Assessment of the effects of the 2004 coral bleaching event at Lihou Reef National Nature Reserve (Coral Sea)

Reefs in the Lihou Reef National Nature Reserve (NNR) were surveyed between 8-13 October 2004 in order to assess the effects of significant coral bleaching, which was observed during previous surveys in March 2004.Benthic communities on the five reefs previously surveyed (Anne Cay, Georgina Cay, Lorna Cay, Middle Cay and Turtle Cay) were resampled. An additional reef in the north west of the Reserve (Juliette Cay) was sampled along with two bommies to the north west of Anne Cay (Hermit Crab Island on AUS Chart 614).Species level data and crude abundance estimates of the benthic communities were obtained using a rapid visual assessment protocol (RAP). Video transect surveys were used to obtain rigorous abundance estimates of biota at a finer taxonomic resolution.SCUBA search surveys, along transects, were conducted to assess the impact of bleaching and to measure the prevalence of a suite of coral diseases, including White Syndrome, Black Band Disease, Brown Band Disease and Skeletal Eroding Band. A series of deeper water video tows were conducted at depths between 45m and 60m, in the lagoon area of Lihou Reef NNR and also to the north of Anne Cay. Drop camera shots were also taken at 2 locations at 27-29m.
Surveys were undertaken to:1. assess the effects of coral bleaching, which was observed on sites surveyed in March 1994.2. survey deeper areas, not previously surveyed, for the presence of coral communities and to establish the extent of bleaching at depth.
The Lihou Reef National Nature Reserve (NNR) is one of two protected areas in the Coral Sea region. The reserve is located in the Coral Sea 400 kilometres east of Townsville, Queensland. It was proclaimed on the 16th August 1982 under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975.The Coringa-Herald National Nature Reserve and Lihou Reef National Nature Reserve Management Plan states that both reserves are to be managed as strict nature reserves - World Conservation Union (IUCN) Category 1a - strict nature reserve. Such reserves are managed primarily to ensure habitats, ecosystems and native species are preserved in an undisturbed state as well as to facilitate research.

2004年10月8日至13日，研究团队对利侯礁国家自然保护区（Lihou Reef National Nature Reserve, NNR）内的珊瑚礁开展了调查，以评估2004年3月前期调查中观测到的大规模珊瑚白化所造成的影响。此前已完成调查的5座礁体——安妮礁（Anne Cay）、乔治娜礁（Georgina Cay）、洛娜礁（Lorna Cay）、中礁（Middle Cay）与海龟礁（Turtle Cay）的底栖生物群落被重新采样。此外，研究人员还对保护区西北部的朱丽叶礁（Juliette Cay），以及安妮礁西北侧的两处岩礁（bommie，对应澳大利亚海图614标注的赫蟹岛（Hermit Crab Island））进行了采样。研究通过快速视觉评估协议（Rapid Visual Assessment Protocol, RAP）获取了底栖生物群落的物种级数据与粗略丰度估算值；采用视频样带调查获取了更精细分类学分辨率下的生物群严谨丰度估算值。研究人员沿样带开展了水肺（SCUBA）搜索调查，以评估白化影响并量化一系列珊瑚疾病的流行率，包括白色综合征（White Syndrome）、黑带病（Black Band Disease）、棕带病（Brown Band Disease）与骨骼侵蚀带（Skeletal Eroding Band）。此外，团队在利侯礁NNR泻湖区域及安妮礁以北区域开展了一系列深度介于45米至60米的深水视频拖曳调查，并在2处深度27米至29米的点位开展了定点摄像采样。

本次调查旨在达成两大目标：1. 评估1994年3月调查站点中观测到的珊瑚白化所造成的影响；2. 对此前未被勘探的深水区域开展调查，查明珊瑚群落的存在情况，并确定深水区域珊瑚白化的分布范围。

利侯礁国家自然保护区是珊瑚海区域的两处保护地之一，坐落于昆士兰州汤斯维尔以东400公里的珊瑚海海域，于1982年8月16日依据《1975年国家公园与野生动物保护法》正式宣布成立。《科林加-赫拉德国家自然保护区与利侯礁国家自然保护区管理计划》明确规定，两处保护区均需按照世界自然保护联盟（International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN）1a类严格自然保护区的标准进行管理。此类保护区的核心管理目标为确保生境、生态系统与本土物种处于未受干扰的保存状态，同时为科学研究提供支持。