The dataset comprises 2108 individuals from 100 species of fishes, sharks, rays and sea snakes observed at around Darwin Harbour wrecks using 72 baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS(TM)). 409 images were captured from these cameras. Approximately 3500 of the best images from all BRUVS (TM) projects are stored in a reference library. Data recorded concern: - classification of the habitat in the field of view (topography, sediments, benthos) - the identity of fish and CAABCODES - their time of arrival - their behaviour (8 categories, including feeding on the bait) - their maturity (adult or juvenile) - their relative abundance (as MaxN = the maximum number visible at one time, or distinguishable at different times as separate individuals e.g. much larger/smaller, male/female) - the time elapsed before MaxN and feeding occurs. A custom interface has been developed by AIMS staff, using Microsoft Access, for reading and analysis of BRUVS(TM) tapes.

The dataset comprises 569 individuals from 94 species of fishes, sharks, rays and sea snakes observed at around Inshore Shoals : Cairns and Cardwell using 19 baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS(TM)). 238 images were captured from these cameras. Approximately 3500 of the best images from all BRUVS (TM) projects are stored in a reference library. Data recorded concern: - classification of the habitat in the field of view (topography, sediments, benthos) - the identity of fish and CAABCODES - their time of arrival - their behaviour (8 categories, including feeding on the bait) - their maturity (adult or juvenile) - their relative abundance (as MaxN = the maximum number visible at one time, or distinguishable at different times as separate individuals e.g. much larger/smaller, male/female) - the time elapsed before MaxN and feeding occurs. A custom interface has been developed by AIMS staff, using Microsoft Access, for reading and analysis of BRUVS(TM) tapes.

This record describes the coral luminescence as a recorder of freshwater impacts from inshore corals of the Fitzroy River Basin. Eight cores from AIMS’ Coral Core Archive were used in this study: Two cores from the same colony were collected from Humpy Island (23.2oS, 151.0oE) collected in1997 - HMP01A, HMP01B, Four cores from four separate colonies were collected from Hummocky Island (23.4oS, 151.1oE), collected in in 2017 - HUM02A, HUM03A, HUM04B, HUM05B Two cores from two separate colonies were collected from Masthead Island (23.5o S, 151.7oE), collected in 2017 - MAS01E, MAS02A The Hummocky and Masthead Island cores were collected as part of a co-funded project with the Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership (Cantin et al 2018) The coral cores slices were photographed under UV light to reveal luminescent lines and analysed for gamma densitometry, measurements of skeletal density and luminescence. Measurements were analysed for relationships between coral records and the river flow data using cross correlation and linear regression analyses. Environmental data for daily river flows were obtained from The Queensland Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy (DNRME) Water Monitoring Portal. Geochemical tracers were measured in four coral cores that cover the period from 1677 to 2016. The study focused on 15 trace elements which can provide evidence of changes in the marine environment related to historical and ongoing changes influenced by river systems.

The NRS Darwin mooring (IMOS platform code: NRSDAR), is one of 9 IMOS - ANMN National Reference Station (NRS) designed to monitor oceanographic phenomena in Australian coastal ocean waters. The NRSDAR buoy is deployed at Latitude: -12.3382, Longitude: 130.6952. The IMOS national reference stations will extend the number of long term time series observations in Australian coastal waters in terms of variables recorded both in their temporal distribution and geographical extent. It will also provide for biological, physical and chemical sampling and for 'ground truth' of remotely sensed observations.

This dataset was collected in two separate experiments in 2019/20 and 2020/21, looking at the behaviour of juvenile Acanthaster cf. solaris as they transition from their initial herbivorous diet feeding on crustose coralline algae (CCA) to feeding on coral. We aimed to fill key knowledge gaps by identifying the age and size COTS would transition, as well as identifying 50% and 100% probabilities of transition for the cohorts. We also looked at the effect available coral species have on the probability of COTS transitioning, comparing preferred foods Acropora millepora and A. tenuis to Stylophora pistillata. COTS were isolated in flow-through tanks in the Australian Institute of Marine Science’s National Sea Simulator, and provided with CCA and the relevant coral species. In Experiment 1, one COTS was added per tank with CCA and A. tenuis, and was monitored weekly for a transition to a coral diet. In Experiment 2, 10 COTS were added per tank, with CCA and either A. millepora, A. tenuis or S. pistillata, with four replicate tanks per coral treatment. When COTS were observed feeding on corals, they were removed, photographed and their size and age recorded. Experiment 1 was run until all 24 COTS used in the experiment had transitioned, whilst Experiment 2 was run until >50% of the cohort in the A. tenuis treatment (the COTS preferred food) had transitioned. Parameters common to both: Age – Age of Acanthaster cf. solaris juveniles in days post settlement Arms – Number of arms on individual Acanthaster cf. solaris Diameter – Average diameter of Acanthaster cf. solaris individuals measured in millimetres from the tips of the arms Coral – The coral species the Acanthaster cf. solaris was found feeding on Exp 1 Tank Row – the row the COTS tank was in Tank Column – the column the COTS tank was in Exp 2 Tank Rep – The replicate number of the tank for each coral species (n = 4 for each species) Tank No – The individual tank ID number Exp 2 – binomial feeding CCA/Coral – 1 indicates this was the diet of the COTS specimen at the end of the experiment (day 175), 0 indicates it was not

