Fish and benthic community surveys in the Coringa-Herald National Nature Reserve (Coral Sea)

Fish, benthic and bêche-de-mer surveys were conducted in the Coringa-Herald National Nature Reserve (CHNNR) from the 28 March to 2 April 2003. Five of the six islets and cays in the Reserve were surveyed. These were NE and SW Herald, Coringa (also known as South West Islet), Chilcott and SE Magdelaine. Restrictions were placed on diving, due to the remote location of the Reserve and surveys were limited to depths of around 9 metres. Four sites were sampled on each reef and sites were distributed so as to include the major habitats, reef fronts, back reefs and reef flanks. 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 more rigorous abundance estimates of biota at a finer taxonomic resolution.Species composition data and crude abundance estimates of the fish communities were obtained using a timed swim, rapid visual census method. Visual census transects provided more rigorous density estimates of a select group of species and a solid baseline for future monitoring surveys.Thirteen species of Holothuria (bêche-de-mer), crown of thorns starfish (COTS) and giant clams (Tridacna gigas) were surveyed on the reef flat and back reef of each reef. Reef flats were surveyed on snorkel, along transects. The back reef was surveyed using manta tow.SCUBA searches, along transects, were used to provide information on numbers of COTS in defined size classes, COT scars, Drupella (a coral eating snail) and other sources of coral mortality including coral bleaching and coral disease. Two temperature loggers were also deployed in the NE Herald Cay lagoon.
This research was undertaken as part of a monitoring program, which will be used to determine the effectiveness of management practices within the National Nature Reserve. Where possible, comparisons were to be made with the two previous fish and coral surveys conducted in the Reserve.
The Coringa-Herald National Nature Reserve (CHNNR) is one of two protected areas in the Coral Sea region. The Reserve is located some 400 kilometres east of Cairns, Far North 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 Ia. Such reserves are primarily for scientific research to ensure habitats, ecosystems, and native species are preserved in as undisturbed state as possible. The reserves also form part of the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA).

2003年3月28日至4月2日，调查团队于科林加-赫尔德国家自然保护区（Coringa-Herald National Nature Reserve, CHNNR）内开展鱼类、底栖生物及海参（bêche-de-mer）调查。该保护区内6座小岛与珊瑚沙洲中，共完成5座的调查工作，分别为东北赫尔德岛、西南赫尔德岛、科林加岛（亦称西南小岛）、奇尔科特岛以及东南马德莱恩岛。鉴于该保护区地处偏远，潜水作业受到严格限制，本次调查的水深被限定在约9米范围内。每处礁体布设4个采样点，采样点的覆盖范围涵盖了保护区内的主要栖息生境：礁前带、礁后带与礁侧翼。
底栖生物群落的物种级数据与粗略丰度估算，通过快速视觉评估方案（RAP）完成采集。视频样带调查则用于获取分类学分辨率更高的生物类群丰度严谨估算值。
鱼类群落的物种组成数据与粗略丰度估算，则采用计时游泳快速视觉普查法获取。视觉普查样带可针对特定物种类群提供更精准的密度估算结果，同时为后续监测调查奠定可靠的基准基线。
调查团队在每处礁体的礁坪与礁后带，对13种海参属（Holothuria）生物、长棘海星（crown of thorns starfish, COTS）以及巨蚌（Tridacna gigas）开展调查。礁坪调查采用浮潜方式沿样带开展，礁后带则通过蝠鲼拖曳法（manta tow）进行调查。
沿样带开展的水肺潜水（SCUBA）搜索，可获取特定尺寸分级的长棘海星数量、长棘海星啃食痕迹、棘冠螺（Drupella，一种食珊瑚螺类）以及其他珊瑚死亡成因（包括珊瑚白化与珊瑚疾病）的相关信息。此外，调查团队在东北赫尔德岛礁湖内部署了2台温度记录仪。

本研究作为区域监测计划的一部分开展，旨在评估该国家自然保护区内各项管理措施的实施成效。调查团队尽可能将本次调查结果与保护区此前开展的两次鱼类及珊瑚调查结果进行对比分析。

科林加-赫尔德国家自然保护区（CHNNR）是珊瑚海区域的两处保护地之一。该保护区位于昆士兰州远北部凯恩斯市以东约400公里处，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-赫尔德国家自然保护区与利乌礁国家自然保护区管理计划》明确规定，两处保护区均按照世界自然保护联盟（IUCN）Ia类严格自然保护区的标准进行管理。此类保护区的核心定位为开展科学研究，以确保栖息生境、生态系统与本土物种尽可能维持在未受干扰的原生状态。此外，上述保护区亦是国家代表性海洋保护区体系（NRSMPA）的重要组成部分。