CERF Mar<strong>in</strong>e Biodiversity Hub <strong>Jervis</strong> <strong>Bay</strong> Survey Report, February 2009Table 2: Timel<strong>in</strong>e for sample process<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> data analyses.TASK DATES NAMESSort & identify <strong>Jervis</strong> <strong>Bay</strong> Feb – Aug 09 McArthur/Przeslawski<strong>in</strong>faunaProcess gra<strong>in</strong> 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, modell<strong>in</strong>g, Aug 09 onwards Huang/Li/etc.seascapes1 Exclud<strong>in</strong>g XRF samplesResults from this survey will be communicated through a range <strong>of</strong> outlets, encompass<strong>in</strong>gboth scientific <strong>and</strong> public audiences:Post-survey report. The current report details survey design, sampl<strong>in</strong>g map, details<strong>of</strong> samples collected, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> estimated time frame for data acquisition <strong>and</strong>analyses.<strong>Jervis</strong> <strong>Bay</strong> Benthic Species Guide. Any new <strong>in</strong>fauna not recorded from previoussurveys will be photographed <strong>and</strong> added to <strong>the</strong> planned <strong>Jervis</strong> <strong>Bay</strong> BenthicSpecies Guide.Newsletters. If <strong>the</strong>re is <strong>in</strong>terest, we will write a brief summary <strong>of</strong> our survey<strong>and</strong>/or results for <strong>the</strong> CERF Mar<strong>in</strong>e Hub Newsletter <strong>and</strong>/or AusGeo News.Conferences & workshops. Results will be presented at national conferences (e.g.AMSA) <strong>and</strong> CERF workshops.CERF datasets. Results from this survey will contribute to <strong>the</strong> overall <strong>Jervis</strong> <strong>Bay</strong>data hold<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>and</strong> can be used <strong>in</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r surrogacy research projects by CERF Hubresearchers.Peer-reviewed publications. We anticipate publish<strong>in</strong>g two papers that directlyaddress <strong>the</strong> aims stated above: 1) Seasonal <strong>and</strong> <strong>f<strong>in</strong>e</strong>-<strong>scale</strong> spatial <strong>variation</strong> <strong>of</strong>geochemistry <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>fauna <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jervis</strong> <strong>Bay</strong>, <strong>and</strong> 2) Does <strong>the</strong> identification <strong>of</strong> abioticmar<strong>in</strong>e surrogates depend on temporal <strong>and</strong> spatial <strong>scale</strong>s?. In addition, our datasetsmay contribute to peer-reviewed publications produced by o<strong>the</strong>r members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>CERF Mar<strong>in</strong>e Hub (e.g. corroboration <strong>of</strong> regional seascapes).5. SignificanceThis research will complement previously planned research <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> CERF program, <strong>in</strong>which <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ter-annual <strong>variation</strong> among surrogacy relationships will be compared acrossseveral temperate rocky reefs (temporal: annual, spatial: kilometres). The current studyaims to <strong>in</strong>vestigate <strong>f<strong>in</strong>e</strong>r <strong>scale</strong>s (temporal: seasonal, spatial: metres) <strong>and</strong> will allow us to18
CERF Mar<strong>in</strong>e Biodiversity Hub <strong>Jervis</strong> <strong>Bay</strong> Survey Report, February 2009determ<strong>in</strong>e whe<strong>the</strong>r or not <strong>the</strong> relationships between abiotic <strong>and</strong> biotic variables changeover time <strong>and</strong> spatial <strong>scale</strong>. Such <strong>in</strong>formation will be crucial to optimise <strong>the</strong> likelihood <strong>of</strong>identify<strong>in</strong>g suitable surrogates for mar<strong>in</strong>e biodiversity <strong>in</strong> s<strong>of</strong>t-sediment environments. Toour knowledge, this is <strong>the</strong> first study to exam<strong>in</strong>e how <strong>the</strong> relationships betweenenvironmental factors <strong>and</strong> mar<strong>in</strong>e