NESP MB Project EP2 (Emerging Priorities) - Spatial distribution of marine wildlife in the Bremer Bay region

本记录概述了国家环境保护计划海洋生物多样性中心新兴优先项目--“布雷默湾地区海洋生物的空间分布”的范围和研究成果。有关此项目的特定数据输出，请参阅与此元数据关联的子记录。<br/> <br/> <br/> 布雷默峡谷系统是公认的海洋野生动物聚集区，虎鲸(Orcinus Orca)的聚集地支撑着当地的生态旅游。此外，该区域的价值已在建立布雷默联邦海洋保护区((https://www.environment.gov.au/topics/marine/marine-reserves/south-west/bremer))和确定奥尔巴尼峡谷群和邻近的陆架断裂作为西南海洋生物区域计划的关键生态特征(https://www.environment.gov.au/sprat-public/action/kef/view/23；jsessionid=01AD87551D0DE1B0248C8722BE137004).<br/>中得到承认。 由于位置偏远，进行离岸研究的成本相对较高，人们对大陆架和峡谷地区知之甚少。然而，公民驱动的科学记录了包括虎鲸、抹香鲸(Physeter Microcephalus)和巨型鱿鱼(Architeuthis sp.)在内的海洋野生动物的稳定聚集。发生在已建立的CMR以西。也有人猜测，这种稳定的野生动物聚集可能是由具有碳氢化合物食物链的海底石油渗漏推动的，尽管这是未经证实的。<br/> 这一野生动物聚集地在该区域内的潜在独特性以及驱动其存在的原因尚不清楚。有必要确定这种聚合的地区重要性及其与Bremer CMR提供的现有保护的关系。<br/> 该项目的目的是提高对布雷默CMR及其周边地区对海洋生物重要性的认识。该项目将确定主要感兴趣的野生动物在公认的中上层聚集区和布雷默CMR的分布情况，以便为澳大利亚政府保护环境、养护生物多样性和实现可持续利用的决策提供信息。该项目还将提高对野生动物聚集的可能原因的理解，并为未来的研究选择提供建议。<br/> <br/> 计划产量<br/> ·举办关键专家、管理人员和外部利益攸关方讲习班，以文献审查为基础，确定其他数据来源，并建议研究优先事项；<br/> ·一份讲习班报告，其中包括一份文献综述，以综合该区域与野生动物种群、一般生态学、海洋学和生产力有关的现有信息、数据和出版物；<br/> ·海洋野生动物调查--鉴于需要覆盖较大的空间区域(即在一天内覆盖CMR和已知聚集区域)，较可取的方法是有两名观察员的航空调查。我们建议该小组从埃斯佩兰斯动员，因为距离CMR很近，有能力补充燃料等。将包括一个由两(2)名科学观察员组成的小组，外加一名额外观察员的机会。研究将包括五(5)天的航空测量，不超过七(7)天。该项目将调查已知聚集区(包括布雷默CMR)内外的虎鲸的发生和分布情况。<br/> ·对现有声学数据的分析--科廷大学拥有声学调查数据，并将在区分逆戟鲸、其他鲸目动物和其他生物群的存在和分布的背景下解释这些数据。<br/> ·分析现有虎鲸在聚集区内的分布数据--科廷大学以前曾收集在聚集区目击到虎鲸的数据。这些数据将是虎鲸在聚集地点的时空分布。这有能力识别已知聚集区内虎鲸行为的关键模式。<br/> ·整理生态旅游运营商Naturaliste Charge对虎鲸的观察--这种整理将提供机会，以确定如何最好地利用这些数据，并根据图像收集生成通信产品。<br/> ·中上层鱼类调查--将扩大对布雷默中上层鱼类资源的现有计划调查，以包括聚集区，以便对中上层鲨鱼和鱼类的多样性、丰度和生物量进行比较。这将允许比较已知聚集区与CMR在中上层鲨鱼和鱼类丰度方面的相对丰富度。<br/> ·鱿鱼中的碳氢化合物信号--初步调查能否在鱿鱼中检测到碳氢化合物信号，作为确定碳氢化合物渗漏是否支持野生动物聚集的第一步。默多克大学拥有来自聚集区的鱿鱼样本，这些样本构成了这项分析的基础。<br/> ·确定成年虎鲸如何使用布雷默CMR的移动数据和聚集区域标签也将被放置在至少三(3)只来自已知聚集站点的成年虎鲸上，以澄清这些个体虎鲸是否也在过境或使用布雷默CMR。<br/> ·知识交流和沟通成果--该项目的每个组成部分都将制作供澳大利亚公园使用的材料。可能考虑的内容包括3D动画、动画、信息图表、宣传册、视频和文章。<br/> ·报告产出--将编写一份进度报告，重点介绍已完成的实地工作和初步成果，然后编写一份最后综合报告。

This record provides an overview of the scope and research output of NESP Marine Biodiversity Hub Emerging Priorities project - "Spatial distribution of marine wildlife in the Bremer Bay region". For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata.<br /> <br /> --------------------<br /> <br /> The Bremer Canyon system is a recognised aggregation area for marine wildlife and predictable aggregations of the orca (Orcinus orca) underpin local ecotourism. Additionally, the value of the region has been recognised in the establishment of the Bremer Commonwealth Marine Reserve (CMR) (https://www.environment.gov.au/topics/marine/marine-reserves/south-west/bremer) and the identification of the Albany canyon group and adjacent shelf break as a Key Ecological Feature in the South-West Marine Bioregional Plan (https://www.environment.gov.au/sprat-public/action/kef/view/23;jsessionid=01AD87551D0DE1B0248C8722BE137004).<br /> Little is known about the shelf and canyon region given its remote location and the relatively high cost of conducting offshore research. However, citizen-driven science has documented a stable aggregation of marine wildlife including orcas, sperm whales (Physeter microcephalus), and giant squid (Architeuthis sp.) occurring to the west of the established CMR. There is also speculation that this stable wildlife aggregation may be driven by seabed oil seeps with a hydrocarbon-based food chain although this is unsubstantiated.<br /> The potential uniqueness of this wildlife aggregation within the region and what drives its presence remains unknown. There is a significant need to determine the regional importance of this aggregation and its relation to the existing protection afforded by the Bremer CMR.