Macroalgae surveys at Ningaloo Marine Reserve

Surveys and oceanographic measurements investigated the patch dynamics of macroalgae in the Ningaloo lagoon.Surveys of benthic macroalgae were conducted at three seaweed dominated bed sites, separated by 1 - 5kms, at Coral Bay and Tantabiddi. Scuba divers randomly placed six replicate quadrats on the benthos sites between 1m and 5m depth. All attached macro algae larger than 1cm was harvested by hand, washed and sorted into genus level or higher categories. Samples were weighed to the nearest 0.1g. Height of transects were recorded and samples analysed for seasonal biomass estimated. This study compared macroalgal biomass to available data on monthly variations of sea temperature, rainfall, light, wind-driven upwelling and significant wave height. Data sources included submersible temperature loggers, monthly rainfall totals at Ningaloo Station and data from the Ningaloo Weather Station at Milyering, and an offshore wave rider bouy measuring daily significant wave heights.

本研究通过野外调查与海洋学测量手段，探究了宁格罗泻湖（Ningaloo lagoon）内大型藻类的斑块动态。研究团队于珊瑚湾（Coral Bay）与坦塔比迪（Tantabiddi）的3处大型海藻床优势生境样点开展底栖大型藻类调查，样点间距为1至5千米。水肺潜水员于1至5米水深的底栖生境中，随机布设6个重复样方。所有附着生长且体长大于1厘米的大型藻类均经手工采集、冲洗后，被分类至属级及更高分类阶元。样品称重精度精确至0.1克。记录样带的相关参数，并对采集样品开展分析以估算季节性生物量。本研究将大型藻类生物量与已公开的海水温度、降雨量、光照、风驱上升流及有效波高的月际变化数据进行对比分析。数据来源包括水下温度记录仪、宁格罗站（Ningaloo Station）的月降雨量统计数据、米利林（Milyering）地区宁格罗气象站的观测数据，以及一台用于逐日测量有效波高的近海波浪浮标（wave rider buoy）。