Biological, chemical and physical observations in inshore waters of the Great Barrier Reef (1975-1978)

A routine sampling program was run over three consecutive years (1975-78) at fixed field stations on a transect from the Townsville Harbour to Keeper Reef, an inner reef in the Great Barrier Reef complex. From December 1975 to December 1976, bi-weekly sampling was conducted at three stations as part of a phytoplankton productivity program, which initially included a further 7 stations. Parameters measured were temperature, salinity, transparency, phytoplankton pigments and net zooplankton.From January to December 1977 the sampling program continued at approximately weekly intervals, adding new measurements for microzooplankton, nutrients (nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, phosphate and SiO3) and particle size distribution in seawater. The sampling program up to the end of 1977 was aimed at evaluating the horizontal gradient of various biological, chemical and physical properties, so that only surface samples were consistently taken. From January to December 1978, the detailed vertical structure of the water column was investigated at Station 2. Dissolved oxygen, particulate organic carbon, dissolved organic nitrogen and phosphate (the last two items from August) were added to the items previously measured. This research was undertaken to extend the limited knowledge of the biological, chemical and physical properties of inshore waters of the Great Barrier Reef. The purpose of the initial study, which commenced in 1975, was to establish the general patterns of phytoplankton ecology in the GBR environment and to evaluate the presence or absence of a seasonal cycle.

一项常规采样计划在连续三年（1975-1978年）内实施，采样点为固定野外站点，沿从汤斯维尔港至大堡礁群内礁——基珀礁的断面分布。1975年12月至1976年12月期间，作为浮游植物生产力计划的一部分，在3个站点开展了双周采样；该计划最初还包含另外7个站点。测定的参数包括温度、盐度、透明度、浮游植物色素及浮游动物网采样品。
1977年1月至12月，采样计划以约每周一次的频率持续进行，新增了微型浮游动物、营养盐（硝酸盐、亚硝酸盐、氨氮、磷酸盐及硅酸盐）和海水颗粒物粒径分布的测定项目。
截至1977年底的采样计划旨在评估各类生物、化学及物理特性的水平梯度，因此始终仅采集表层样品。
1978年1月至12月，在站点2对水体的详细垂直结构进行了调查，并在原有测定项目基础上新增了溶解氧、颗粒有机碳、溶解有机氮及磷酸盐（后两项自8月起开始测定）。
开展此项研究旨在拓展对大堡礁近岸水域生物、化学及物理特性的有限认知。1975年启动的初始研究则旨在明确GBR环境中浮游植物生态学的一般模式，并评估其是否存在季节性周期。