Next generation DNA sequencing was used to scan a large proportion of the transcribed coding DNA in Acropora millepora for polymorphisms. Transcribed coding DNA (messenger RNA - mRNA) was extracted from 8 colonies sampled at three thermally distinct habitats along the GBR (Wilke Island Reef in Princess Charlotte Bay, Nelly Bay at Magnetic Island, and Miall Island in the Keppel Islands). The mRNA extractions from each population were pooled and translated back to the complementary DNA (cDNA), which was sequenced using 454 pyrosequencing by the Australian Genome Research Facility. This transcriptome consists of over 500 000 DNA sequences that are assembled into 55 000 contigs, of which over 11 000 aligned to known genes (8 000 unique genes). A database was generated consisting of almost 90 000 SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms/gene variants).26 SNPs from 16 genes were investigated, from which one SNP from each of 15 genes were deemed suitable for large scale genotyping and a genotyping assay was developed.20 individuals from 17 reefs throughout the Great Barrier Reef were genotyped. Four from the 15 show a geographic pattern.The relative frequency of each of the nucleotides was measured in each SNP (A, T, C, G). To investigate the variation in gene coding regions and their frequency distributions along a themal gradient on the Great Barrier Reef with the aim of using such genes as markers to map thermal tolerance across the Great Barrier Reef.To describe DNA sequences for genes that are likely to be involved in thermal stress responses.To describe gene variants and their potential function in the coral host.To map allele frequencies of these genes at select locations on the GBR. Reef locations: Boulton Reef, Calder Island, Darley Reef, Emily, Goble Reef, High Peak Island, Holbourne Island, Night Island, North Keppel, Reef 20-344, Reef 21-121, Ross Reef, Sudbury Reef (I and II), SW Pelorus, Wilkie Island, Wallace Island.15 selected genes: Argenine Kinase, Beta Gamma Crystalin, Coatomer, Complete Component C3, Feritin, Galaxin, Gene of unknown function, Hsp60, Ligand of number X2, Mn Superoxide Dismutase, Thioredoxin, Transcription factor 1_1, Transcription factor 1_5, Ubiquitin like protein.The image is a portayal of one of the gene distributions.

Gametes from colonies of the coral Acropora tenuis (from Magnetic Island) and from Acropora millepora (from Davies Reef) were collected after spawning in tanks. Colonies of several corals (Acropora digitifera, Acropora formosa, Acropora latistella, Acropora secali, Acropora verweyi, Galaxea astreata, Goniastrea aspera, Goniopora pandoraensis, Platygyra pini) and two zoanthids (Palythoa tuberculosa, Zoanthus sp.1.) species were collected from inshore reefs near Townsville for the feeding experiments. The feeding experiments were conducted in flow chambers at gentle water flow. They commenced when the larvae were 3 days old, and continued until the numbers of free-swimming larvae were depleted by the experiments, and by settlement and/or metamorphosis which occurred at about 11 days (Acropora tenuis) or 13 days (Acropora millepora) after spawning.Experiments were run at night or day, depending on the time of polyp expansion in each of the predating coral species: Goniopora pandoraensis and Galaxea astreata tended to expand during the day and often contracted at night, whereas most faviids and Acropora spp. only expanded at night. Species, growth form (submassive, massive, branching, stolon-connected solitary polyps); percent depletion of larvae by actively feeding corals and zoanthids (D); controls (N0) after 2-h exposure. Significance levels of difference between numbers of surviving larvae among coral genera (with and without zoanthids), and between the two species of larvae were calculated. The study shows that (if the laboratory experiments are indicative of events in thefield) coral larvae are at high predation risk during their final period in the plankton, when they become negatively buoyant and search for a suitable settlementlocation. Larval mortality around reefs due to predation by non-acroporid corals could significantly affect recruitment rates on reefs with high coral cover. However, predation by corals will be insubstantial in areas of low coral cover, where successful coral recruitment will have the greatest bearing for recovery after disturbance. The ability of some hard coral and zoanthid species to prey upon coral larvae under experimental conditions in flow chambers was investigated.Because hard corals occupy a large proportion of the reef area, their feeding behavior and food selectivity (be it indiscriminate predation, or avoidance of propagules from phylogenetically related taxa) are likely to contribute to affect recruitment rates on reefs. Because scleractinian corals occupy a large proportion of the area on many coral reefs, their feeding behavior and food selectivity (be it indiscriminate predation, or avoidance of propagules from phylogenetically related taxa) are likely to contribute to affect recruitment rates on reefs.Only runs in which the corals remained expanded throughout the experiment were included in the analyses, resulting in uneven numbers of replicates per species. Several species of Acropora were tested but data from all Acropora species were later combined due to the low number of successful runs and consistently weak responses in all species.

