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Variability and long-term change in the demography of the sponge Rhopaloeides odorabile, across the central Great Barrier Reef

Created 28/09/2025

Updated 28/09/2025

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Demographic surveys of the sponge, Rhopaloeides odorabile, were conducted across the continental shelf in the central Great Barrier Reef during January and February 2005 using SCUBA. The inner-shelf reefs surveyed (within 20 km of the coastline) were fringing reefs at Curacoa Island, Pelorus Island and Dunk Island. The mid-shelf reefs chosen (between 40 and 60 km from the coastline) were Davies Reef, Kelso Reef and Small Kelso Reef. The outer-shelf reefs surveyed (beyond 60 km from the coastline) were Pith Reef, Dip Reef and Fork Reef.Five replicate 25 m x10 m belt transects, randomly laid along the depth continuum, parallel to the reef slope, were placed at each of three sites, separated by 100 to 200m, on the exposed south-east face of each reef, at depths between 3 and 15 m. This habitat was chosen as Rhopaloeides odorabile prefers high energy environments. For each Rhopaloeides odorabile specimen recorded on each transect, the greatest dimensions for length, width and height were measured to the nearest half centimetre, using a ruler, to allow calculation of volume measurements (estimated for an overall hemispherical, rectangular or, occasionally, a prism shape). Volume estimates also correlate well with actual biomass. Sponge individuals were grouped into four size classes: 4300 cm³ (very large). The depth of each sponge was also recorded. This research was undertaken to determine differences in abundance, size and distribution of the sponge, Rhopaloeides odorabile, across the continental shelf in the central Great Barrier Reef and to relate the results to environmental factors known to vary across the shelf, such as light availability, currents, nutrients and sedimentation.Data was also be compared with the demographic data for this species documented in:Wilkinson CR and Evans EA (1989) Sponge distribution across Davies Reef, Great Barrier Reef, relative to location, depth, and water movement. Coral Reefs 8, 1-7. doi:10.1007/BF00304685 andWilkinson CR and Cheshire AC (1989) Patterns in the distribution of sponge populations across the central Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs 8, 127-134. doi:10.1007/BF00338268

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Additional Info

Field Value
Title Variability and long-term change in the demography of the sponge Rhopaloeides odorabile, across the central Great Barrier Reef
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/en/dataset/05ecc479-20e1-489a-b0d8-d4d43422ecd2
Contact Point
Australian Ocean Data Network
adc@aims.gov.au
Reference Period 20/11/2017
Geospatial Coverage
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
{
  "coordinates": [
    147.016667,
    -18.216667
  ],
  "type": "Point"
}
Data Portal Australian Oceans Data Network

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Australian Oceans Data Network "Variability and long-term change in the demography of the sponge Rhopaloeides odorabile, across the central 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/variability-and-long-term-change-in-the-demography-of-the-sponge-rhopaloeides-odorabile-across-2