macro-<strong>in</strong>faunal diversity may vary over time <strong>and</strong> space.This research will contribute to our knowledge <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jervis</strong> <strong>Bay</strong> by provid<strong>in</strong>g co-locatedrecords <strong>of</strong> environmental factors <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>fauna. When comb<strong>in</strong>ed with data from previousCERF <strong>Jervis</strong> <strong>Bay</strong> surveys (e.g. GA309 <strong>and</strong> GA312), this <strong>in</strong>formation will provide detailedmaps <strong>of</strong> a s<strong>of</strong>t sediment habitat <strong>and</strong> a robust dataset <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>faunal diversity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>sou<strong>the</strong>rn part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> bay <strong>in</strong> relation to sedimentological, geochemical <strong>and</strong> biogeochemicalvariables.Results from this study will also reveal <strong>f<strong>in</strong>e</strong>-<strong>scale</strong> complexity <strong>of</strong> s<strong>of</strong>t-sediment habitats <strong>in</strong><strong>Jervis</strong> <strong>Bay</strong>. Heterogeneity affects mar<strong>in</strong>e protected area plann<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> management, withhabitats <strong>and</strong> assemblages that vary across <strong>f<strong>in</strong>e</strong> spatial <strong>scale</strong>s (i.e. heterogeneous) requir<strong>in</strong>gconservation <strong>of</strong> larger cont<strong>in</strong>uous areas than more homogeneous habitats <strong>and</strong>assemblages.6. ReferencesAlbani, A.D., Carter, A.N., & Johnson B.D. 1973. The bedrock topography <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jervis</strong> <strong>Bay</strong>,New South Wales. In: Oceanography <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> South Pacific, New Zeal<strong>and</strong> NationalCommission for UNESCO, Well<strong>in</strong>gton.Anderson, T., Brooke, B., Radke, L., McArthur, M., & Hughes, M. 2009. Mapp<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong>characteris<strong>in</strong>g s<strong>of</strong>t-sediment habitats, <strong>and</strong> evaluat<strong>in</strong>g physical variables assurrogates <strong>of</strong> biodiversity <strong>in</strong> <strong>Jervis</strong> <strong>Bay</strong>, NSW. Geoscience Australia, Record2009/10, Canberra.Archambault, P., & Bourget, E. 1996. Scales <strong>of</strong> coastal heterogeneity <strong>and</strong> benthic<strong>in</strong>tertidal species richness, diversity <strong>and</strong> abundance. Mar<strong>in</strong>e Ecology ProgressSeries 136: 111-121.Bell, J.D., Ferrell, D.J., McNeill, S.E., & Worth<strong>in</strong>gton, D.G. 1992. Variation <strong>in</strong>assemblages <strong>of</strong> fish associated with deep <strong>and</strong> shallow marg<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> seagrassPosidonia australis. Mar<strong>in</strong>e Biology 114: 667-676.CSIRO. 1994. <strong>Jervis</strong> <strong>Bay</strong> Basel<strong>in</strong>e Studies, Vol 1. CSIRO Division <strong>of</strong> Fisheries, MarmionMar<strong>in</strong>e Laboratories, North Beach.Dames, & Moore. 1985. <strong>Jervis</strong> <strong>Bay</strong> sediment <strong>and</strong> seagrass, Report to <strong>the</strong> Department <strong>of</strong>Hous<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> Construction.Department <strong>of</strong> Defense. 1989. Navy Seabed Survey Program <strong>Jervis</strong> <strong>Bay</strong> 1985-1989,Canberra.Ferrell, D.J., & Bell, J.D. 1991. Differences among assemblages <strong>of</strong> fish associated withZostera capricorni <strong>and</strong> bare s<strong>and</strong> over a large spatial <strong>scale</strong>. Mar<strong>in</strong>e EcologyProgress Series 72: 15-24.Ferrell, D.J., McNeill, S.E., Worth<strong>in</strong>gton, D.G., & Bell, J.D. 1993. <strong>Temporal</strong> <strong>and</strong> spatial<strong>variation</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> abundance <strong>of</strong> fish associated with <strong>the</strong> seagrass Posidonia australis19