Seagrass habitat of Cairns Harbour and Trinity Inlet: annual and quarterly monitoring report 2013

Key Findings:\ud \ud 1. Multiple years of above average rainfall and severe storm and cyclone activity between 2010 and 2012 lead to large scale declines of seagrasses in Cairns and elsewhere on the east coast of Queensland.\ud \ud 2. Seagrasses in Cairns Harbour and Trinity inlet remained in a poor condition in 2013 following the climate related losses. The remnant meadows are likely to be highly vulnerable to further impacts.\ud \ud 3. Positive signs were increases in biomass and area in most meadows from 2012; however they remained significantly below the long term average.\ud \ud 4. A seed bank remained for most areas that could facilitate further recovery, however density was low compared to similar meadows in northern Queensland and seed bank densities were declining over time for most sites. A reduced seed bank may limit the capacity for natural recovery of the system.\ud \ud 5. Light and climate conditions appeared to be favourable for seagrass growth at most sites in 2013 and the low levels of recovery observed are likely a reflection of previous catastrophic declines limiting the availability of propagules from which recovery could be initiated and sustained.\ud \ud 6. The deployment of light (PAR) and temperature loggers in Cairns in 2013 enhanced the monitoring program and improved interpretation of meadow‐scale change and the ability of the program to assess future seagrass declines and recovery. Continued light monitoring will also allow the development local light requirements for Cairns seagrass as they continue to recover