WAMSI Node 3.2.2b - Diversity, abundance and distribution of intertidal invertebrate species in the Ningaloo Marine Park.

A quantitative pilot study of the composition of the benthic community of macro-invertebrates on intertidal rocky platforms was undertaken to: \n\na) provide detailed information on variation in biodiversity along the length of the Ningaloo Marine Park; and \nb) determine the appropriate design of a monitoring protocol powerful enough to determine predefined levels of change. \n\nThese general overall aims were in the context of the Ningaloo Marine Park Draft Management Plan of 2004, which set out a vision of maintaining the ecological values in the Park, and protecting it from adverse human impacts.\n\nSampling was conducted at 35 sites from July 2007 and September 2010 between the northernmost site of Mildura Wreck and southernmost site of 3 Mile Out 2.\n\n\nData for the project includes:\n1. All species data for each 1m2 quadrat (1744 quadrats x 291 species): [WAMSI3.2.2bQuadratDataMay2012]\n\n2. Lengths of small giant clams (Tridacna maxima) mapped at 20 sites (3119 rows x 11 columns including identifying information for each length):\n[WAMSI3.2.2bGiantClams.csv]\n\n3. Physical features of the platforms in three files (32 rows x 13, 11, 10 columns):\n[WAMSI3.2.2bPlatformAttributes.csv] \n[WAMSI3.2.2bPlatformQuantative.csv] \n[WAMSI3.2.2bFetchAndContour.csv]\n\n4. GPS readings as UTM values for locations of transects used to map positions of Tridacna maxima (giant clams) (404 rows x 6 columns, including sample identification information):\n[WAMSI3.2.2bTridacnaUTM.csv]\n\n5. Location of research sites - Google Earth .kmz files: \nCenters of 36 sites where quadrat samples were taken 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and reported on in all the Research Chapters, and where physical data for Research Chapter 8 were collected.\n[WAMSI3.2.2b Sites.kmz]\n\nCorners of 8 sites at northern boundary of Jurabi Sanctuary Zone where data for Research Chapter 9\n[WAMSI3.2.2bJurabi8Sites.kmz]\n\nShoreward, southern corners of Transect 1 and some others for areas where Tridacna maxima were measured as reported in Research Chapter 4.\n[WAMSI3.2.2bGiantClams.kmz]\n\n6. Text and images about the 32 sites sampled in 2007 and 2009\n[WAMSI3.2.2bSitePages.rtf]\n\n\nData files come with metadata / descriptions of the column titles and codes.