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Partnerships in marine monitoring combining Traditional Ecological Knowledge and western science are developing globally to improve our understanding of temporal changes in ecological communities that better inform coastal management practices. A fuller communication between scientists and Indigenous partners about the limitations of monitoring results to identify change is essential to the impact of monitoring datasets on decision-making. Here we present a 5-year co-developed case study from a fish monitoring partnership in northwest Australia showing how uncertainty estimated by Bayesian models can be incorporated into monitoring management indicators. Our simulation approach revealed there was high uncertainty in detecting immediate change over the following monitoring year when translated to health performance indicators. Incorporating credibility estimates into health assessments added substantial information to monitoring trends, provided a deeper understanding of monitoring limitations and highlighted the importance of carefully selecting the way we evaluate management performance indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A range of new statistical approaches is being developed and/or adopted in ecotoxicology that, when combined, can greatly improve the estimation of no‐effect toxicity values from concentration–response (CR) experimental data. In particular, we compare the existing no‐effect‐concentration (NEC) threshold‐based toxicity metric with an alternative no‐significant‐effect‐concentration (NSEC) metric suitable for when CR data do not show evidence of a threshold effect. Using a model‐averaging approach, these metrics can be combined to yield estimates of N(S)EC and of their uncertainty within a single analysis framework. The outcome is a framework for CR analysis that is robust to uncertainty in the model formulation, and for which resulting estimates can be confidently integrated into risk assessment frameworks, such as the species sensitivity distribution (SSD). Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:279–293. © 2023 Commonwealth of Australia and The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). Key Points: Estimating concentrations of "no‐effect" of contaminants is critical to effective environmental risk assessment and management.Concentration–response (CR) data can take many forms and do not always exhibit the clear threshold responses required for no‐effect‐concentration (NEC) threshold‐based toxicity models to be validly applied.We compare the existing NEC threshold‐based toxicity metric with an alternative no‐significant‐effect‐concentration (NSEC) metric suitable for when CR data do not show evidence of a threshold effect.We demonstrate how, embedded in a model‐averaging approach, the NEC and NSEC can be combined in a single analysis to yield estimates of N(S)ECs and of their uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The no‐effect concentration (NEC) is the preferred threshold metric for single‐species toxicity tests applied to derive safe concentration thresholds for contaminants in the environment for use in species sensitivity distributions. However, the NEC is only suitable when concentration–response (C‐R) data exhibit a threshold response. We describe an alternative toxicity estimate, the no‐significant‐effect concentration (NSEC), which is better suited to C‐R data for which the response is a monotonically decreasing function of concentration and no threshold effects are evident. We use a flexible, three‐parameter sigmoidal function to describe the C‐R relationship and detail both Bayesian and frequentist approaches to estimation and inference for the NSEC. While the NSEC is conceptually linked to the traditional no‐observed‐effect concentration (NOEC), it is a substantial improvement over the NOEC because it decouples the estimate from being directly dependent on the placement of treatment concentrations as well as admitting statements of precision of the resulting toxicity estimate. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:2019–2028. © 2023 Commonwealth of Australia and The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In-flight measurements of atmospheric methane (CH 4(a)) and mass balance flux quantification studies can assist with verification and improvement in the UNFCCC National Inventory reported CH 4 emissions. In the Surat Basin gas fields, Queensland, Australia, coal seam gas (CSG) production and cattle farming are two of the major sources of CH 4 emissions into the atmosphere. Because of the rapid mixing of adjacent plumes within the convective boundary layer, spatially attributing CH 4(a) mole fraction readings to one or more emission sources is difficult. The primary aims of this study were to use the CH 4(a) isotopic composition (δ13 C CH4(a)) of in-flight atmospheric air (IFAA) samples to assess where the bottom–up (BU) inventory developed specifically for the region was well characterised and to identify gaps in the BU inventory (missing