AIMS Long-term Monitoring Program: Crown-of-thorns starfish and benthos Manta Tow Data (Great Barrier Reef)

64 'key' reefs in 11 sectors of the Great Barrier Reef (Cape Grenville, Princess Charlotte Bay, Cooktown/Lizard Island, Cairns, Innisfail, Townsville, Cape Upstart, Whitsunday, Pompey Complex, Swain and Capricorn Bunker) are annually surveyed for crown-of-thorns starfish using the manta tow technique. An additional 117 reefs from the sectors (excluding the Whitsunday, Swain and Capricorn-Bunker sectors) are scheduled for survey every third year ('cycle' reefs). The cycle manta tow reefs take second priority if surveys are unable to be completed because of bad weather and limited ship time.Results of manta tow surveys around the perimeter of reefs assessing populations of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS), Acanthaster cf. solaris. Historical data are held from a number of projects - P. Moran's post-doctoral work, CCEP scheme, COTSAC, COTSREC, LTMP. All data are stored in the Oracle database table RM_MANTA, and data from all but the first listed program are generally consistent and systematic. In the latest and ongoing program - the Long Term Monitoring Program (LTMP) - about 50 reefs throughout the Great Barrier Reef and NW Australia have been sampled.Observations started in January 1982 and are ongoing.For each two-minute manta tow the variables recorded are: Number and size of COTS; Percentage cover of live coral, dead coral, and soft coral; Visibility; Any other observations of note.The ambient variables recorded include, information about the survey (reef name, time, date, data collectors), and the weather conditions:(Wind strength; Cloud cover; Sea state; and Tide).Information is also recorded about the reef environment of each survey (e.g. reef slope, substratum at reef base) and its benthic community (dominant benthic group, dominant hard coral, and dominant coral life form).To assess populations of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS), Acanthaster cf. solaris, on reefs.Coral Reef - Feeding Scar, Crown of Thorns Starfish - Diameter, Crown of Thorns Starfish - Outbreak Status, Percentage Cover, Count - Individuals, TurbidityNumber and size of COTS. Size is recorded as follows: J = less than or equal to 5cm, early juvenile, 25cm Adult, >3 yrs). If no COTS are seen, then the column is left blank. When several size categories are seen, the category with the most numerous counts is recorded, and a note is made of the other size categories in the 'other' column.Percentage cover of live coral, dead coral, and soft coral. Categories are: 0 = 0%, 1- = 1-5%, 1+ = 5-10%, 2 = 10-30%, 3 = 30-50%, 4 = 50-75%, 5 = 75-100%.Presence of COTS feeding scars: absent (A: 0), present (P: 1-10) or common (C >10).The ambient variables recorded include, information about the survey (reef name, time, date, data collectors), and the weather conditions:Wind strength categories: 1 = 0-5 knots; 2 = 6-10 knots; 3 = 11-15 knots; 4 = 16-20 knots; 5 = 21-25 knotsCloud cover unit of measure is the okta. One okta = one eigth of the sky.Sea State. A modified Beaufort scale describes sea state: Calm = Mirror-like to small ripples; Slight = Small waves, some whitecaps; Moderate = Moderate waves, many whitecaps; Rough = Large waves 2-3 m, whitecaps everywhere, some sprayTide is recorded as low (1.5 hrs either side of Low water), high (1.5 hrs either side of High water), falling (between High and Low water) or rising (between Low and High water), determined from a Tide Table.Data have been used for the e-Atlas:http://e-atlas.org.au/content/large-scale-manta-tow-surveys-densities-crown-thorns-starfish-and-benthic-cover-aims-ltmp

