pink coral image with fish

Pompey sector 2017

27th April 2017

Summary

  • Recovery of hard coral cover continues following Cyclone Hamish in 2009.
  • Recovery slower at some locations due to persistent populations of crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS).
  • Widespread bleaching was observed at low to moderate levels, particularly affecting shallow and sheltered (back reef) habitats.
  • COTS activity decreased from previous survey, with two individuals observed at one reef.

 

Figure 1 - Map showing location of reefs in the Pompey sector of the Great Barrier Reef. Click on figure to go to AIMS Spatial Maps for information on individual reefs.

Pompeys Sector Summary Trend since last survey
Median Coral Cover Moderate (10-30%) Increased
COTS status: No Outbreaks Decreased
Coral bleaching: Low Stable

As part of the Long Term Monitoring Program (LTMP), manta tow surveys of coral cover and abundance of the coral feeding crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS), Acanthaster planci, were completed in February 2017 on five reefs in the Pompey sector of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR; Fig. 1). Median reef-wide live coral cover increased at four of five reefs (Table 1), in conjunction with a decrease in crown-of-thorns starfish activity (Fig. 2). A decrease in coral cover at Cannan Reef may not necessarily be recent, as it was previously surveyed in 2005, when an Incipient Outbreak of COTS was recorded. Only two A. planci were observed during manta tow at one of the five reefs in 2017 (Table 1).

Qualitative assessments of bleaching from manta tow surveys in 2017 revealed that bleaching was widespread at a low to moderate level. Generally, bleaching was low (up to 10%) below 6m depth and in exposed (front reef) and steep-walled habitats. Bleaching prevalence increased in shallow (<6m) and sheltered (back reef) habitats, with up to 50% of hard corals showing signs of heat stress in some habitat patches. The outer-shelf reef, Ben Reef, was least affected by bleaching, with very low levels (<5%) observed in all habitats surveyed.

Table 1 - Summary of manta tow surveys for reefs in the Pompey sector. Arrows indicate the trend in live coral cover and A. planci since last survey; ▲ = increase, ▼ = decrease, " " = no change.

Reef Shelf Position Tows Previous survey year A. planci A. planci per tow Median Live Coral Cover Median Soft Coral Cover Reef Status
20-354 Mid 21 2011 2 ▲ 0.1 30-40% ▲ 0-5% NO
CANNAN Mid 21 2005 0 ▼ 0 10-20% ▼ 0-5% NO
CREAL Mid 19 2013 0 ▼ 0 5-10% ▲ 0-5% NO
CREDLIN Mid 55 2016 0 0 20-30% ▲ 0-5% NO
BEN Outer 16 2013 0 0 20-30% ▲ 0-5% NO

Dates: 16th February – 8th March 2017

Vessel: RV Cape Ferguson

Survey leader: Kerryn Johns

Details of the manta tow method and results can be found here.

Click here for further details of the monitoring program design, sampling methods and a full explanation of the A. planci outbreak terminology.

For enquiries, please contact monitoring@aims.gov.au