From Australian Oceans Data Network
JSON format icon JSON RDF format icon RDF ISO19115-3 XML

Microphytobenthos community production at Great Palm Island, Great Barrier Reef

Created 23/06/2025

Updated 23/06/2025

JSON format icon JSON RDF format icon RDF ISO19115-3 XML

Production of the microphytobenthos community on a nearshore coral reef in Cannon Bay, Great Palm Island was measured over 7 trips between February 1996 and February 1997. Benthic microalgal production was measured in 4-chamber data logging respirometers placed to avoid Calianassa spp. mounds. The water within each chamber was flushed for 4 minutes every 26 minutes. Oxygen concentration within the chambers, in situ irradiance (PAR) and water temperature were recorded simultaneously at 1 minute intervals over at least 24 hours.The effect of nutrients excreted by holothurians on productivity was measured during experiments run in December 1996 (2) and February 1997 (3). Two 4 chamber respirometers were deployed for each experiment, for a period of 24 hours. An individual Holothuria atra (wet weight 140 to 220 g) was enclosed in a cartridge filter housing attached to 4 of the 8 chambers. The water (containing ammonium excreted by the holothurian) was injected into the attached chamber during each flushing. For 4 of the experiments, duplicate water samples for ammonium analyses were taken from all chambers on 2-3 occasions, 5 minutes after a flushing interval ended.To estimate microalgal biomass in sediments, 3 replicate samples of the upper 5 mm of sediment were collected under each chamber after completion of each respirometer deployment and the chlorophyll a concentration determined. This research was undertaken to:1. investigate seasonal variation in net and gross microphytobenthos community production on a near-shore reef in the Great Barrier Reef 2. investigate the influence of light and temperature on production3. test whether the presence of holothurians is beneficial to in situ benthic microalgal production due to increased availability of nutrients

Files and APIs

Additional Info

Field Value
Title Microphytobenthos community production at Great Palm Island, Great Barrier Reef
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/2c4f850d-230a-4c5d-9d4d-b4a4b1af718b
Contact Point
Australian Ocean Data Network
adc@aims.gov.au
Reference Period 20/11/2017
Geospatial Coverage
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
{
  "coordinates": [
    146.583333,
    -18.683333
  ],
  "type": "Point"
}
Data Portal Australian Oceans Data Network

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Australian Oceans Data Network "Microphytobenthos community production at Great Palm Island, Great Barrier Reef". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://catalogue.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/microphytobenthos-community-production-at-great-palm-island-great-barrier-reef1