This data set was collected by sensors deployed as part of the Port Curtis Integrated Monitoring Program PCIMP - ZONE 09a - South Trees Inlet (lower).

This simulation model allows various scenarios to be run which test how different percentages of nutrient reductions (and the parallel improvement in inshore reef quality) might operate in conjunction with raised water temperatures (as a result of climate change). The model has been used for the following simulations: The beneficial impact of end-of-catchment dissolved inorganic nutrients reductions (10%, 30%, 50% and 70%) in raising the bleaching resistance (i.e. the UTBT, °C) of inshore reefs between Townsville and Cooktown. The impact of 10%, 30%, 50% and 70% reductions in end-of-catchment dissolved inorganic nutrients for the Burdekin, Herbert, Tully, Johnstone, Russell, Barron, Daintree, Endeavour, Jeannie and Normanby river systems. Two scenarios for the Tully River Basin - an 18% reduction in fertiliser N application, and a 35% reduction. To develop a tool that enables greater characterization of risks posed to the linked GBR social-ecological system due to the effects of climate change. The model interfaces source code written in C++ with ArcGIS webmaps. Details pertaining to the rationale, development and application of the individual submodels and integrating framework can be found within the refereed journal articles.

A one-off study of the effects of handling on Coscinoderma mathewsi around Masig (Yorke) and Kodall (off Masig) Islands. Experimental work was carried out in 2009.Measurements of growth (cm) and survival were made to determine how handling might affect sponge growth and survival under aquaculture conditions. To determine how handling under aquaculture condiditons might affect sponge growth and survival in Coscinoderma mathewsi.

Sensor network infrastructure was installed at Davies Reef in the central Great Barrier Reef off Townsville, Australia. The infrastructure consists of a base station mounted on the existing reef communications tower and a number of buoys which carry the actual sensors. The initial design is to monitor the flow of water through the lagoon, the connectivity between the lagoon and the open ocean and the presence of an upwelling signal as oceanic water crosses the open shelf in the Townsville region. This site is linked to ones on the edge of the shelf (Myrmidon Reef) and sites closer in such as Rib Reef and Orpheus Island. The deployment in December 2009 consisted of the base station using the Telstra nextG service and five buoys or sensor floats. The sensor floats carry a mixture of sensors but typically a surface MEA Thermistor and a bottom mounted SeaBird SBE39 (temp + pressure), for some floats the SBE39 is replaced by a SBE37 to give salinity (as conductivity), temperature and presure. On the tower is a vaisala WXT520 weather station. The project looks to deploy sensor networks at seven sites along the Great Barrier Reef to measure a range of physical parameters at a range of scales. The project will install communications, data and platform infrastructure that will support future sensor work looking at biological and chemical parameters. Wireless Sensor Networks Facility (formerly known as Facility for The Automated Intelligent Monitoring of Marine Systems (FAIMMS)), part of the Great Barrier Reef Ocean Observing System project (GBROOS) (IMOS)

The 'Wireless Sensor Networks Facility' (formerly known as Facility for The Automated Intelligent Monitoring of Marine Systems (FAIMMS)), part of the Great Barrier Reef Ocean Observing System project (GBROOS), is a facility of the Australian 'Integrated Marine Observing System' (IMOS) project. This data set was collected by the Great Barrier Reef Wireless Sensor Network.

Towed Video transects + Digital StillsCTDSBRUVS ARP7 Shoals Trip 6183To characterise the status of and natural temporal variability in sessile benthic biota and associated fish communities, across the plateau areas on the two named shoals in the Browse Basin closest to the Prelude/Ichthys operational wells. The project will provide a reference dataset, updated annually, for the status of key biodiversity indicators habitats at Echuca and Heywood Shoals.

