'Ships of Opportunity' (SOOP) is a facility of the Australian 'Integrated Marine Observing System' (IMOS) project. This data set was collected by the SOOP sub-facility 'Sensors on Tropical Research Vessels' aboard the RV Solander Trip 7493.

'Ships of Opportunity' (SOOP) is a facility of the Australian 'Integrated Marine Observing System' (IMOS) project. This data set was collected by the SOOP sub-facility 'Sensors on Tropical Research Vessels' aboard the RV Solander Trip 20170424.

'Ships of Opportunity' (SOOP) is a facility of the Australian 'Integrated Marine Observing System' (IMOS) project. This data set was collected by the SOOP sub-facility 'Sensors on Tropical Research Vessels' aboard the RV Solander Trip 5119.

Replicate line and belt transects of various sizes were used to estimate densities of several groups of marine organisms around Malakula and associated islands in Vanuatu in 1988.The eight sites chosen for surveys were located at Atchin Island, Crab Bay, Port Sandwich (Lamap), Metai Island (Maskelyne Islands), south east, south and north west of Sakao Island (Maskelyne Islands) and Cook Bay (Maskelyne Islands).Corals, seagrass and other sessile benthic organisms were assessed using 20m line intersect transects. Each site was subdivided into a number of habitats (reef flat, reef crest, shallow slope and deep slope) and five replicate transects were positioned haphazardly within each of these habitats. Reef crests and slopes were surveyed on SCUBA while reef flats were surveyed on snorkel.Permanent transects were established on the south east side of Sakao Island.Invertebrate food and commercial resource species (various Holothurian species, clams (Tridacnidae), Trochus niloticus and Turbo marmoratus (green snail)) were also surveyed. Five (10 in some instances) haphazard 50x5m belt transects were used to survey these species in both the reef crest and reef slope habitats.Selected species of fish were quantified using 50x10m belt transect visual counts. Fish surveyed included , large non-secretive cods and coral trout (Serranidae); snappers or sea perch ( Lutjanidae); sweetlips (Haemulidae); emperors (Lethrinidae); butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae); large wrasses (Labridae); and parrotfishes (Scaridae). This component of the survey was designed to provide a detailed picture of marine resources around Malakula Island and associated islands. This research was a component of a survey of Vanuatu marine resources conducted in March/April 1988 and was funded by the Australian International Development Assistance Bureau.The objectives of the survey were1. to survey and describe the shallow water reef habitats from selected islands of Vanuatu, adequately covering geographical and environmental variation2. to survey and describe the marine habitats around the shores of Malakula, including offshore islands3. to derive a coastal management plan for Malakula and offshore islands which can serve as a basis for Coastal Zone Management plans for the rest of the country4. to train Ni-Vanuatu personnel in marine survey and marine conservation methods

An Aanderaa WLR was attached to a concrete dump at Station BG10 (Twenty Foot Rock). This tide gauge was one of two placed at either end of the bay to determine the amplitudes and phases of constituents along the open boundary.Deployment Details:Instrument: WLR #615Instrument depth: 3mSampling interval: 30 minutesDate deployed: 22/10/1984Date recovered: 26/06/1985 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.

The study was conducted in 3 seagrass beds in Awerange Bay during the dry season (September 2006) and the wet season (March 2007).Densities of seagrass (shoots m-2) and production in(g DW m-2 d-1) were calculated.pH and redox potential were measured. Water content, total C, total N, TOC and total P were determined, and total inorganic carbon calculated.Rates of sulfate reduction were measured.Solute fluxes of DIC, O2, and dissolved inorganic nutrient and other solute (Ca, Fe, Mn, hydrogen sulphide) across the sediment-water interface were measured.Net ammonium production was measured from each site.Denitrification was measured using the N2-gas technique. Fluxes of methane and N2O were measured. Nitrogen fixation in sediments was also measured.Benthic microaglal production was measured by oxygen fluxes in the dry and wet seasons. To examine sediment carbon and nitrogen cycling in seagrass meadows across a gradient of increasing cabonate content.

'Ships of Opportunity' (SOOP) is a facility of the Australian 'Integrated Marine Observing System' (IMOS) project. This data set was collected by the SOOP sub-facility 'Sensors on Tropical Research Vessels' aboard the RV Cape Ferguson Trip 5167.

This data set was collected by one or more temperature loggers deployed around the site of 21-062 Reef.

