Australian Institute of Marine Science – Surveys of Octocoral communities, benthic cover and environmental factors on coral reefs of Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea

All surveys were carried out by the principal researcher using Rapid Ecological Assessment.

On each reef 1-3 sites were surveyed with up to 5 transects (usually 200-300m long, 1-3m wide for 10-15 minutes) per site at pre-defined depths (1-3m, 3-8m, 8-13m, 13-18m and reef flat).

Species recorded: octocorals (soft corals, gorgonians, sea fans, sea whips, sea pens, leather corals, arborescent octocorals, blue coral, stoloniferans), black and wire coral. Note that species are mostly at generic level. Octocoral genera (in some cases species) were given a taxon abundance ranking (0=absent, 1=rare, 2=uncommon, 3=common, 4=abundant, 5=dominant).

Site locations: Alotau Clubhouse, Barbara Reef, Double Tower, Lauwadi, Manta Station, Michelles, Observation Points (off Pier, off Village, off Volcano Lake), Pinnacle, Sulloviens patch, Wahoo Reef.