sources or over- and underestimated source categories). Secondary aims were to investigate whether IFAA samples collected downwind of predominantly similar inventory sources were useable for characterising the isotopic signature of CH 4 sources (δ13 C CH4(s)) and to identify mitigation opportunities. IFAA samples were collected between 100–350 m above ground level (m a.g.l.) over a 2-week period in September 2018. For each IFAA sample the 2 h back-trajectory footprint area was determined using the NOAA HYSPLIT atmospheric trajectory modelling application. IFAA samples were gathered into sets, where the 2 h upwind BU inventory had > 50 % attributable to a single predominant CH 4 source (CSG, grazing cattle, or cattle feedlots). Keeling models were globally fitted to these sets using multiple regression with shared parameters (background-air CH 4(b) and δ13 C CH4(b)). For IFAA samples collected from 250–350 m a.g.l. altitude, the best-fit δ13 C CH4(s) signatures compare well with the ground observation: CSG δ13 C CH4(s) of -55.4 ‰ (confidence interval (CI) 95 % ± 13.7 ‰) versus δ13 C CH4(s) of -56.7 ‰ to - 45.6 ‰; grazing cattle δ13 C CH4(s) of -60.5 ‰ (CI 95 % ± 15.6 ‰) versus - 61.7 ‰ to - 57.5 ‰. For cattle feedlots, the derived δ13 C CH4(s) (- 69.6 ‰, CI 95 % ± 22.6 ‰), was isotopically lighter than the ground-based study (δ13 C CH4(s) from -65.2 ‰ to -60.3 ‰) but within agreement given the large uncertainty for this source. For IFAA samples collected between 100–200 m a.g.l. the δ13 C CH4(s) signature for the CSG set (- 65.4 ‰, CI 95 % ± 13.3 ‰) was isotopically lighter than expected, suggesting a BU inventory knowledge gap or the need to extend the population statistics for CSG δ13 C CH4(s) signatures. For the 100–200 m a.g.l. set collected over grazing cattle districts the δ13 C CH4(s) signature (- 53.8 ‰, CI 95 % ± 17.4 ‰) was heavier than expected from the BU inventory. An isotopically light set had a low δ13 C CH4(s) signature of - 80.2 ‰ (CI 95 % ± 4.7 ‰). A CH 4 source with this low δ13 C CH4(s) signature has not been incorporated into existing BU inventories for the region. Possible sources include termites and CSG brine ponds. If the excess emissions are from the brine ponds, they can potentially be mitigated. It is concluded that in-flight atmospheric δ13 C CH4(a) measurements used in conjunction with endmember mixing modelling of CH 4 sources are powerful tools for BU inventory verification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time series data are often observed in ecological monitoring. Frequently, such data exhibit nonlinear trends over time potentially due to complex relationships between observed and auxiliary variables, and there may also be sudden declines over time due to major disturbances. This poses substantial challenges for modeling such data and also for adaptive monitoring. To address this, we propose methods for finding adaptive designs for monitoring in such settings. This work is motivated by a monitoring program that has been established at Scott Reef; a coral reef off the Western coast of Australia. Data collected for monitoring the health of Scott Reef are considered, and semiparametric and interrupted time series modeling approaches are adopted to describe how these data vary over time. New methods are then proposed that enable adaptive monitoring designs to be found based on such modeling approaches. These methods are then applied to find future monitoring designs at Scott Reef where it was found that future information gain is expected to be similar across a variety of different sites, suggesting that no particular location needs to be prioritized at Scott Reef for the next monitoring phase. In addition, it was found that omitting some sampling sites/reef locations was possible without substantial loss in expected information gain, depending upon the disturbances that were observed. The resulting adaptive designs are used to form recommendations for future monitoring in this region, and for reefs where changes in the current monitoring practices are being sought. As the methods used and developed throughout this study are generic in nature, this research has the potential to improve ecological monitoring more broadly where complex data are being collected over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Marine reserves are a key tool for the conservation of marine biodiversity, yet only ~2.5% of the world's oceans are protected. The integration of marine reserves into connected networks representing all habitats has been encouraged by international agreements, yet the benefits of this design has not been tested empirically. Australia has one of the largest systems of marine reserves, providing a rare opportunity to assess how connectivity influences conservation success. An Australia‐wide dataset was collected using baited remote underwater video systems deployed across a depth range from 0 to 100 m to assess the effectiveness of marine reserves for protecting teleosts subject to commercial and recreational fishing. A meta‐analytical comparison of 