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Technical Information
Is the condition of our subtidal reefs improving?
This document describes the sources of information, advice, methods, indicators and data
processing procedures used to develop the reports. Reliability of data, as well as metadata
attributes, are also described.
State NRM Plan Guiding Target:
Improve the condition of coastal and marine ecosystems.
State NRM Plan Representative Measure:
Trends in the condition of subtidal reefs.
Data collection period:
2005–2010.
Expected frequency of reporting:
Annual.
Data sources:
1. Data relating to subtidal reef condition are taken directly from published scientific reports based on scientific and communitybased (Reefwatch) studies undertaken between 2005 and 2011 (Turner et al. 2007; Collings et al. 2008; Department of
Environment and Heritage 2008; Westphalen 2009; Westphalen 2011).
Indicators used:
1.
Subtidal reef condition.
Methods of data collection and processing:
Subtidal reef condition: The mean subtidal reef health (condition) score (presented in the trend graph) was calculated by averaging
scores collected for all reefs within a particular year and NRM region (regions were AMLR and NY only). Subtidal reef health
(condition) data were taken directly from reports published between 2007 and 2011 (Turner et al. 2007; Collings et al. 2008;
Department of Environment and Heritage 2008; Westphalen 2009; Westphalen 2011). Subtidal reef condition scores that are
presented on the map as “good, caution, bad” are based on the most recent available data for that site collected between 2005
and 2010.
Subtidal reef condition scores are calculated from a combination of reef health indicators; the number of indicators measured
varies between survey periods undertaken from 2005—2007 and 2009—2010 (see table below). For a detailed description of the
methods and indicators used, refer to Turner et al. 2007; Collings et al. 2008; Department of Environment and Heritage 2008;
Westphalen 2009; Westphalen 2011.
2005
Indicators used
√ =Yes; x = No
Percentage cover of canopy
forming macroalgae
Percentage cover of turfing
macroalgae
Percentage cover of mussel mats
Percentage cover of bare
substrate
Size and abundance of blue
throated wrasse
Abundance of site attached fish
2006
AMLR
NY
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
AMLR
No
survey
No
survey
No
survey
No
survey
√
√
√
√
No
survey
No
2007
NY
AMLR
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
(abund.
only)
√
2009
2010
AMLR
NY
AMLR
√
No survey
√
√
No survey
√
√
No survey
√
√
NY
No
survey
No
survey
No
survey
No
survey
√
No survey
√
NY
No
survey
No
survey
No
survey
No
survey
√
√
√
No
√
√
No survey
No survey
x
√
No
survey
No
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia. © Crown in right of the State of South Australia.
2005
Indicators used
√ =Yes; x = No
AMLR
NY
Abundance of mobile
invertebrate predators
√
√
Presence of invasive taxa
√
√
Sedimentation
√
√
Species richness (macroalgae)
Species richness (mobile
invertebrates)
√
√
√
√
2006
AMLR
survey
No
survey
No
survey
No
survey
No
survey
No
survey
2007
NY
AMLR
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
NY
survey
No
survey
No
survey
No
survey
No
survey
No
survey
2009
2010
AMLR
NY
AMLR
√
No survey
√
√
No survey
√
NY
survey
No
survey
No
survey
Future reporting measures:
DEWNR may work with all authors/holders of data relating to reef habitat condition to develop a method to standardise available
information so that it can reported in this report in the future.
The following government agencies contributed to this report:
1.
The Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR).
2.
The South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) Aquatic Sciences.
The following non-government agencies contributed to this report:
1.
Conservation Council of South Australia (via ReefWatch).
2.
Westphalen Consulting.
Key stakeholders:
Natural Resources Management Council, Natural Resources Management Boards, DEWNR regional staff, DEWNR-Strategy and
Advice Group, NRM communities, Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA) – Fisheries and Aquaculture & the
Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
Information reliability scoring:
Information is scored for reliability based on average scores given for information currency and applicability, and its level of spatial
representation (Tables 1–3). Where no information is available reliability is scored as zero.
Table 1. Information currency
Reliability
5
4
3
2
1
Criteria
Information up to 3 years old
Information up to 5 years old
Information up to 7 years old
Information up to 10 years old
Information >10 years old
Table 2. Applicability of the information
Reliability
5
4
3
2
1
Criteria
All data based on direct indicators of the measure
Most data based on direct indicators of the measure
Most data based on indirect indicators of the measure
All data based on indirect indicators of the measure
Data are based on expert opinion of the measure
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia. © Crown in right of the State of South Australia.