<br /> The objective of this project is to improve the understanding of the importance of the Bremer CMR and surrounding region to marine wildlife. The project will determine the distribution of key wildlife of interest across the recognised pelagic aggregation and the Bremer CMR in order to inform Australian Government decision-making to protect the environment, conserve biodiversity and allow for sustainable use. The project will also improve understanding about the likely causes for wildlife aggregations and provide recommendations for future research options.<br /> <br /> Planned Outputs<br /> • A workshop of key experts, managers and external stakeholders to build on the literature review, identify additional data sources and recommend research priorities;<br /> • A workshop report including a literature review to synthesise existing information, data and publications on the region in relation to wildlife aggregations, general ecology, oceanography and productivity;<br /> • Marine wildlife survey – given the need to cover a large spatial area (i.e. the CMR and the known aggregation area in a single day), the preferred method is for an aerial survey with two observers. We propose that the team mobilises from Esperance given proximity to the CMR and ability to refuel etc. A team of two (2) scientific observers will be included plus an opportunity for an additional observer. The research will involve five (5) days of aerial surveying over no more than a seven (7) day period. The project will investigate the occurrence and distribution of orcas both inside and outside the known aggregation area (including the Bremer CMR). <br /> • Analysis of existing acoustic data – Curtin University holds data from acoustic surveys and will interpret these data in the context of distinguishing the presence and distribution of orcas, other cetaceans and other biota. <br /> • Analysis of existing orca distribution data within the aggregation – Curtin University has previously collected data on visual sightings of orcas at the aggregation. These data will be the spatial and temporal distribution of orcas at the aggregation site. This has the capacity to identify key patterns in orca behaviour within the known aggregation area.<br /> • Collation of orca observations held by ecotourism operator Naturaliste Charter – this collation will provide the opportunity to determine how best to use these data and generate communication products given the collection of imagery.<br /> • Pelagic fish survey – an existing planned survey to the Bremer CMR will be extended to include the aggregation area to allow the diversity, abundance and biomass of pelagic sharks and fishes in the CMR and the aggregation area to be compared. This will allow a comparison of the relative richness of the known aggregation area to the CMR with respect to pelagic shark and fish abundance.<br /> • Hydrocarbon signals in squid - Preliminary investigation into whether hydrocarbon signals can be detected in squid as a first step in determining whether the wildlife aggregation may be supported by hydrocarbon seeps. Murdoch University hold squid samples from the aggregation area that form the basis of this analysis.<br /> • Movement data to determine how adult orcas use the Bremer CMR and the aggregation area - tags will also be placed on at least three (3) adult orcas from the known aggregation site to clarify if those individual orcas are also transiting or using the Bremer CMR. <br /> • Knowledge exchange and communication outputs – each component of the project will produce materials for use by Parks Australia. Likely considerations are 3D fly-thru, animations, infographics, brochure, videos, articles.<br /> • Reporting outputs – a progress report focussing on completed field work and preliminary results will be produced followed by a final synthesis report.