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Australian Institute of Marine Science – Surveys of Octocoral communities, benthic cover and environmental factors on coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef

Entry ID: AIMS_Octocorals_GBR

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Summary

Abstract: All surveys were carried out by the principal researcher using Rapid Ecological Assessment. The dataset runs from May 1996 to early 2009 from 180 reef locations, spread relatively evenly along and across the whole Great Barrier Reef (GBR). On each reef 1-3 sites were surveyed with up to 5 transects (usually 200-300m long, 1-3m wide for 10-15 minutes) per site at pre-defined depths (1-3m, 3-8m, ... 8-13m, 13-18m and reef flat).

Species recorded: octocorals (soft corals, gorgonians, sea fans, sea whips, sea pens, leather corals, arborescent octocorals, blue coral, stoloniferans), black and wire coral. Note that species are mostly at generic level.
Octocoral genera (in some cases species) were given a taxon abundance ranking (0=absent, 1=rare, 2=uncommon, 3=common, 4=abundant, 5=dominant).

Site locations: 13-050, 13-063, 13-120, 13-123, 17-069, 18-023, 18-026, 18-NNN, 19-109, 19-159, 20-154, 20-344, 20-348, 20-385, 21-089, 21-132, 21-141, 21-149, 21-151, 21-155, 21-164, 21-173, 21-433, 21-551, 21-551, 22-101, Agincourt 3, Alexandra, Barnard, Barren, Bewick, Border, Bramble, Britomart, Bugatti, Cape Flattery, Cape Tribulation South, Champagne Bay, Chinaman, Clack, Clerke.Is, Cockburn, Collette, Conical Rock, Curacoa, Davie, Deloraine, Dent, Dido Rock, Digby, Dingo, Double, Double Cone, Douglas, Dumbell, Dunk, East Cay, Eden, Edward, Elizabeth, Ellison, Escape, Esk, Faith, False Nara Inlet, Fantome, Faraday, Fitzroy, Flat, Fly, Gable, Gallan, Garioch, Gilbey, Gloucester, Gould, Grassy, Great.Detached, Great Keppel, Great Palms, Green, Grub PCB, Haggerstone, Halftide, Hannah, Haslewood, Hay, Heath, Henning, Herald, Heron, Hicks, Hideaway Bay, High, High Peak, Hook, Horseshoe, Iris, Jacqueline, James, Joan, John Brewer, Korea, Lindeman, Linnet, Lodestone, Long, Low, Lupton, MacDonalds, Macona Inlet, Magra, Marble, Martha Ridgeway, McSweeny, Miall, Michaelmas, Middle, Middle Keppels, Monsoon, Morris, Murdoch, Myrmidon, Nara Inlet, Needle, Nomad, Normanby, North East Percy, North Keppel, Old, One Tree, Opal, Opp Long, Orpheus, Osborne, Pandora, Pelican (Princess Charlotte Bay), Pelican (Whitsundays), Pelorus, Phillips, Pickersgill, Pine Peak, Pine Percy, Pith, Polmaise, Rattay, Repulse, Rib, Ribbon 10, Richard, Rundle, Russell, Salamander, Saunders, Scott, Shute Bay, Snake, Snapper, Snapper, St Crispin, Stanley, Stark, Switzer, Three, Thrush, Tideway, Tiger, Turner Cay, Undine, Unity, Upolu, Wackett, Wharton, Wheeler, Whitsunday, Whitsunday, Wilkie, Wizard, Yongala Wreck, Yule.

Additional information was collected during the surveys recording - site variables, visual estimates of abundance for other groups besides octocorlas, zooxanthellate richness. This data is not included in the dataset served to OBIS.
Comparable data are held for Hong Kong, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Torres Strait, and Rowley Shoals (WA).

Purpose
To determine spatial patterns and abiotic controls of soft coral biodiversity: allowing examination of relationships of reef location (in-shore, mid-shelf and off-shore), environmental conditions and depth to taxonomic composition and richness.
Because roughly half Octocorals have photosynthetic symbionts they are ideal to assess how biodiversity is related to spatial and environmental factors, and photosynthetic symbionts and energy supply.
To examine principal drivers of biodiversity, community composition, and ranges of coral reef benthos.

Total Distribution Records: 15,875

Total Number of Taxa: 23 families, 65 genera, 11 species

Related URL

Link: VIEW PROFESSIONAL HOME PAGE

Link: VIEW RELATED INFORMATION

Geographic Coverage

(Click for Interactive Map)

Spatial coordinates

N: -11.71

S: -23.57

E: 152.65

W: 143.18

Data Set Citation

Dataset Originator/Creator: K. Fabricius

Dataset Title: Australian Institute of Marine Science – Surveys of Octocoral communities, benthic cover and environmental factors on coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef

Dataset Release Date: 1996

Dataset Release Place: Australia

Dataset Publisher: OBIS Australia

Temporal Coverage

Start Date: 1996-05-01

Location Keywords

OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN

CONTINENT > AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND > AUSTRALIA

OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN

Science Keywords

BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/INVERTEBRATES

BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/INVERTEBRATES > CNIDARIANS

BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/INVERTEBRATES > CNIDARIANS > ANTHOZOANS/OCTOCORALS

ISO Topic Category

BIOTA

OCEANS

Platform

SHIPS

Use Constraints Acknowledge the use of specific records from contributing databases in the form appearing in the 'Citation' field; and acknowledge the use of the OBIS facility.

For information purposes, email to obissupport@marine.rutgers.edu the full citation of any publication made (printed or electronic) that cites OBIS or any constituent part.

Recognize the limitations of data in OBIS. http://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov/Aboutus/xml/dif/

Ancillary Keywords

HABITAT COVERAGE: 180 reefs along the Great Barrier Reef

Data Center

Australian Institute of Marine Science, Australia

Data Center URL: http://www.aims.gov.au/index.html

Data Center Personnel
Name: SCOTT BAINBRIDGE Phone: +61 7 4753 4377 Email: adc at aims.gov.au Contact Address: Australian Institute of Marine Science PMB No. 3 City: Townsville Qld. Province or State: Queensland Postal Code: 4810 Country: AUSTRALIA

Australia Regional Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) Node

Data Center URL: http://www.obis.org.au/

Data Center Personnel
Name: TONY REES Phone: +61 (03) 6232 5318 Fax: +61 (03) 6232 5000 Email: Tony.Rees at csiro.au Contact Address: CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (CMAR) GPO Box 1538 City: Hobart Province or State: Tasmania Postal Code: 7001 Country: Australia