Table 3. Spatial representation of information (sampling design)
Reliability
5
4
3
2
1
Criteria
Information is collected from across the whole region/state (or whole distribution of
asset within the region/state) using a stratified sampling design
Information is collected from across the whole region/state (or whole distribution of
asset within the region/state) using a sampling design that is not stratified
Information is collected from an area that represents less than half the spatial
distribution of the asset within the region/state
Information is collected from an area that represents less than 25% the spatial
distribution of the asset within the region/state
Information is collected from an area that represents less than 5% the spatial
distribution of the asset within the region/state or spatial representation unknown
Based on tables 1, 2 & 3 above, respectively, the information relating to subtidal reef condition presented in this report has a
reliability score of (2+5+2)/3 = 3 (Good).
This report is linked to the following report cards/snapshots:
1.
Are the extent and condition of our seagrass improving?
2.
Are the extent and condition of our coastal dunes improving?
3.
Are the extent and condition of our saltmarshes improving?
4.
Are the extent and condition of our mangroves improving?
5.
Is the condition of our estuaries improving?
6.
Are South Australia’s marine parks effective in protecting marine habitats and species?
7.
What are the distribution and abundance of aquatic pests?
8.
How are diseases affecting our aquatic species?
9.
Are our recreational and commercial marine fish stocks being used sustainably?
10. How many of our species are extinct or threatened with extinction?
11. How many of our ecological communities are extinct or threatened with extinction?
12. Is the ecological condition of the River Murray improving?
13. What is the ecological condition our rivers, streams and drains?
14. Are water flows out the Murray Mouth flushing sufficient salt?
15. Are water flows and water quality of the River Murray good enough to support ecosystems?
16. Is the water quality of the water from the River Murray that we drink, swim in and irrigate with improving?
17. How much of our stormwater and wastewater is recycled?
Metadata description:
Project/Dataset name:
Subtidal reef condition
Abstract/description
Dataset is condition scores calculated for subtidal reefs in AMLR and NY, South Australia.
Data is taken directly from reports published between 2007 and 2011 (Turner et al. 2007;
Department of Environment and Heritage 2008; Westphalen 2009; Westphalen 2011).
Data types
Summarised numeric values in Excel spreadsheet format
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia. © Crown in right of the State of South Australia.
Organisation/ DEWNR business
area that
sponsors/holds/manages the data
DEWNR
Date range
Date: 2005—2010
Study area
Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges NRM region (coastal marine). Northern and Yorke NRM
region (coastal marine).
Data format
Excel outputs
Data distribution rules
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia
Is the dataset source data (raw),
value-add data
(analysed/summarised) or final
indicator/score data?
Value add data. Summarised/averaged by region/year
Photo credit details:
Title: “Dive Pearson IS Greg Adams10.jpg”
Owner: Taken by Greg Adams, permission for use granted to DEWNR Marine Parks group.
Scientific literature referred to in the report:
Collings, G. Bryars, S., Turner, D., Brook, J. and Theil, M. (2008). Examining the health of subtidal reef environments in So uth
Australia, Part 4: Assessment of community reef monitoring and status of selected South Australian reefs based on the results of
the 2007 surveys. SARDI Publication Number RD. F2008/000511-1. South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic
Sciences), Adelaide.
Conservation Council of South Australia. Southern Australian Temperate Reefs. Accessed 19 March 2013.
Conservation Council of South Australia (2009). Reef Watch South Australia: The first decade of community reef monitoring. 97 p.
Department of Environment and Natural Heritage (2008). Biodiversity of Yorke Peninsula Rocky Reefs. Final Report to the
Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Management Board for the Project: Initiation of Marine Biological Inventory Targeting
Regional Hotspots. Prepared by the Department for Environment and Heritage, Coast and Marine Conservation Branch. 80p.
Turner, D., Kildea, T. and Westphalen, G. (2007). Examining the health of subtidal reef environments in South Australia. Part 2.
Status of selected South Australian Reefs based on the results of the 2005 surveys. SARDI publication number RD03/0252-6.
Westphalen, G. (2009). Reef Watch South Australia. Surveys across six reefs in the Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges Natural Resou rce
Management Region 2008-2009. A report to the Conservation Council of South Australia Inc. 16p.
Westphalen, G. (2011). Reef Watch South Australia. Surveys across reefs in the Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges Natural Resource
Management Region 2010-2011. A report to the Conservation Council of South Australia. 23p.
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia. © Crown in right of the State of South Australia.