Benthic Habitat Mapping of the Eastern Shelf of Cockburn Sound 2004

Cockburn Sound Management Council Community Summary Paper July 2004

Cockburn Sound Management Council

Overview
Aerial photography undertaken in 1967 identified that seagrass was widespread throughout the shallow waters of Cockburn Sound (water depth up to 10m). Due to reduced water quality many seagrass beds have since disappeared. Accurate maps of the distribution of seagrass beds are important in assessing the effectiveness of environmental management of Cockburn Sound. This study has improved knowledge of the distribution of seagrass beds along the eastern margin of the Sound and will assist in future monitoring activities.

The study utilised state of the art Sidescan Sonar (SSS) techniques to provide detailed information on the benthic habitat types present (e.g. seagrass, reef or sediment). The study also expands on previous information obtained, including habitat information for deeper waters, species assemblages, vegetation percentage cover and the presence of epiphyte material.

Survey Methods
Several datasets were used for this groundtruthing survey project. Visual examination of the 2002 aerial imagery was followed by an extensive Sidescan Sonar (SSS) survey across the Eastern Shelf region. Towed underwater video was then carried out to provide groundtruth data and assist in the interpretation of the SSS data. Spot dives were then carried out in selected areas which were identified as having high habitat complexity. An outline of the methods employed for each of these elements is provided below (Figure 2).

Introduction
The Cockburn Sound Management Council (CSMC) has identified in its interim Environmental Management Plan (EMP) the need to monitor the health and distribution of remaining patches of seagrass present along the eastern margin of Cockburn Sound. In the past, aerial photographs have been the most common source of information used to identify the distribution of seagrass beds throughout the Sound. Aerial imagery obtained in 2002 provided valuable information as to the distribution of seagrass beds throughout the broader area of the Sound, however it was identified that further detailed investigations were needed for Cockburn Sounds eastern margin. As a result the CSMC commissioned DAL Science and Engineering (DALSE) to undertake a groundtruthing survey of the Sounds eastern margin (Figure 1).

Figure 1 - Location of study area

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Figure 2 Data sets used for present study

Aerial Photography
Purpose-flown aerial photography was obtained in March and April 2002 and was used as an initial guide to the extents and locations of vegetated and unvegetated areas.

The strength of the reflection or return signal gives an indication of the nature of the seabed. Several features of the SSS imagery give an indication of the seabed characteristics, as follows; The general tone of the imagery, with soft flat sediment giving light grey tones and reef or seagrass giving dark grey tones; The presence of tall seabed features, as indicated from the presence of shadows cast by high objects (Figure 5). The texture of the imagery can aid in the identification of habitat types. For example, patchy seagrass beds or continuous seagrass beds (Figure 5 & Figure 6); and Changes in depth are shown by the width of the central band (Figure 6).

Sidescan Sonar
Sidescan Sonar (SSS) has been popular for the mapping and visualisation of the seabed since the 1980s and provides an effective method for the identification of habitat types. The SSS towfish (Figure 3) is towed behind the boat at a constant depth below the water surface. Two transducers within the towfish produce a fan-shaped pulse (ping) of sound energy (Figure 4). A small proportion of the energy is reflected back to the towfish, amplified and recorded.

Figure 5 - Example of unprocessed SSS imagery over dense seagrass

Figure 3 - Sidescan Sonar towfish

Figure 6 - Example of unprocessed SSS imagery over patchy seagrass SSS provided almost complete coverage of habitats across the Eastern Shelf of Cockburn Sound (Figure 2).

Figure 4 - Theory behind Sidescan Sonar

Towed underwater video

Groundtruthing was essential in enabling benthic habitats to be confidently and accurately mapped from the aerial photographs and SSS data. An underwater video camera (Figure 7) was towed behind the survey vessel at a maximum of 2.5 knots, with the height above the seabed controlled manually (up to 1m). Figure 8 Diver recording habitat features

Mapping methods
The SSS and groundtruth data allowed the habitat types to be described in more detail than ever before, with a far broader range of benthic habitats being identified. The resolution of the mapping was dependent upon the survey coverage achieved within each area (Figure 2). For those areas only covered by the 2002 aerial imagery, mapping resolution was low, with only bare substrate areas and vegetated areas (areas consisting of seagrass, wrack or reef) being mappable. For those areas covered by SSS, the extents of the habitats could be much more accurately defined, and more detailed classification of habitat types made. Areas covered by SSS and towed video could be mapped at a higher resolution still, with habitat boundaries and habitat types more accurately mapped. Those areas covered by SSS and spot dives could be mapped at an even higher resolution, with the production of highly detailed habitat maps possible. The habitat mapping process is outlined overleaf, using a small focus area as an example (see below).

