Table 1 Seagrass and bottom type categories and their descriptive codes used in the photograph analysis
First Level (code) | Description | Second Level | Code | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Seagrass (SG) | Not macroalgae; generally green | Halodule uninervis | SGHU | Narrow, strap like leaf (0.2 cm); leaf tip tri-dentate or pointed. |
Zostera muelleri (eel grass) | SGZM | Strap-like leaves 0.5 cm wide; leaf tip smooth and rounded; up to 30 cm long. | ||
Cymodocea serrulata | SGCS | Wide strap-like leaves (1 cm); leaf tip rounded; serrated edge. | ||
Syringodium isoetifolium | SGSI | Thin cylindrical like leaf (spaghetti); fragile. | ||
Halophila ovalis | SGHO | Paddle-like shape low to benthos; leaf margins smooth. | ||
Halophila spinulosa | SGHS | Compound leaf; leaflets serrated. | ||
Seagrass – Species Unknown | SGOT | Other seagrass species. | ||
Seagrass detritus | SGD | Dead seagrass floating around on the benthos. | ||
Seagrass Plus (SGP) | Seagrass covered in epiphyte or algae, or, dark in colour. | Halodule uninervis + Algae | SGHUA | Like Halodule uninervis but covered with dense hairy, green, brown algae (macro or epiphytic). |
Zostera muelleri + Dark | SGZMD | Like Zostera muelleri but leaves look dark brown/black. | ||
Zostera muelleri + Algae | SGZMA | Like Zostera muelleri but covered with dense hairy, green, brown algae (macro or epiphytic). | ||
Cymodocea serrulata + Algae | SGCSA | Like Cymodocea serrulata but covered with dense hairy, green, brown algae (macro or epiphytic). | ||
Syringodium isoetifolium + Epiphyte | SGSIE | Like Syringodium isoetifolium but with grey particulate matter attached to the leaves. | ||
Syringodium isoetifolium + hairy algae | SGSIA | Like Syringodium isoetifolium but with dense hairy, green, brown, dark grey algae. | ||
Halophila ovalis + Algae | SGHOA | Like Halophila ovalis but covered with dense hairy, green, brown algae (macro or epiphytic). | ||
Halophila spinulosa + Algae | SGHSA | Like Halophila spinulosa but covered with dense hairy, green, brown algae (macro or epiphytic). | ||
Macro Algae Calcareous (MAC) | Padina sp. | ACP | Fan-shaped algae; containing white calcareous concentric rings. | |
Halimeda sp. | ACH | Calcified string of green scale-shaped segments. | ||
Udotea sp. | ACU | Individual calcified green fane-like segments. | ||
Macro Algae Calcareous—Genus Unknown | ACOT | Other MAC. | ||
Macro Algae Non Calcareous (MA) | Not seagrass and major algae family on reef systems (Taxonomic based) which are not calcareous | Sargassum sp. | ASA | Attached to substrate; brown; vertical in the water column due to air trapped in leaf chambers. |
Caulerpa sp. | ACA | Green, grape-like; connected via branching structures over the substrate. | ||
Hydroclatharus sp. | AHY | Brown algae; uneven holes; reminiscent of a 'worn out' dish cloth. | ||
Hydroclatharus sp. on Seagrass | AHYS | As above. | ||
MA—Genus Unknown | AOT | Other MA. | ||
Cyanobacteria and Other Algae (COA) | Microphytobenthic (MPB) on Sand | MPS | MPB on sand where sand patches are visible in the image. | |
MPB-mat | MPM | MPB occupies complete image—no sand patches visible (100% cover). | ||
Macro Cyano on Sand | MCS | Hairy like strings of cyanobacteria on sand; generally longer than MPB or turf algae. | ||
Macro Cyano on other | MCO | Hairy like strings of cyanobacteria on anything other than sand. | ||
Substratum (SU) | Bare substrate | Sand Light Colour | SSL | Will fall out of your hand; light colour. |
Sand Dark Colour | SSD | Will fall out of your hand; black, grey or brown. | ||
Other (O) | Anything not a plant, algae or substrate | Sponge | OSP | Attached to the benthos; homogeneous colour, Often one colour with a small and a big hole. |
Urchin | OUR | Spiny and spherical. Can cause a negative impact if too many. | ||
Anemone | OAN | Sessile polyp attached to the benthos; array of tentacles. | ||
Pina (fan mussel) | OPI | Upright bivalve, 30-50cm long | ||
Small Shells | OSS | Discarded small shells, often very white in colour. | ||
Star Fish (Sea star) | OSF | Star-shaped, flat organism free to roam the benthos. | ||
Sea Cucumber | OSC | Elongated, cylindrical body, free to move around. Have commercial value. | ||
Rock | RO | Hard surface not included in any other category. | ||
Other | OOT | Other that is definitely worth noting, e.g. coral | ||
Other Dead | OD | Other live type which is now dead |