The macro-epibenthos of tidal mangrove creeks in Missionary Bay and in the Murray River estuary in tropical northeastern Queensland was sampled on a seasonal basis. Missionary Bay has an extensive (50 km2) mangrove forest dissected by several tidal creeks, only one of which (Bowen Creek) has significant freshwater input. In contrast, the nearby Murray River catchment receives a rainfall of >2000 mm/y and estuarine salinity ranged from 3.2-31.0 parts per thousand at the sampling sites used in the study.The inshore (mangrove habitats)-offshore (embayment) patterns in total faunal taxonomic richness (means ranging from 0 to 32·5 taxa per trawl) and density (range of means, < 1·55 individuals/m2) were generally complex, with patterns across the gradient changing seasonally. Patterns in total biomass (range of means 0-740mg/m2) were clearer, with highest biomasses recorded in May (post-wetseason) and lowest in February (mid-wet season), with no significant cross habitat gradient in biomass. Densities and biomasses were lower than those recorded in other studies, probably owing to the physically harsh conditions available to epibenthos and to the low quality of mangrove detritus as a food source. The significant difference in the structure of epibenthic communities in mangrove and embayment habitats in the dry season months (August and October) was likely due to the longer residence time of water in mangrove waterways at that time of the year. Greater tidal amplitudes and increased tidal current velocities in February transported mangrove detritus and many faunal taxa into embayments. Variation in the quantities of exported mangrove detritus in nettings explained significant proportions of the variance in total (and component taxa) epibenthic standing stocks in mangrove and embayment habitats. Several factors may be important in causing the positive response of different groups within the epibenthos to mangrove detritus. For penaeid shrimps it seems likely that clumps of exported mangrove detritus provide refuges from predatory fish in both mangrove and embayment habitats. This research was undertake to investigate the relationship between exported mangrove detritus and macro-epibenthic faunal communities and also the way in which the community structure of epibenthos changes with distance from mangrove habitats. The epibenthos was sampled using a specially designed beam trawl with high pressure water jets mounted within the trawl (cf. Penn and Stalker, 1975)