Figure 7 - Towed underwater video system The underwater video was used to identify features of interest observed from the SSS imagery.

Spot Dives
Spot dives were used to examine areas in which a number of habitat types were identified in close proximity to each other, following the initial analysis of the SSS imagery and video footage. The spot dives yielded more detailed habitat information, including; Sediment type Species assemblages Species abundance Presence of epiphytes Small-scale variability habitat

within

each

This allowed the more detailed description of habitat types and distributions within the areas covered by spot dives.

Habitat Mapping example

Step 1 Firstly an examination of the 2002 aerial imagery can be made this shows the quality of data used for previous mapping studies The SSS imagery can then be overlayed this shows the marked increase in the quality of data available on the benthic habitats

Step 2 The towed video track is then overlayed, and habitat data noted from the video footage used to produce a habitat map.

Habitat map showing high relief reef (brown), seagrass (green) and pavement reef (yellow)

Step 3 Within this area, a spot dive was carried out, involving the collection of detailed information on the habitat types and distributions present. This allowed further detailed habitat information to be determined for the area, and a more detailed habitat map produced. The information gained from the spot dives was fed back into the mapping of habitats throughout the study area, which produced the final detailed habitat map.
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Habitats Identified
Seagrass, reef and soft substrate habitats were identified across the study area. The habitat types identified, together with a short description and photographs, are given below;

Seagrass
Posidonia sp. Areas covered by continuous Posidonia sp. bed

Edge of Posidonia sinuosa bed with adjacent wrack material Patchy Posidonia sp. Areas covered by patches of Posidonia sp.

Patch of Posidonia australis

Mixed seagrass and reef Areas covered by a combination of seagrass and reef structures. Halophila sp. Areas covered by continuous Halophila sp. bed or by patches of Halophila sp.

Halophila ovalis (close-up)

Halophila ovalis bed

Reef
Pavement reef This habitat type was not always clearly identifiable from the SSS imagery as it was often covered by a thin veneer of soft sediment, giving a light grey tone. It was often only detectable in the video footage by the presence of macroalgae or ascidians which had grown through the overlying sand but which were attached to underlying reef. This reef type was sometimes recorded between Posidonia sp. patches, suggesting that the presence of reef limited the distribution of seagrass beds.

High relief reef Natural limestone high relief reef outcrops.

Hard coral (Favia sp.)

Sea squirt (Herdmania momus)

Cobble reef Reef structure predominantly composed of cobbles or boulders of either natural or anthropogenic origin.

Soft sediment
Unvegetated areas in which soft sediments were dominant.

Seapen (Cavernularia sp.)

Sand dollar (Peronella lesueuri)

Other
Wrack material Areas covered by a dense cover of unattached seagrass leaves and algae. Vegetated area Habitat identified from the aerial imagery as being vegetated. A distinction between seagrass bed, reef or wrack material could not be made from this imagery

Benthic Habitats
The groundtruthing data was used to create a benthic habitat map covering the Eastern Shelf of Cockburn Sound (Figure 9). The information presented on habitat types and distribution is the most detailed ever produced to date.

Habitat coverage
Soft sediment was found to be the dominant habitat type within the 2004 study area (76% of total area). Halophila sp. seagrass beds formed the next most extensive habitat type (1.3%) followed by Posidonia sp. seagrass beds (1.2%)(Figure 9; Table 1).
Habitat type Soft sediment Land Halophila sp. Posidonia sp. Vegetated area Cobble reef Pavement reef Patchy Posidonia sp. Wrack Mixed seagrass & reef High relief reef Total Area (ha) 3957.4 947.8 67.9 61.6 39.3 30.3 25.9 8.4 7.6 1.4 0.5 4200.3 Percentage 76.9 18.4 1.3 1.2 0.8 0.6 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.0 100

