Southern Surveyor Voyage SS 03/2005 Ecosystem Process Measurements

Ecosystem process measurements were made on sediment sampled with a box core and water sampled from CTD profiles. For sediments, measurements were of wet/dry weight ratio, total organic carbon, chlorophyll and stable isotopes, nitrogen cycling (nitrogen fixation and denitirification) and oxygen demand. For water samples, measurements were of total suspended solids, chlorophyll and stable isotopes. The survey design was a natural experiment (i.e. control-impact, but not before-after) to test the long-term, broadscale effects of prawn fishing on non-target species and habitats. Deployments were stratified by fishing intensity (three strata) and day/night. The survey was repeated in three regions: (a) north of Groote Eylandt, (b) north-east of the Vanderlins, and (c) north of Mornington Island.

本研究通过箱式采泥器（box core）采集沉积物样品、依托温盐深剖面仪（CTD）采集水样，开展生态系统过程相关测定。其中沉积物样品的测定指标包括湿干质量比、总有机碳、叶绿素、稳定同位素、氮循环过程（固氮作用与反硝化作用）及耗氧量；水样测定指标则涵盖总悬浮颗粒物、叶绿素与稳定同位素。本调查采用自然实验设计（即对照-影响设计，但未设置前后对照环节），以评估对虾捕捞对非目标物种与栖息地的长期、大范围影响。采样部署按捕捞强度（划分为3个层级）与昼夜时段进行分层设置。本次调查在3个区域重复开展：(a) 格罗特艾尔兰特岛以北，(b) 范德林群岛东北海域，(c) 莫宁顿岛以北。