Poster Presentation Australian Marine Sciences Association Annual Meeting 2023

Mapping temperate seagrass in tayaritja (Furneaux Group of islands), Tasmania. (#414)

Vanessa Lucieer 1 , Daniel Ierodiaconou 2 , Elisabeth Strain 1 , Jeffrey Wright 1 , Zoe Cozens 3 , Andry Sculthope 3 , Paul Carnell 2 , Oliver Dalby 2 , Craig Sherman 2 , Chris Roelfsema 4 , Ana Patricia Ruiz Beltran 4
  1. Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TASMANIA, Australia
  2. Deakin University, Victoria
  3. Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, Hobart
  4. The University of Queensland, Brisbane

This project aims to map the extent and ecological composition, population structure and blue carbon value of the seagrass beds around tayaritja in partnership with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre. Remote sensing techniques such as multi-spectral imagery, LiDAR and aerial photography will be used to map and assess the extent of seagrass beds in the region, while ground-truthed sampling will identify and assess the health of seagrass beds. Ecological surveys will measure the population structure and diversity of seagrass species in the region, and blue carbon assessment will assess the carbon storage capacity of the seagrass meadows. This project will provide vital information to inform wetland management and conservation efforts in the Furneaux Islands, contributing to the broader understanding of seagrass meadows around Australia. It will help managers and the Aboriginal communities to understand the significance of these seagrass meadows, and understand how they may be monitored, providing important knowledge about the ecological, social, cultural and economic values of these wetland natural assets.