Ashmore Reef Marine Park Environmental Assessment 2019

This is an overall (parent) record for the data collected from surveys of selected marine and terrestrial environmental values at Ashmore Reef Marine Park that were carried out in 2019. In early 2019 Parks Australia commissioned CSIRO to undertake a survey of selected marine and terrestrial environmental values at Ashmore Reef Marine Park. For the terrestrial component, the required elements were to quantify the diversity and abundance of native and non-native plant species, determine the population status and diversity of birds on the islands and to determine the abundance of non-native invasive tropical fire ants. The remit included any evidence of interactions between the fire ants and native fauna, especially birds and turtles. Specific foci for the marine component of the survey were to assess the abundance of key invertebrates which have historically been the subject of illegal fishing and over-exploitation (trochus, beche-de-mer and giant clams), and to assess status (cover and health) of key habitat forming benthic assemblages (corals, macroalgae and seagrass).