title: A Citizen Science Approach: A Detailed Ecological Assessment of Subtropical Reefs at Point Lookout, Australia.
abstract: Subtropical reefs provide an important habitat for flora and fauna, and proper monitoring is required for conservation. Monitoring these exposed and submerged reefs is challenging and available resources are limited. Citizen science is increasing in momentum, as an applied research tool and in the variety of monitoring approaches adopted. This paper aims to demonstrate an ecological assessment and mapping approach that incorporates both top-down (volunteer marine scientists) and bottom-up (divers/community) engagement aspects of citizen science, applied at a subtropical reef at Point Lookout, Southeast Queensland, Australia. Marine scientists trained fifty citizen scientists in survey techniques that included mapping of habitat features, recording of substrate, fish and invertebrate composition, and quantifying impacts (e.g., occurrence of substrate damage, presence of litter). In 2014 these volunteers conducted four seasonal surveys along semi-permanent transects, at five sites, across three reefs. The project presented is a model on how citizen science can be conducted in a marine environment through collaboration of volunteer researchers, non-researchers and local marine authorities. Significant differences in coral and algal cover were observed among the three sites, while fluctuations in algal cover were also observed seasonally. Differences in fish assemblages were apparent among sites and seasons, with subtropical fish groups observed more commonly in colder seasons. The least physical damage occurred in the most exposed sites (Flat Rock) within the highly protected marine park zones. The broad range of data collected through this top-down/bottom-up approach to citizen science exemplifies the projects' value and application for identifying ecosystem trends or patterns. The results of the project support natural resource and marine park management, providing a valuable contribution to existing scientific knowledge and the conservation of local reefs.
authors.affiliation: University of Queensland Underwater Club (UniDive), University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.|Remote Sensing Research Centre, School of Geography Planning and Environmental Management, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0182-1356
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roelfsema
authors.affiliation: University of Queensland Underwater Club (UniDive), University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.|School of Life and Environmental Sciences and Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thurstan
authors.affiliation: University of Queensland Underwater Club (UniDive), University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.|School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beger
authors.affiliation: University of Queensland Underwater Club (UniDive), University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.|School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dudgeon
authors.affiliation: University of Queensland Underwater Club (UniDive), University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.|Reef Check Australia, Reef Check Foundation Ltd (Australia), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loder
authors.affiliation: University of Queensland Underwater Club (UniDive), University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.|Remote Sensing Research Centre, School of Geography Planning and Environmental Management, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kovacs
authors.affiliation: University of Queensland Underwater Club (UniDive), University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.affiliation: University of Queensland Underwater Club (UniDive), University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.|School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Flower
authors.affiliation: University of Queensland Underwater Club (UniDive), University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.|ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: K-le
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Gomez Cabrera
authors.affiliation: University of Queensland Underwater Club (UniDive), University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.|School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.affiliation: University of Queensland Underwater Club (UniDive), University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.|Reef Check Australia, Reef Check Foundation Ltd (Australia), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lea
authors.affiliation: University of Queensland Underwater Club (UniDive), University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.|CoralWatch, Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kleine
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa; D044822:Biodiversity; D003256:Community Participation / Q000379:methods*; D057894:Coral Reefs; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D008386:Marine Biology / Q000193:education*; D017145:Models, Educational; D011793:Queensland; D012107:Research Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires