The size of plots varied with tree densities in each forest type and ranged from 50 to 500 m². The diameter of each tree in the plot was measured at breast height (DBH = 1.5 m above the sediment). In the Nypa plots all emergent tree species other than Nypa were similarly measured and tagged. For Nypa, the plot was surveyed using an angle-count cruising method to obtain size frequency distribution of Nypa fronds (the palm has a creeping trunk with upright fronds) and their density per hectare. All fronds of at least four trees in each of 12 plots were measured (DBH) and tagged (13-19 fronds per plot).Size-frequencies and densities of trees and Nypa fronds in plots were converted to biomass per hectare using known allometric relationships between DBH and weight for trees or a measured relationship for Nypa based on harvesting and weighing fronds in the Fly Delta.All Nypa plots were remeasured 12 months after establishment in September 1992. Significant turnover and growth of Nypa fronds was observed. For the two canopy emergent tree species in the Nypa forests, Heritiera littoralis and Xylocarpus granatum, only Xylocarpus granatum showed significant trunk growth within this period. The plots in the other forest types were not remeasured at this time. However, these plots were revisited in February/March 1995.Trunk mass increments for individual Xylocarpus granatum trees were calculated by subtracting mass at time zero (calculated from DBH measurements and allometric relationships between DBH and weight) from mass at t = 1 yr. For Nypa, the same procedure was followed for fronds present at t= 0 and also for fronds that were produced during the year. For Xylocarpus granatum, mass increments were summed for all trees in a plot to obtain annual trunk and branch wood production per unit area. For Nypa, annual mass increments per tree were multiplied by tree densities to obtain production on an areal basis. Permanent plots were established to check the validity of previous estimates of mangrove forest production in the Fly River delta. Earlier estimates were based on a rapid survey technique, which is thought to underestimate productivity. Determining the growth rates of marked trees in these plots allows for a more accurate estimation of the production of trunk and branch wood in the major forest types. A larger number of Nypa plots were chosen to examine the potential for aging stem sections of Nypa for investigations of recent metal histories. This research project was a component of a larger project "The influence of fluvial discharge on the pelagic and benthic ecology and biogeochemistry of the Fly Delta and Gulf of Papua". It follows on from an earlier project "The influence of freshwater and detrital export from the Fly River system on adjacent pelagic and benthic systems".Rhizophora-Bruguiera forests dominate the seaward end of the Fly Delta and Nypa palm forms extensive forests in the mid intertidal zone in the mid- to low-salinity regions. Sonneratia-Avicennia forests occurr on accreting mud banks throughout the delta, but Sonneratia lanceolata is most abundant in the near-freshwater regions of the upper delta and extended some 240 km upstream from the sea.The rapid survey techniques used in the 1989/90 surveys are described in:Robertson AI, Daniel PA, Dixon P (1991) Mangrove forest structure and productivity in the Fly River estuary, Papua New Guinea, Marine Biology 111: 147-155. This publication is also referred to in the metadata record:Mangrove forest structure and productivity in the Fly River estuary, Papua New Guinea

1689 symbionts from 1114 crinoids of the Central Great Barrier Reef were assigned to 46 taxa from 5 invertebrate classes. Crinoid specimens were collected from 46 sites (24 sites on 12 reefs, 2 sites per reef, and 22 sites at Davies Reef, see separate metadata record).Species abundance and species richness were recorded and Cramer values applied. In addition, 46 taxa were identified as symbiotic associates of the crinoids. To provide ecological information on crinoid communities of the Great Barrier Reef.First large-scale study of the structure and composition of crinoid communities on the central Great Barrier Reef. Symbiont taxa: Crustacea (Amphipoda: sp.1, sp.2; Isopoda: Carteolania integra); ecapoda (Natantia: Athanas ornithorhynchos, Palaemonella pottsi, Parapontonia nudirostis, Periclimenes affinis, Periclimenes albolineata, Periclimenes amboinensis, Periclimenes attenuatus, Periclimenes commensalism, Periclimenes tenuis, Pontiniopsis comanthi, Synalpheus carinatus, Synalpheus demani, Synalpheus stimpsoni, Synalpheus tropicocactylus, unidentified shrimps); astropoda (Annulobalcis sp., Bittium sp., Chrysallida sp., Columbellidae sp., Curvculima spp. 1-11, Pyrene sp., Stiliferina sp., Triphora sp., Triphoridae sp., Turridae); Myzostomata; Ophiuroidea; and Polychaeta.Host crinoid species: Amphimetra laevipinna, Antedonid sp., Capillaster multiradiatus, Cenometra bella, Clarkcomanthus albinotus, Clarkcomanthus littoralis, Clarkcomanthus luteofuscum, Comanthina schlegeli, Comanthus alternans, Comanthus gisleni, Comanthus parvicirrus, Comanthus wahlbergi, Comaster brevicirrus, Comaster gracilis, Comaster multifidus, Comaster pulcher, Comatella maculate, Comatella nigra, Comatella sp., Comatella stelligera, Comatula pectinata, Comatula purpurea, Decametra laevipinna, Decametra sp.a, Dorometra nana, Euantedon polytes, Himerometra bartschi, Himerometra magnipinna, Himerometra robustipinna, Iconometra intermedia, Liparometra articulate, Oligometra serripinna, Oxycomanthus benetti, Oxycomanthus comanthipinna, Oxycomanthus exilis, Oxycomanthus mirus, Oxycomanthus perplexum, Petasometra clarae, Stephanometra indica, Stephanometra oxyacantha, Stephanometra spicata, Stephanometra spinipinna, Tropiometra afra.

An Aanderaa RCM4S rotor current meter was deployed on a frame at Station BG06. This was one of three current meters placed to investigate the complex coastal jet and one of two current meters placed to investigate the strong tidal currents in the southeast corner of the bay.Deployment Details:Instrument: RCM4S #6332Instrument depth: 4mSampling interval: 30 minutesDate deployed: 23/10/1984Date recovered: 18/02/1985 This study was initiated to:1. gain an understanding of the circulation of water in Bowling Green Bay2. complement concurrent studies by AIMS scientists researching the ecology, nutrient regime and trophodynamics of the coastal boundary of the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.