The separation of these three Posidonia species from the SSS imagery was not possible and therefore all Posidonia beds have been classed as Posidonia sp., although the majority is considered to be Posidonia sinuosa (as this was by far the dominant species within the towed video footage, and was recorded as the dominant Posidonia sp. recorded during the spot dives). Halophila sp. beds were found to be generally less dense than Posidonia sp. beds. Towards the centre of the Eastern Shelf, west of Southern Harbour, the average percentage cover of Halophila sp. within beds was 40%. Whilst Halophila ovalis was the most commonly recorded Halophila species, Halophila decipiens was also recorded within the study area, particularly in the north. As the differentiation of these species was not possible from the SSS imagery a Halophila sp. classification has been used to cover both species.

Presence of epiphytes
Epiphytes are plants and animals that attach and live on plants. They can have a negative effect on seagrasses by shading the seagrass leaves and reducing the rate of photosynthesis of the seagrasses. The abundance of epiphytes was found to vary across the survey area and between seagrass species. Posidonia sp. along the western margin of the Eastern Shelf, to the north and south of the study area, were found to have little epiphytic cover whereas the plants towards the centre of the western margin were found to be relatively heavily colonized by small seaweeds. Halophila ovalis was generally found to be colonized by few epiphytes. Within some beds, however, relatively large plants of the tufted brown alga (Hincksia mitchelliae) were recorded on a small proportion of the leaves.

Table 1 - Benthic habitat coverage within the Eastern Shelf of Cockburn Sound

Vegetation percentage cover

Posidonia sinuosa beds were generally dense, with isolated sand patches. For example, along the western margin of the Eastern Shelf, directly west of Southern Harbour, the average percentage cover within meadows was 86%. Posidonia coriacea was recorded within the towed video footage as discrete plants generally around the margins of Posidonia sinuosa beds, while Posidonia australis was recorded at low densities within some P.sinuosa beds.

Summary
The present project has provided significantly enhanced habitat information for the Eastern Shelf of Cockburn Sound. The sidescan sonar provided a time and cost efficient method for the mapping of subtidal habitats, particularly in areas for which the capture of high quality aerial photographs could not be achieved. The area has a high degree of spatial variability with a complex series of habitats occurring in often close association with one another. The detailed descriptions of the habitat types present, along with their accurate mapping, provides a baseline data set not previously available, against which future changes within Cockburn Sound can be measured. The dominant habitat type within the study area was soft sediment (Figure 9). Limestone bedrock was found to cover a relatively large area of the Eastern Shelf The extents of some of the Posidonia sp. beds within the survey area were thought to be limited by the presence of a sufficient depth of sediment to allow their settlement and persistence

Figure 9 - Benthic habitats within the Eastern Shelf of Cockburn Sound

References
DAL, UWA, Alex Wyllie & Associates, NGIS Australia & Kevron Aerial Surveys (2000). Seagrass Mapping Owen Anchorage and Cockburn Sound. Report No. 94/026/S3/2. DALSE (2002). Benthic Habitat Mapping for 2002 of selected areas of Cockburn Sound. Report prepared for Cockburn Sound Management Council. Report No. 273/1.

This Community Paper is a summary of the Report: DAL Science & Engineering 2004. Benthic Habitat Mapping of the Eastern Shelf of Cockburn Sound. Prepared for Cockburn Sound Management Council by DAL Science & Engineering Pty Ltd, the Coastal CRC and the School of Plant Biology, UWA. Report No. 321/1.

For more information contact:

Cockburn Sound Management Council

Shop 1/ 15 Railway Terrace, Rockingham Beach WA 6168 Tel: (08) 95913837 Fax: (08) 95285387 Email: csmc@environment.wa.gov.au

2004 aerial imagery of a section of the Eastern Shelf of Cockburn Sound

This project was completed for the Cockburn Sound Management Council by DAL Science & Engineering, the Coastal CRC and the School of Plant Biology, UWA. This Community Paper was produced for the Cockburn Sound Management Council by Mr Spencer Shute, DAL Science & Engineering. This study was funded by the Department of Industry and Resources, LandCorp and Fremantle Ports.

http://www.wrc.wa.gov.au/region/csmc