73 fished species within 91 marine reserves found that, on average, marine reserves had 28% greater abundance and 53% greater biomass of fished species compared to adjacent areas open to fishing. However, benefits of protection were not observed across all reserves (heterogeneity), so full subsets generalized additive modelling was used to consider factors that influence marine reserve effectiveness, including distance‐based and ecological metrics of connectivity among reserves. Our results suggest that increased connectivity and depth improve the aforementioned marine reserve benefits and that these factors should be considered to optimize such benefits over time. We provide important guidance on factors to consider when implementing marine reserves for the purpose of increasing the abundance and size of fished species, given the expected increase in coverage globally. We show that marine reserves that are highly protected (no‐take) and designed to optimize connectivity, size and depth range can provide an effective conservation strategy for fished species in temperate and tropical waters within an overarching marine biodiversity conservation framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In regions where there are multiple sources of methane (CH4) in close proximity, it can be difficult to apportion the CH4 measured in the atmosphere to the appropriate sources. In the Surat Basin, Queensland, Australia, coal seam gas (CSG) developments are surrounded by cattle feedlots, grazing cattle, piggeries, coal mines, urban centres and natural sources of CH4. The characterization of carbon (δ13C) and hydrogen (δD) stable isotopic composition of CH4 can help distinguish between specific emitters of CH4. However, in Australia there is a paucity of data on the various isotopic signatures of the different source types. This research examines whether dual isotopic signatures of CH4 can be used to distinguish between sources of CH4 in the Surat Basin. We also highlight the benefits of sampling at nighttime. During two campaigns in 2018 and 2019, a mobile CH4 monitoring system was used to detect CH4 plumes. Sixteen plumes immediately downwind from known CH4 sources (or individual facilities) were sampled and analysed for their CH4 mole fraction and δ13CCH4 and δDCH4 signatures. The isotopic signatures of the CH4 sources were determined using the Keeling plot method. These new source signatures were then compared to values documented in reports and peer-reviewed journal articles. In the Surat Basin, CSG sources have δ13CCH4 signatures between -55.6 ‰ and -50.9 ‰ and δDCH4 signatures between -207.1 ‰ and -193.8 ‰. Emissions from an open-cut coal mine have δ13CCH4 and δDCH4 signatures of -60.0±0.6 ‰ and -209.7±1.8 ‰ respectively. Emissions from two ground seeps (abandoned coal exploration wells) have δ13CCH4 signatures of -59.9±0.3 ‰ and -60.5±0.2 ‰ and δDCH4 signatures of -185.0±3.1 ‰ and -190.2±1.4 ‰. A river seep had a δ13CCH4 signature of -61.2±1.4 ‰ and a δDCH4 signature of -225.1±2.9 ‰. Three dominant agricultural sources were analysed. The δ13CCH4 and δDCH4 signatures of a cattle feedlot are -62.9±1.3 ‰ and -310.5±4.6 ‰ respectively, grazing (pasture) cattle have δ13CCH4 and δDCH4 signatures of -59.7±1.0 ‰ and -290.5±3.1 ‰ respectively, and a piggery sampled had δ13CCH4 and δDCH4 signatures of -47.6±0.2 ‰ and -300.1±2.6 ‰ respectively, which reflects emissions from animal waste. An export abattoir (meat works and processing) had δ13CCH4 and δDCH4 signatures of -44.5±0.2 ‰ and -314.6±1.8 ‰ respectively. A plume from a wastewater treatment plant had δ13CCH4 and δDCH4 signatures of -47.6±0.2 ‰ and -177.3±2.3 ‰ respectively. In the Surat Basin, source attribution is possible when both δ13CCH4 and δDCH4 are measured for the key categories of CSG, cattle, waste from feedlots and piggeries, and water treatment plants. Under most field situations using δ13CCH4 alone will not enable clear source attribution. It is common in the Surat Basin for CSG and feedlot facilities to be co-located. Measurement of both δ13CCH4 and δDCH4 will assist in source apportionment where the plumes from two such sources are mixed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-intensity, impulsive sounds are used to locate oil and gas reserves during seismic exploration of the seafloor. The impacts of this noise pollution on the health and mortality of marine invertebrates are not well known, including the silverlip pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima), which comprises one of the world's last remaining significant wildstock pearl oyster fisheries, in northwestern Australia. We exposed ≈11,000 P. maxima to a four-day experimental seismic survey, plus one vessel-control day. After exposure, survival rates were monitored throughout a full two-year production cycle, and the number and quality of pearls produced at harvest were assessed. Oysters from two groups, on one sampling day, exhibited reduced survival and pearl productivity compared to controls, but 14 other groups receiving similar or higher exposure levels