Plasma tissue and haemolymph samples from 118 species across a range of phyla were assayed for the presence of saxiphilin [3H]STX, a soluble protein which binds the neurotoxin saxitoxin. Samples of individuals per species ranged from 1 to 18 and phyla were sourced from around the world.Effective concentrations of [3H]STX binding sites (pmol ml-¹) in plasma and tissue samples and (pmol mg-¹) are given for the species which exhibited activity, as well as the material tested (plasma, tissue, haemolypmph) and, in some cases, the geographical source. To survey a range of phyla for the presence of saxiphilin-like activity. The results suggest that the saxiphilin gene is as old as an ancestral gene encoding bilobed transferrin, identified in several arthropods and all the vertebrates in the study.Species (28) found to exhibit saxiphilin-like activity:Teleost fish: Anguilla rostrata (eel); Apogon sp. (cardinal fish); Danio rerio (zebra fish); Gambusia affinis (mosquito fish); Hypostomus plecostomus (catfish); Poecilia reticulata (guppy); Pomacentrus sp. (damsel fish)Lungfish: Protopterus aethopicusAmphibians: Ambystoma tigrinum (tiger salamander); Bufo marinus (cane toad); Notopthalamus viridescens (eastern newt); Rana sylvatica (wood frog); Rana temporaria (grass frog)Reptiles: Varanus rosenbergii (goanna monitor lizard); Sceloporus poinsetti (crevice spiny lizard); Naja naja kaouthia (Thailand cobra); Croalus viridus viridus (rattlesnake); Thamnophis ordinoides and T. sirtalis (garter snakes)Arthropods: Daphnia sp. (water flea); Oniscus sp. (sowbug); Ethmostigmus rubripes (centipede); Araneus cf cavaticus (orb web spider); Actaeodes tomentosus, Chlorodiella nigra, Liomera tristis and Lophozozymus pictor (xanthid crabs).Species (102) which did not contain a detectable amount of saxiphilin binding activity:Acanthaster planci (crown-of-thorns starfish); Acheta domestica (cricket); Acmaea cf testudinalis (limpet); Actinia australis (sea anemone); Alligator mississippiensis (alligator, North America); Anas sp. (duck); Anser anser (domestic goose); Aplysia californica (sea hare); Arothon manilensis (puffer fish); Artemia salina (brine shrimp); Asterius forbesii (starfish); Asterius vulgaris (starfish); Balaenoptera acutorostrata (minke whale); Balberus sp. (cockroach); Bos taurus (cow); Callianassa australiensis (marine yabby); Camponotus pennsylvanicus (carpenter ant); Cancer borealis (Jonah crab); Caretta caretta (loggerhead turtle); Cicada sp. (cicada); Columba lives (domestic pigeon); Crocodylus porosus (crocodile, Australia); Cucumaria frondosa (sea cucumber); Cyclopterus lumpus (lumpfish); Delphinus delphis (common dolphin); Dermestes sp. (dermestid beetle); Dermochelys coriacea (leatherback turtle); Diademnum molli (ascidian); Donax deltoides (bivalve); Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly); Echinarachnius parma (sand dollar); Eisenia fetida (tiger worm); Elseya dentata (snapping tortoise, Australia); Equus caballus (horse); Eudrilus eugenia (nightcrawler); Gallus gallus (chicken); Gastrolepida calvigea (annelid); Ginglymostoma cirratum (nurse shark); Globicephala malaena (pilot whale); Hippodamia convergens (lady beetle); Holothuria atra (holothurian); Homarus americanus (lobster); Homo sapiens (human); Hyalophora cecropia (silkmoth); Jasps stellifera (sponge); Lagenorhynchus acutus (white-sided dolphin); Lanthella basta (sponge); Latimeria chalumnae (coelacanth); Limulus polyphemus (horseshoe crab); Linckia laevigata (starfish); Lingula sp. (brachiopod); Littorina litorea (periwinkle); Makaira indica (marlin); Manduca sexta (tobacco hornworm moth); Meleagris gallopavo (common turkey); Mordacia mordax (lamprey); Mytilus edulis (bivalve mollusc); Mytilus edulis (blue mussel); Negaprion brevirostrio (lemon shark); Notechis scutatus (Australian tiger snake); Ocypode corimana (ghost crab); Oecophylla smaragdine (green ant); Oncopeltus fasciatus (milkweed bug); Oryctolagus sp. (rabbit); Ovis aries (domestic sheep); Pagurus sp. (hermit crab); Papilio polyxenes (black swallowtail butterfly); Penaeus monodon (tiger prawn); Pericherax heteroraphis (sponge); Periplenata australiensis (cockroach); Polycarpa aurata (ascidian); Polycarpa sp. (ascidian); Pseudemys scripta (red ear turtle, North America); Pseudoceros sp. (flatworm); Pseudopleuronectes americanus (flounder); Raja erinacea (little skate); Rattus norvegicus (rat); Reteterebella queenslandia (polychaete); Reticulitermes flavipes (termite); Rhopoloides odorabile (sponge); Sarcophyton elegans; Saxidomus giganteus (butter clam); Saxidomus giganticus (bivalve mollusc); Scomber scombrus (Atlantic mackerel); Scylla serrata (mud crab); Sepia plangon (squid); Sinularia dura (soft corals); Solaster endeca (starfish); Somniosus microcephalus (Greenland shark); Sphenodon punctata (tuatara); Spirobranchus giganteus (polychaete); Spisula solidissma (clam); Squalus acanthius (dogfish shark); Stichopus chloronatus (holothurian); Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis (sea urchin); Sus scrofa (pig); Tenebrio molitor (mealworm larvae); Tunica mogula (tunicate); Uca vomeris (fiddler crab); Vepricardium multispinosum (bivalve); Xenopus laevis (African clawed frog); Xestospongia exigua (sponge).

