Erub Reef
Surveyed 25-Feb-2013 as part of the NERP-TE Project 2.3
There were no manta tow surveys at Erub Island Reef in 2013. At Erub Island Reef there was some formation of a reef crest community. One site (Site 3) that was located on the seaward edge of a broad reef flat had a more exposed setting. Estimates of coral cover on the reef crest from Reef Health and Impact Surveys (RHIS) averaged 21% for hard coral and 28% for soft coral on sites 1 and 2 that were close to the island and 50% for hard coral and 3% for soft coral on the seaward more exposed site.
Photo transects of the benthos were sampled from the reef crest, reef slope and the lower reef slope at Erub Island Reef. Hard coral cover was moderate in all habitats (17-30%), declined with depth and was quite variable within sites (17-38%). In each habitat hard coral families all had cover equivalent to 10% or less. Soft coral abundance increased with depth. Soft coral cover was moderate on the crest and slope, whilst very high (55%) on the lower slope and was composed almost exclusively of Alcyoniidae. Algal cover was highest on the crest and slope (34-36%) and lowest on the lower slope (27%) was composed almost entirely of turf algae (25-32%). The cover of sand was moderate on the slope habitat at 14%, but negligible on the crest and lower slope."
Manta Tow:
Fish and Benthos Surveys:
RHIS surveys:
