Temporal and fine-scale variation in the biogeochemistry of Jervis Bay

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CERF Marine Biodiversity Hub Jervis Bay Survey Report, February 2009Table 2: Timeline for sample processing and data analyses.TASK DATES NAMESSort & identify Jervis Bay Feb – Aug 09 McArthur/PrzeslawskiinfaunaProcess grain size samples May 09 RadkeProcess geochemical samples 1 May 09 RadkeExploratory analyses September 09 Przeslawski/RadkeBIO-ENV, correlations, etc Oct 09-Nov 09 PrzeslawskiSpatial analyses, modelling, Aug 09 onwards Huang/Li/etc.seascapes1 Excluding XRF samplesResults from this survey will be communicated through a range of outlets, encompassingboth scientific and public audiences:Post-survey report. The current report details survey design, sampling map, detailsof samples collected, and the estimated time frame for data acquisition andanalyses.Jervis Bay Benthic Species Guide. Any new infauna not recorded from previoussurveys will be photographed and added to the planned Jervis Bay BenthicSpecies Guide.Newsletters. If there is interest, we will write a brief summary of our surveyand/or results for the CERF Marine Hub Newsletter and/or AusGeo News.Conferences & workshops. Results will be presented at national conferences (e.g.AMSA) and CERF workshops.CERF datasets. Results from this survey will contribute to the overall Jervis Baydata holdings and can be used in other surrogacy research projects by CERF Hubresearchers.Peer-reviewed publications. We anticipate publishing two papers that directlyaddress the aims stated above: 1) Seasonal and fine-scale spatial variation ofgeochemistry and infauna of Jervis Bay, and 2) Does the identification of abioticmarine surrogates depend on temporal and spatial scales?. In addition, our datasetsmay contribute to peer-reviewed publications produced by other members of theCERF Marine Hub (e.g. corroboration of regional seascapes).5. SignificanceThis research will complement previously planned research in the CERF program, inwhich the inter-annual variation among surrogacy relationships will be compared acrossseveral temperate rocky reefs (temporal: annual, spatial: kilometres). The current studyaims to investigate finer scales (temporal: seasonal, spatial: metres) and will allow us to18
CERF Marine Biodiversity Hub Jervis Bay Survey Report, February 2009determine whether or not the relationships between abiotic and biotic variables changeover time and spatial scale. Such information will be crucial to optimise the likelihood ofidentifying suitable surrogates for marine biodiversity in soft-sediment environments. Toour knowledge, this is the first study to examine how the relationships betweenenvironmental factors and marine macro-infaunal diversity may vary over time and space.This research will contribute to our knowledge of Jervis Bay by providing co-locatedrecords of environmental factors and infauna. When combined with data from previousCERF Jervis Bay surveys (e.g. GA309 and GA312), this information will provide detailedmaps of a soft sediment habitat and a robust dataset of the infaunal diversity of thesouthern part of the bay in relation to sedimentological, geochemical and biogeochemicalvariables.Results from this study will also reveal fine-scale complexity of soft-sediment habitats inJervis Bay. Heterogeneity affects marine protected area planning and management, withhabitats and assemblages that vary across fine spatial scales (i.e. heterogeneous) requiringconservation of larger continuous areas than more homogeneous habitats andassemblages.6. ReferencesAlbani, A.D., Carter, A.N., & Johnson B.D. 1973. The bedrock topography of Jervis Bay,New South Wales. In: Oceanography of the South Pacific, New Zealand NationalCommission for UNESCO, Wellington.Anderson, T., Brooke, B., Radke, L., McArthur, M., & Hughes, M. 2009. Mapping andcharacterising soft-sediment habitats, and evaluating physical variables assurrogates of biodiversity in Jervis Bay, NSW. Geoscience Australia, Record2009/10, Canberra.Archambault, P., & Bourget, E. 1996. Scales of coastal heterogeneity and benthicintertidal species richness, diversity and abundance. Marine Ecology ProgressSeries 136: 111-121.Bell, J.D., Ferrell, D.J., McNeill, S.E., & Worthington, D.G. 1992. Variation inassemblages of fish associated with deep and shallow margins of the seagrassPosidonia australis. Marine Biology 114: 667-676.CSIRO. 1994. Jervis Bay Baseline Studies, Vol 1. CSIRO Division of Fisheries, MarmionMarine Laboratories, North Beach.Dames, & Moore. 1985. Jervis Bay sediment and seagrass, Report to the Department ofHousing and Construction.Department of Defense. 1989. Navy Seabed Survey Program Jervis Bay 1985-1989,Canberra.Ferrell, D.J., & Bell, J.D. 1991. Differences among assemblages of fish associated withZostera capricorni and bare sand over a large spatial scale. Marine EcologyProgress Series 72: 15-24.Ferrell, D.J., McNeill, S.E., Worthington, D.G., & Bell, J.D. 1993. Temporal and spatialvariation in the abundance of fish associated with the seagrass Posidonia australis19
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Temporal and fine-scale variation in the biogeochemistry of Jervis Bay

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