Pandora Reef, Rib Reef and Myrmidon Reef, located 16.6 km, 57.6 km and 116.9 km from the coastline respectively, were chosen for a year long series of cross-shelf coral recruitment experiments, commencing in January 1981. Settling plates approximately 15 mm thick and 300-400 cm² in total surface area (sum of upper and lower surfaces) were cut from natural, uncleaned heads of the massive corals Porites and Goniastrea spp. Plates were attached to each of four pins on a galvanized steel support rack at an angle of 37-45°. Racks were then secured on the reef by attaching them to two solid steel reinforcement bars driven into the reef. On each reef, racks were placed on the exposed, windward E-SE forereef slope, with plates facing into the wave surge. To investigate natural recruitment, two racks of plates (four plates per rack) were deployed at both 3m and between 14 and 18m on each reef. One rack at each depth was retrieved after 6 months and the second after 12 months. A third rack was deployed at each depth at the end of the first 6 months and retrieved 6 months later. Transplant experiments were carried out to investigate survival of coral recruits when moved to a new environment. Two additional racks of plates (three per rack) were deployed at each depth, at each reef in January 1981. After 6 months the racks were redeployed to make all possible combinations of transplants between reefs, while maintaining original depths. A further rack of plates was deployed at each depth, at each reef in January 1981, as a control for handling. Racks were retrieved after 6 months, held onboard ship for one to several days and replaced at the same site. All transplant and control plates were retrieved within 12 months of the initiation of the experiment.After retrieval, all plates were stored frozen at -20°C until analysed. In the laboratory, plates were thawed, cleaned of sediment and debris and dried in an oven at -45°C. Each plate was then cleaned of algae and examined using a dissecting microscope. Taxonomic identification was based primarily on calical structure. Juveniles were usually identified to family, often to genus, and occasionally to species, with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and taxonomic guides available for corals of this region. Coral spat were assessed for post-settlement mortality as follows: skeleton intact with at least remnants of tissue; coral overgrown and damaged; and complete colony mortality. Only the last category was utilized in estimating post-settlement mortality frequencies, which were calculated simply as the proportion in this state within a given taxon.Intra- and interspecific competition for space involving corals and other sessile epibiota was also assessed from the coral's perspective. Associates within 8 mm of the juvenile colony were recorded and examined for interactions and a static observation of overgrowth was taken as evidence of competition for space. A competition parameter was defined as the number of competitive wins over the total number of encounters within a taxon. Placement of settled corals or relative exposure was also assessed by differentiating between juvenile corals found on upper surfaces of the plate and those settling cryptically on the lateral or lower surface. An exposure parameter was calculated as the proportion of those juveniles in the latter state. This study was initiated to examine patterns of coral recruitment across the continental shelf in central Great Barrier Reef. The study makes use of settlement plates to look at differences in species composition of recruits, post-settlement mortality, intra- and interspecific competition for space and the placement of settled corals on the plates. An additional transplant experiment was carried out to determine the probability of survival of coral larvae if they had been transported to another location and settled successfully. During this project a taxonomic key for juvenile corals was constructed using juveniles from this and previous studies.

A round 1.4m yellow buoy has been deployed in the Davies Reef lagoon as part of the sensor network infrastructure at Davies Reef in the central Great Barrier Reef off Townsville, Australia. The buoy is configured as a sensor-float with a Campbell Scientific logger, a spread-spectrum radio for communicating with the on-reef wireless network, a SeaBird Inductive modem and initially a surface mounted (30cm under the water surface) thermistor and bottom mounted SeaBird SBE39 (temperature and pressure). The project looks to deploy sensor networks at seven sites along the Great Barrier Reef to measure a range of physical parameters at a range of scales. The project will install communications, data and platform infrastructure that will support future sensor work looking at biological and chemical parameters. Wireless Sensor Networks Facility (formerly known as Facility for The Automated Intelligent Monitoring of Marine Systems (FAIMMS)), part of the Great Barrier Reef Ocean Observing System project (GBROOS) (IMOS)