大堡礁（Great Barrier Reef）11个区域内的64处关键（key）珊瑚礁（分别为格林维尔角、夏洛特公主湾、库克敦/蜥蜴岛、凯恩斯、因尼斯费尔、汤斯维尔、厄普斯塔特角、圣灵群岛、庞皮复合体、斯温群岛与摩羯-邦克尔群岛），每年采用曼塔拖曳调查法（manta tow technique）对长棘海星（Crown-of-Thorns Starfish）开展普查。另有来自上述区域（排除圣灵群岛、斯温群岛与摩羯-邦克尔群岛）的117处珊瑚礁每三年开展一次调查，这类珊瑚礁被称为"周期礁（cycle reefs）"。若因恶劣天气与船舶作业时长限制无法完成全部调查，周期曼塔拖曳调查礁的优先级次之。

本数据集包含珊瑚礁周边区域的曼塔拖曳调查结果，用于评估长棘海星（COTS，学名Acanthaster cf. solaris）的种群情况。历史数据源自多项研究项目：P·莫兰的博士后研究工作、CCEP计划、COTSAC、COTSREC以及长期监测计划（Long Term Monitoring Program, LTMP）。所有数据均存储于Oracle数据库的RM_MANTA数据表中，除首个列出的项目外，其余项目的数据均具备一致性与系统性。在最新且仍在进行的长期监测计划（LTMP）中，研究人员已对大堡礁及澳大利亚西北部的约50处珊瑚礁开展了采样。调查工作始于1982年1月，目前仍在持续。

每次时长两分钟的曼塔拖曳调查所记录的变量包括：长棘海星的数量与尺寸；活珊瑚、死珊瑚与软珊瑚的盖度百分比；能见度；以及其他值得记录的观测内容。环境相关记录变量则包含：调查基本信息（珊瑚礁名称、调查时间、日期、调查人员），以及天气状况（风力强度、云量、海况与潮汐）。此外还会记录每处调查珊瑚礁的环境信息（例如珊瑚礁坡度、基底基质类型）以及底栖生物群落情况（优势底栖类群、优势硬珊瑚种类与优势珊瑚生活型）。

本数据集旨在评估珊瑚礁上的长棘海星（COTS，学名Acanthaster cf. solaris）种群情况，涉及的观测指标包括：珊瑚取食伤痕、长棘海星直径、长棘海星暴发状态、盖度百分比、个体计数、浊度，以及长棘海星的数量与尺寸。

长棘海星的尺寸分级标准如下：J级为体长≤5cm的早期幼体；25cm对应成体（年龄>3年）。若未观测到长棘海星，则对应字段留空。若同时观测到多个尺寸分级，则记录数量最多的分级，并在"其他"列中注明其余分级类型。

活珊瑚、死珊瑚与软珊瑚的盖度百分比分级标准为：0级对应0%盖度；1-级对应1%~5%盖度；1+级对应5%~10%盖度；2级对应10%~30%盖度；3级对应30%~50%盖度；4级对应50%~75%盖度；5级对应75%~100%盖度。

长棘海星取食伤痕的存在状态分为：无（A: 0）、少量存在（P: 1~10处伤痕）、大量存在（C: >10处伤痕）。

前文提及的环境记录变量细节如下：
1. 风力强度分级：1级对应0~5节；2级对应6~10节；3级对应11~15节；4级对应16~20节；5级对应21~25节。
2. 云量采用奥克塔（okta）作为计量单位，1奥克塔代表八分之一的天空被云覆盖。
3. 海况采用改良的蒲福风级标准进行描述：平静（镜面状水面至微小波纹）、微浪（小波浪，偶见白浪）、中浪（中等波浪，多处白浪）、大浪（2~3米高波浪，全域可见白浪，伴有飞沫）。
4. 潮汐状态根据潮汐表判定，分为低潮（低潮前后1.5小时内）、高潮（高潮前后1.5小时内）、落潮（高潮至低潮之间）与涨潮（低潮至高潮之间）。

本数据集相关数据已用于电子地图集：http://e-atlas.org.au/content/large-scale-manta-tow-surveys-densities-crown-thorns-starfish-and-benthic-cover-aims-ltmp