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<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Hullo</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Is anyone out there sampling a representation of
patchily distributed reefs along a stretch of coast along several hundred
kilometres ?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>I am looking for suggestions for the sampling
design of a monitoring program, when reefs are of a wide range of sizes and
depths, and patchily distributed along the coast. One source has suggested
dividing the coast into equal sectors of say, 50 km, and doing a fixed number of
transects for a range of depths regardless of the amount of reef in that sector.
This would allow for direct comparisons between the reefs (sectors) for
variables such as species abundance and composition, with equal
replications.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>However, surely if one sector only has a few
square metres of scrappy reef, it does not justify the same intensity of
sampling as a sector with a lot of reef ?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>In the southern part of our province the reefs
are typical temperate rocky substrate, graduating to a layer of sub-tropical
corals growing on top of submerged Pleistocene dunes in the north. I hope to use
line-transects (GCRM method) to establish a long-term monitoring program of the
benthos.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Are there any biologists or statisticians out
there who can help ?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Many thanks</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Bridget</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Bridget Elliott<BR>Marine
Ecologist<BR>KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service<BR>Private Bag
X3<BR>Congella, Durban<BR>4013<BR>South Africa<BR>phone: +27 - 31 -
2051271<BR>fax: +27 - 31 - 2051547<BR>email: <A
href="mailto:b.elliott@mweb.co.za">b.elliott@mweb.co.za</A></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>