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.

本研究通过实地调查与海洋学测量手段，探究了宁格罗潟湖（Ningaloo lagoon）内大型藻类（macroalgae）的斑块动态。

研究团队于珊瑚湾（Coral Bay）与坦塔比迪（Tantabiddi）的3个以大型海藻床为优势生境的样地开展底栖大型藻类（benthic macroalgae）调查，各样地间距为1至5千米。潜水员在水深1至5米的底栖样地中，随机布设6个重复样方（quadrats）。所有体长大于1厘米的附着型大型藻类均经人工采集、清洗后，按属级及以上分类单元完成分类。样本称重精度达0.1克，同时记录样线相关参数，并对样本开展季节性生物量估算分析。

本研究将大型藻类生物量与现有环境监测数据集进行对比，涵盖海水温度、降雨量、光照、风生上升流及有效波高（significant wave height）的月际变化特征。本次研究的数据来源包括：潜标式温度记录仪、宁格罗站的月降雨量统计数据、位于米利林（Milyering）的宁格罗气象站观测数据，以及一台用于逐日测量有效波高的近海波浪浮标（wave rider bouy）。