Sensor network infrastructure was installed at Heron Island in the southern Great Barrier Reef off Gladstone, Australia. The infrastructure consists of a base station mounted on the existing communications tower, a number of network relay poles installed in the lagoon and a number of buoys which carry the actual sensors. The initial design is to monitor the flow of water through the lagoon which is often 'ponded' due to the high coral rim to the lagoon, this creates complex in and out flows and flushing of the lagoon system. The deployment in August 2008 consisted of the base station using the Telstra nextG service, six 6m relay poles located in the lagoon and five sensor floats also located in the lagoon. The poles carry one bottom thermistor, the floats currently have surface thermistors only. Additional instrumentation will be added by the end of 2008. 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. This project is part of 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) (IMOS)

A current meter, a tide gauge and 3 temperature and pressure recorders were attached to the Karmt 100 mooring for the first deployment. The tide gauge was replaced by a temperature and pressure recorder for the second deployment.Deployment 1:Date Deployed: 22/01/2004Date Recovered: 01/04/2004Instruments Deployed on Mooring:Depth: 10m; Instrument: RBR Tide Gauge; Serial #: 10079; Sensors: PressureDepth: 20m; Instrument: SBE39; Serial #: 0934; Sensors: TemperatureDepth: 30m; Instrument: SBE39; Serial #: 0935; Sensors: TemperatureDepth: 50m; Instrument: SBE39; Serial #: 0929; Sensors: TemperatureDepth: 93m; Instrument: RDI Workhorse 300kHz ADCP; Serial #: 1947; Sensors: Velocity profile, temperatureDeployment 2:Date Deployed: 02/04/2004Date Recovered: 04/12/2004Instruments Deployed on Mooring:Depth: 10m; Instrument: SBE39; Serial #: 0760; Sensors: Temperature, pressureDepth: 20m; Instrument: SBE39; Serial #: 0934; Sensors: TemperatureDepth: 30m; Instrument: SBE39; Serial #: 0935; Sensors: TemperatureDepth: 50m; Instrument: SBE39; Serial #: 0929; Sensors: TemperatureDepth: 93m; Instrument: RDI Workhorse 300kHz ADCP; Serial #: 1947; Sensors: Velocity profile, temperature This study was undertaken to investigate the distribution of shelf edge upwelling phenomena, a potentially significant attribute of the Oceanic Shoals bioregion. This study was a component of the project "Biodiversity and the factors controlling it, for selected habitats in the Timor Sea region", which seeks to integrate data from biodiversity surveys, chemistry, oceanography and geology to understand the processes that sustain the biota of the region.

Zooplankton were collected from 19 stations in Antarctic waters between December 1978 and January 1979. Plankton samples were sorted into individual species and live specimens of 8 species were maintained in an incubator at -0.5 ± 0.5°C and transported to the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) for laboratory experiments. The remainder of the samples were frozen at -20°C. The live specimens were used for direct measurements of respiration and ammonia excretion rates by a water bottle method. Individual animals were placed in bottles of filtered seawater. The size of the bottle used ranged from 50 to 1000 ml, depending on the size of the animal. After incubation for 24 hours at -0.5°C, a sample of water was drawn for determination of dissolved oxygen concentration and ammonia concentration.Enzyme activity of the respiratory electron transport system (ETS) was determined using frozen specimens of the same species as well as an additional five species. Frozen samples were homogenized with a piece of GF/C filter in ETS B solution and the cell free extracts were incubated at temperatures similar to water temperatures where the animals were collected (± 0.3°C). The same homogenates were used to determine protein concentration. A subsample of animals were freeze dried to determine average body dry weight for each species. The results of protein analysis was expressed as the ratio of protein to dry weight. Respiration rate, ammonia excretion rate and ETS activity were calculated on the basis of average dry weight. Ratios of the respiration rate to ammonia excretion rate (O:N) and ETS activity to respiration rate (ETS:R) were also calculated.Moulting intervals of three specimens of Euphausia superba maintained at -0.5°C were also observed. Measurements of moults were also taken. This study was initiated to:1. measure respiration and ammonia excretion rates of Antarctic zooplankton2. measure enzyme activity of the respiratory electron transport system (ETS) as an indirect measure of respiration rate3. compare respiration and ammonia excretion rates with published rates for species of the copepod family Calanidae and the Euphausiid genus Euphausia occurring in different temperature regimes. Live zooplankton taxa used for respiration and ammonia excretion measurements:Pteropoda: Limacina antarcticaCopepoda: Calanus propinquus, Calanus acutus, Metridia gerlachei Euphausiacea: Euphausia superba, Euphausia crystallorophias, Thysanoessa macruraAmphipoda: Parathemisto gaudichaudiiAdditional taxa used to estimate ETS activity from frozen specimens:Ctenophora: Pleurobrachia sp.Pteropoda: Clione antarcticaCopepoda: Calanus tonsus (juvenile), Paralabidocera antarcticaAppendicularia: Oikopleura gaussica