did not. We therefore found no conclusive evidence of an impact of the seismic source survey on oyster mortality or pearl production. [Display omitted] • Largescale experimental seismic survey exposes adult pearl oysters to 209 dB re 1 µPa2·s. • Seismic source survey alone very unlikely to cause mortality of Pinctada maxima • No correlation: little effect of sound levels on P. maxima cultured pearl productivity • Reduced survival/pearl retention on one sampling day unlikely driven by seismic exposure [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characterization of distance decay in similarity among plant or animal communities both extends ecosystem description and provides insights into formative ecological events and processes. Here, we examine distance decay among coral communities in a common habitat on northwestern Australian reefs, seeking to better understand the roles of disturbance and coral life history strategies in the changing reefscape. In established communities in 1997, when coral cover and generic richness were uniformly high, there was high similarity (~81 %) and negligible distance decay, both within sets of 15 contiguous 50-m transects and among 250-m sites separated by <25 to >500 km. Following a 75 % reduction in coral cover and a comparable loss of generic richness to mass bleaching in 1998, similarity declined to ~67 % and there was strong distance decay at <25 km. By 2010, pre-disturbance coral cover and generic richness had been restored and similarity had returned to ~80 %, but weak distance decay had persisted in the community. Among assemblages with contrasting life histories, the disturbance increased distance decay most in the brooding corals, and it remained strong until 2010. In contrast, broadcast spawning corals and the more resistant regenerating corals had largely reverted to their pre-disturbance state of high mean similarity and weak distance decay by 2010. These differences among life history groups reflect the greater vagility of the broadcast spawning corals, the resistance of the regenerator assemblages to the disturbance and their recovery from uniformly distributed remnants, and the susceptibility of the brooding species combined with their limited capacity to disperse beyond the local site. Beyond a spatial extent of 25 km, distance decay was absent in all years and for all coral groups, indicating the qualitatively different source-sink dynamics when reefs are separated by 10s of km of open ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the nocturnal vertical distribution of late-stage larval coral reef fishes off the leeward side of Lizard Island in Australia. Importance of quantifying patterns of larval dispersal and the dynamics of larval settlement to analyzing the population dynamics of marine organisms; Methods used to examine such distribution of late-stage larval fishes on coral reefs; Observation of ontogenic changes in vertical position for coral reef larvae.

The worlds' coral reefs are declining due to the combined effects of natural disturbances and anthropogenic pressures including thermal coral bleaching associated with global climate change. Nearshore corals are receiving increased anthropogenic stress from coastal development and nutrient run-off. Considering forecast increases in global temperatures, greater understanding of drivers of recovery on nearshore coral reefs following widespread bleaching events is required to inform management of local stressors. The west Pilbara coral reefs, with cross-shelf turbidity gradients coupled with a large nearby dredging program and recent history of repeated coral bleaching due to heat stress, represent an opportune location to study recovery from multiple disturbances. Mean coral cover at west Pilbara reefs was monitored from 2009 to 2018 and declined from 45% in 2009 to 5% in 2014 following three heat waves. Recruitment and juvenile abundance of corals were monitored from 2014 to 2018 and were combined with biological and physical data to identify which variables enhanced or hindered early-stage coral recovery of all hard corals and separately for the acroporids, the genera principally responsible for recovery in the short-term (<7 years). From 2014 to 2018, coral cover increased from 5 to 10% but recovery varied widely among sites (0–13%). Hard coral cover typically recovered most at shallower sites that had higher abundance of herbivorous fish, less macroalgae, and lower turbidity. Similarly, acroporid corals recovered most at sites with lower turbidity and macroalgal cover. Juvenile acroporid densities were a good indicator of recovery at least two years after they were recorded. However, recruitment to settlement tiles was not a good predictor of total coral or acroporid recovery. This study shows that coral recovery can be slower in areas of high turbidity and the rate may be reduced by local pressures, such as dredging. Management should focus on improving or maintaining local water quality to increase the likelihood of coral recovery under climate stress. Further, in turbid