Coral recruitment surveys, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia (WAMSI Node 3 Project 3.1.2)

The abundance of newly settled corals following the 2009 and 2010 annual coral spawning peaks was measured in the northern half of Ningaloo Reef at eleven locations between Coral Bay, Tantabiddi and Bundegi. An annual influx of coral recruits were detected at all locations, using terracotta tiles deployed by divers on the reef using permanent tile mounting fixtures, then subsequently retrieved and counted under a dissecting microscope. This study has measured annual coral recruitment rates at Ningaloo Reef using deployed tiles, but has also had a particular focus on evaluating some alternative methods for coral juvenile census. Deploying, recovering and assessing tiles is labor intensive, requires use of SCUBA and a specialist using a microscope in the laboratory for census of the tiles. A key aim of this project has been to understand the tradeoffs associated with simplified and more cost-effective approaches. The objective was to assess methods that could still yield robust research data, yet utilize non-specialist regional DEC staff for routine field surveys, maximizing the effectiveness of Perth-based specialist research staff for more complex analytical tasks.