Benthic surveys in intermediate and deeper waters of Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia, using towed video (Towvid)

Surveys were conducted at three sites adjacent to existing State marine sanctuary zones, Mandu Mandu, Point Cloates, and Point Maud. At each of the sites, 15 video tows were undertaken at various depth ranges. GPS position for transect start and endpoint was recorded and effort was made to maintained the camera 1 metre from the seabed floor where interference from environmental conditions e.g. currents, did not occur. Video surveys were approximately 300 meters in length.Analysis for each transect focused on habitat type, and noted the relative abundance of dominant organisms on substrate type. This was recorded by an observer watching the live video feed during the survey. Each site was categorised by depth, benthic communities and seabed terrain. Site trends were compared between all three areas and found areas of high and unique biodiversity.

本研究于三处毗邻现有州级海洋保护区的站点开展野外调查，分别为曼杜曼杜（Mandu Mandu）、克洛斯角（Point Cloates）与莫德角（Point Maud）。各站点均在不同水深区间内完成15次视频拖曳采样；调查过程中记录了样线起止点的GPS坐标，并在不受洋流等环境条件干扰的前提下，尽可能将摄像机保持在距海底1米的高度。单次视频拖曳的航程约为300米。每条样线的分析工作围绕栖息地类型展开，同步记录不同底质类型下优势生物的相对丰度，该数据由调查期间实时观看直播视频画面的观察员完成记录。各站点依据水深、底栖生物群落与海底地形进行分类。通过对三个区域的站点特征趋势开展对比分析，最终识别出生物多样性丰富且独具特色的区域。