environments, juvenile coral density predicts early coral recovery better than recruits on tiles and may be a more cost-effective technique for monitoring recovery potential. • Three thermal anomalies over four years bleached corals and reduced cover by ~90%. • Coral recovery varied spatially, limited driven mostly by turbidity. • Better water quality increases the likelihood of coral recovery under climate stress. • Juvenile coral density predicted early coral recovery better than recruits on tiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Surat Basin, Queensland, Australia, is a hot-spot of methane emissions for Australia.Within the Surat Basin there are over 6000 coal seam gas wells with extensive supportingpipeline networks and processing plants. The region also supports a multi-billion-dollaragricultural industry, and at times accounts for over half of Australia&#x2019;s beef production,with over 500,000 cattle; both grazing and housed in feedlots. Individual feedlotsmay hold 10,000 or more cattle at any one time. The top 6 emitters in the regionand their bottom-up estimated percentage contribution towards regional methaneemissions include: cattle (78.1%), CSG processing (8.4%), coal extraction (8.3%),piggeries (1.4%), CSG production (1.1%), and landfill (1.0%) (Luhar et al. 2018).Because there are many methane sources within the Surat Basin it can be difficult tomake a top-down assessment of methane emissions that can be attributed to anindividual source. Source attribution is particularly challenging because many ofthe cattle feedlots are co-located with both CSG production wells and processingplants. This presentation will discuss what activities have been undertaken to date inthe Surat Basin, Australia, and the future research aims. In brief, in September2018 a joint airborne and ground measurement survey campaign was undertaken tomake a top-down assessment of methane emissions in the region and investigatemethane source attribution. The portion of the Surat Basin that was surveyed inSeptember 2018 extends from Miles to Toowoomba, covering an area of approximately200 km (NW to SE) by 100 km (NE to SW). Continuous measurements of themethane mole fraction in the atmosphere were recorded during 13 flights over 15days using an aircraft-mounted LGR greenhouse gas analyser. These flights hada number of objectives aimed at assessing the regional methane flux, with moredetailed surveys above major CSG processing and power generation plants. Detailedairborne measurements were also undertaken above the large-scale cattle feedlots. Tosupport the insights from the airborne measurements, continuous methane molefraction measurements in the ground level atmosphere were recorded along morethan 1000 km of main roads using a car-mounted LGR greenhouse gas analyseror a Picarro 2201-i analyser. To assist with source attribution, over 200 grab bagsamples of air were collected, and the stable carbon and hydrogen isotope ratios ofmethane measured (δ13C-CH4 and δD-CH4). The presentation will discuss how thesurveys complement each other and potentially constrain how we will interpret theresults. Reference Luhar, A., Etheridge, D., Loh, Z., Noonan, N., Spencer, D., Day, S. 2018.Characterisation of Regional Fluxes of Methane in the Surat Basin, Queensland. Final reporton Task 3: Broad scale application of methane detection, and Task 4: Methaneemissions enhanced modelling. Report to the Gas Industry Social and EnvironmentalResearch Alliance (GISERA). Report No. EP185211, October 2018. CSIRO Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the rapid responses of marine microbiomes to environmental disturbances is paramount for supporting early assessments of harm to high-value ecosystems, such as coral reefs. Yet, management guidelines aimed at protecting aquatic life from environmental pollution remain exclusively defined for organisms at higher trophic levels. In this study, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was applied in conjunction with propidium monoazide for cell-viability assessment as a sensitive tool to determine taxon- and community-level changes in a seawater microbial community under copper (Cu) exposure. Bayesian model averaging was used to establish concentration-response relationships to evaluate the effects of copper on microbial composition, diversity, and richness for the purpose of estimating microbiome Hazard Concentration (mHCx) values. Predicted mHC5 values at which a 5 % change in microbial composition, diversity, and richness occurred were 1.05, 0.72, and 0.38 μg Cu L -1 , respectively. Threshold indicator taxa analysis was applied across the copper concentrations to identify taxon-specific change points for decreasing taxa. These change points were then used to generate a Prokaryotic Sensitivity Distribution (PSD), from which mHCx dec values were derived for copper, suitable for the protection of 99, 95, 90, and 80 % of the marine microbiome. The mHC5 dec guideline value of 0.61 μg Cu L -1 , protective of 95 % of the marine microbial community, was lower than the equivalent