Corals of the World online is an interactive program, which captures global information about corals and makes it readily accessible to conservationists, educators and research scientists alike. The program is divided into two linked components, Coral ID and Coral Geographic. Coral ID is founded on the three-volume book, "Corals of the World" (Veron, 2000) and incorporates updated and expanded species data from the electronic publication "Coral ID" (Veron and Stafford-Smith, 2002). The sophisticated electronic key in this program makes coral identification easy. Species pages give summaries of key characteristics as well as taxonomic detail. The Coral ID program includes: 1. A sophisticated (Lucid-based) key taking users directly to species pages. (coming soon) 2. Species pages containing: -A character summary -Underwater in situ photographs -Photographs of skeletons -Data on colour, similar species, habitats and abundance -Detailed account of skeletal and live coral characteristics (coming soon) -A map showing global distribution from Coral Geographic -Reference information -Links to other identification products 3. A link to Coral Geographic. Coral Geographic has not been previously published although it has been providing geographic data about corals since the early 1990s. Geographic information can be obtained in a many formats allowing analyses and interfacing with other programs and datasets. The program divides the world's coral regions into 141 named ecoregions. Features of Coral Geographic will be released progressively over the next few years and will be available (a) interactively on the internet, (b) for downloading in available formats and (c) on DVD. The Coral Geographic program includes: 1. For each coral species: -A GIS map showing global distribution -Types of presence/absence records available -Comprehensive references -A link to the relevant species page in Coral ID 2. For each ecoregion: -A comprehensive list of species -Geographic information and photographs -Links to other information sources 3. Multiple species maps which can be selected according to user needs. 4. Species maps which can be interfaced with other programs according to user needs. Additional information is available in the form of explanatory chapters about coral classification, coral structure and growth, coral taxonomy, coral environments, reefs, mass bleaching, coral reproduction and coral evolution. Also, a space where users can insert information for personal use and a link where information and photographs can be submitted for inclusion in program updates is included. (coming soon) This program has been developed to provide global information about corals to conservationists, educators and research scientists alike. Early taxonomic classifications were published by J.E.N Veron and Michael Pichon in 'Scleractinia of Eastern Australia' Monograph Series, Vol I-V. These publications have been digitised by Atlas of Living Australia, and made available on the Ocean Biogeographic Information System.

Adults of the mangrove crab, Sesarma messa were captured using pit traps in a mid-intertidal Ceriops tagal stand located at Cape Ferguson, near Townsville. The crabs and sediment from the capture site were transferred to 9 plastic aquaria after sieving the sediments to remove macroinvertebrates. Three randomly selected males and females were assigned to each aquaria after being measured across the carapace, weighed and marked with a plastic tag. The aquaria were maintained under ambient conditions in an outside shadehouse. Seawater was connected to each aquarium and the supply was regulated to simulate a one hour tide every day, which covered the sediment surface with about 10 cm of water.The first rearing experiment was designed to test the effects of litter quantity, using senescent Ceriops tagal leaves. Three replicate aquaria were subjected to one of three treatments: no leaf litter added, limited leaf litter added and excess leaf litter added. At the end of each week leaf litter remaining in each aquaria were removed and new leaves added. The aquaria were checked every 2-3 days for ovigerous and moulting individuals over a period of 10 weeks. Ovigerous females were removed at the end of the incubation period and placed in jars containing seawater until hatching occurred. Three subsamples of 200 larvae were collected from each female and the subsamples, as well as the remaining larvae were dried at 65 °C for 3 days and the total number of larvae calculated.In order to assess the availability of microbial organisms on the mud surface as an alternative food source, bacterial densities were determined from three replicate 3.14 ml samples of sediment collected with a syringe from each aquaria and from the forest where the sediment was collected. The second rearing experiment, using the same aquaria as above, was designed to test the effects of leaf species on the performance of Sesarma messa. Crabs were given excess amounts of senescent leaves from one of three species: Ceriops tagal; Rhizophora stylosa and Bruguiera exaristata. Three replicate aquaria were assigned to each treatment. Leaves were removed weekly and new leaves provided. In this experiment, only two males and two females were assigned to each aquaria to reduce the possibility of overcrowding. The number of live, moulting and ovigerous individuals was recorded weekly for 9 weeks.The absorption efficiency of Sesarma messa was assessed by placing each of 10 crabs in individual bowls for one week and then adding to each container half a senescent leaf of Ceriops tagal, Rhizophora stylosa, Bruguiera exaristata and Avicennia marina. The other half of each leaf was placed in a separate container as a control for leaf weigh loss not due to crab feeding. Leaves were weighed at the beginning of the experiment and wet weights converted to dry weights. After 24 hours, leaf remains and control leaves were collected, oven dried at 65°C for 5 days and reweighed. Leaves were then ashed at 500°C for 24 hours to determine ash free dry weight. The total amount of organic matter ingested by each crab was calculated by summing the ingestion rate for each leaf species. After a further 24 hours, crabs were removed from each container and all faecal matter collected on GFC filters. The filters were oven dried to a constant weight at 65°C. Faecal material was then weighed to the nearest 0.001g, ashed at 500°C for 24 hours and reweighed. This research was undertaken to investigate the link between the quality and availability of mangrove litter and the secondary production of sesarmid crabs in mangrove forests.