Habitat, cross shelf and regional patterns in the distributions and abundances of some coral reef organisms on the northern Great Barrier Reef, with comment on the implications for future monitoring

Abstract

In this report we describe some relatively large-scale patterns in the distributions and abundances of several coral reef organisms on the northern Great Barrier Reef. We considered the degree to which habitat, position across the continental shelf, and region explained variations in abundances. These factors have been invoked as major determinants of pattern in abundances in past studies and we sought to examine the consistency and generality of such models. Our main focus was on the implications of systematic patterns in abundance for the spatial design of sampling and monitoring programmes. Ignorance or inappropriate treatment of strong systematic patterns when designing monitoring and assessment programmes has the potential to cause mistaken conclusions about the merits of future management strategies or the performance of existing strategies.