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观测，探究了宁格罗潟湖（Ningaloo Lagoon）内大型藻类的斑块动态。研究团队在珊瑚湾（Coral Bay）与坦塔比迪（Tantabiddi）的3个以大型海藻为优势类群的底栖生境斑块中开展了底栖大型藻类（benthic macroalgae）调查，各斑块间距为1至5千米。潜水员在1至5米水深的底栖生境中，随机布设6个重复样方（quadrat）。所有体长大于1厘米的附着性大型藻类均由人工采集，经清洗后按属级及以上分类单元进行分拣。样品称重精度精确至0.1克。研究人员记录了各采样样带的相关高度信息，并对采集样品开展分析以估算季节生物量。本研究将大型藻类生物量与已公开的海表温度、降雨量、光照、风力驱动上升流及有效波高的月际变化数据进行了对比分析。其数据来源包括：潜标式温度记录仪、宁格罗站（Ningaloo Station）的月降雨量统计数据、位于米利灵（Milyering）的宁格罗气象站（Ningaloo Weather Station）观测数据，以及用于逐日测量有效波高的近岸波浪浮标（wave rider buoy）。