the reef biota at bunurong marine national park - Parks Victoria

Parks Victoria Technical Series No. 84
Bunurong Subtidal Reef Monitoring
Abundances of Selected Species
Mean abundance of selected species were plotted over time for the marine protected area
and reference regions. The species presented included abundant or common species as well
as any with unusual changes over time.
2.3.3 Ecosystem Functional Components
Plant Habitat and Production
Biogenic habitat and standing stocks of primary producers was indicated by the pooled
abundances of macrophyte groups:
crustose coralline algae;
canopy browns – defined here as Ecklonia radiata, Undaria pinnatifida, Lessonia
corrugata, Macrocystis pyrifera, Durvillaea potatorum, Phyllospora comosa,
Seirococcus axillaris, Acrocarpia paniculata, Cystophora platylobium, C. moniliformis,
C. pectinata, C. monilifera, C. retorta and C. retroflexa;
smaller browns (all other brown species except Ectocarpales);
erect coralline algae;
thallose red algae (except filamentous species);
green algae; and
seagrass Amphibolis antarctica.
The index of summed species points-cover does not equate to a total cover estimate in some
cases as using species cover can be overlapping with other species at different heights.
Invertebrate Groups
The abundance of invertebrates were pooled into the functional groups:
grazers and habitat modifiers, including gastropods and sea urchins;
filter feeders, including fanworms and feather stars;
predators, including gastropods, crabs and lobsters but excluding seastars; and
seastars, which are mostly predators, although Meridiastra gunnii may also be a
detritus feeder.
Fish Groups
The abundance of fishes were also pooled into trophic groups:
herbivores and omnivorous grazers;
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