The GBR long-term chlorophyll monitoring program sampling design and methods

Sampling under this program has been carried out at stations in 10 regional zones called transects. Sampling of stations and transects changed throughout the 13+ year period and stations were added or discontinued for operational reasons. Most of the transects include sites at both inshore and offshore locations (inshore defined as in water of less than 20m depth). These transects and their latitudinal position are:

• Far Northern (13°S);
• Cooktown - Osprey (14°S);
• Lizard Island (14°S);
• Port Douglas (15°S);
• Cairns (16°S);
• Townsville (18°S);
• Whitsunday (21°S)
• Keppel Bay and Capricorn Bunker (23°S)
• Burnett-Hervey Bay (25°S)

In 2005 a network of coastal sampling sites was established to expand sampling activities of the program in the coastal zone.

Sampling stations are generally sampled every month. The actual date for sampling within a calendar month is determined by the individual collecting institution, and is influenced by factors such as weather conditions.

At each sampling station, two surface water samples are collected. Duplicate sub-samples (100ml) are then drawn from each sample, filtered, and the filter kept frozen for subsequent chlorophyll analysis. Various site variables and physico-chemical measurements (salinity, temperature, secchi depth, water depth, presence of the blue-green alga Trichodesmium and weather conditions) are also noted.

We acknowledge the assistance of a number of organisations for the collection and processing of water samples under this program, including Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services, Undersea Explorer, Quick Cat Scuba Adventures, Sunferries, QLD Sea Scallops Ltd, Cook Shire Council, Fitzroy Island Resort, Cardwell State School, Whitsunday Catchment Landcare, CapReef, Tannum Boyne Coastcare group, Woongarra Marine Park Monitoring and Education Project.

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November 28, 2007