Gj. Edgar et Ns. Barrett, SHORT-TERM MONITORING OF BIOTIC CHANGE IN TASMANIAN MARINE RESERVES, Journal of experimental marine biology and ecology, 213(2), 1997, pp. 261-279
Fishes, large invertebrates and macroalgae inside four marine reserves
and at associated external reference sites off the eastern Tasmanian
coast were censused between 1992 and 1993 shortly after the declaratio
n of the reserves. Changes in several population parameters during the
first year of protection in the largest Maria Island Marine Reserve w
ere examined using two different ANOVA designs. The densities of rock
lobsters and sea urchins and the mean sizes of wrasse, leatherjackets,
abalone and rock lobsters all increased within the reserve relative t
o outside over the first year; however, only the increases in density
of sea urchins and mean abalone size were statistically significant at
the 5% level. The census methodology and statistical techniques never
theless were considered sufficiently sensitive to reveal any long term
change following future censuses. A doubling in population numbers of
most large fishes and invertebrates, or a 10% increase in the mean si
ze of animals, is required to indicate that significant change has occ
urred. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.