Great Barrier Reef monitoring report

[Hugh Sweatman]

The Australian Institute of Marine Science=92s Long-Term Monitoring of the
Great Barrier Reef - Status Report Number 2 is now available in PDF format
on the AIMS home page:

http://www.aims.gov.au/pages/reflib/mon-lt/pages/mon-ltm2-00.html

The core of the program involves monitoring reef fishes (visual census) and
sessile benthic organisms (video transects) at fixed sites on approximately
50 reefs.  These are located in three positions across the continental
shelf at six latitudes spanning most of the GBR province.  The perimeters
of sample reefs are surveyed for crown-of-thorns starfish and coral cover
(manta tow).  Water samples are taken nearby.  About an equal number of
additional reefs are surveyed only for crown-of-thorns starfish.

The report deals with results of the first three annual surveys (to 1995)
and primarily concerns spatial patterns of distribution.



Hugh Sweatman
Long Term Monitoring Program,
Australian Institute of Marine Science,
PMB3 Townsville MC, Qld 4810
Australia
ph: (07) 4753 4470 / +61 7 4753 4470 [GMT +10]
faxes: (07) 4753 4288 / 4772 5852
h.sweatman at aims.gov.au   web: http//www.aims.gov.au/