Research and Monitoring Initiative for Commonwealth Marine Protected Areas - Biodiversity Surveys: Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Nature Reserve (C1.12c)

Task leader: Mr Will Oxley, Australian Institute of Marine Science.

Task associate: NA.

Task objectives

1. Surveys of coral reef communities including live coral cover, physical structure, key biota and abundance of coral types to an appropriate taxonomic level.

2. Identification of coral damage, where feasible identifying the likely cause of damage (eg. Resulting from crown-of-thorns starfish, coral bleaching, cyclones etc) and or other factors.

3. Survey key biota including trepang (beche de mer) Tridacna giga giant clams, and the crown-of-thorns starfish.

4. Survey the population characteristics of targeted fish species and other species sufficient to characterise the diversity and species richness of the fish fauna on the reserves.

5. Survey Black Cod levels within the Elizabeth Middleton Reserve.