Australian water quality guideline value based on eukaryotic organisms at higher trophic levels. This suggests that marine microbial communities might be more vulnerable, highlighting potential insufficiencies in their protection against copper pollution. The mHCx values proposed here provide approaches to quantitatively assess the effects of contaminants on microbial communities towards the inclusion of prokaryotes in future water quality guidelines., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Dredging poses a potential risk to tropical ecosystems, especially in turbidity-sensitive environments such as coral reefs, filter feeding communities and seagrasses. There is little detailed observational time-series data on the spatial effects of dredging on turbidity and light and defining likely footprints is a fundamental task for impact prediction, the EIA process, and for designing monitoring projects when dredging is underway. It is also important for public perception of risks associated with dredging. Using an extensive collection of in situ water quality data (73 sites) from three recent large scale capital dredging programs in Australia, and which included extensive pre-dredging baseline data, we describe relationships with distance from dredging for a range of water quality metrics. Using a criterion to define a zone of potential impact of where the water quality value exceeds the 80th percentile of the baseline value for turbidity-based metrics or the 20th percentile for the light based metrics, effects were observed predominantly up to three km from dredging, but in one instance up to nearly 20 km. This upper (~20 km) limit was unusual and caused by a local oceanographic feature of consistent unidirectional flow during the project. Water quality loggers were located along the principal axis of this flow (from 200 m to 30 km) and provided the opportunity to develop a matrix of exposure based on running means calculated across multiple time periods (from hours to one month) and distance from the dredging, and summarized across a broad range of percentile values. This information can be used to more formally develop water quality thresholds for benthic organisms, such as corals, filter-feeders (e.g. sponges) and seagrasses in future laboratory- and field-based studies using environmentally realistic and relevant exposure scenarios, that may be used to further refine distance based analyses of impact, potentially further reducing the size of the dredging footprint.

Despite the recent advances in stroke rehabilitation research, the translation of research evidence into practice remains a challenge. The purpose of this article is to communicate practical experience and describe research methodologies used to promote change and implementation of stroke rehabilitation research in three international settings. In England, the development of an evidence-based consensus document, combined with qualitative and quantitative methods, was used to promote practice change in community-based stroke services. The Canadian research program involved synthesis of evidence, creation of user friendly information, and development of multimodal knowledge transfer strategies to promote change at an individual clinician level. Australian researchers followed a multistep process, involving audit and feedback, identification of barriers, and tailored education to improve implementation of one clinical guideline recommendation. Reducing the evidence-practice gap requires the development of active management strategies. This article highlights the importance of close collaboration between stakeholders - both in terms of the transfer of evidence into clinical practice and for optimizing future Phase IV implementation research endeavours., (© 2012 The Authors. International Journal of Stroke © 2012 World Stroke Organization.)

Habitat specificity plays a pivotal role in forming community patterns in coral reef fishes, yet considerable uncertainty remains as to the extent of this selectivity, particularly among newly settled recruits. Here we quantified habitat specificity of juvenile coral reef fish at three ecological levels; algal meadows vs. coral reefs, live vs. dead coral and among different coral morphologies. In total, 6979 individuals from 11 families and 56 species were censused along Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Juvenile fishes exhibited divergence in habitat use and specialization among species and at all study scales. Despite the close proximity of coral reef and algal meadows (10's of metres) 25 species were unique to coral reef habitats, and seven to algal meadows. Of the seven unique to algal meadows, several species are known to occupy coral reef habitat as adults, suggesting possible ontogenetic shifts in habitat use. Selectivity between live and dead coral was found to be species-specific. In particular, juvenile scarids were found predominantly on the skeletons of dead coral whereas many damsel and butterfly fishes were closely associated with live coral habitat. Among the coral dependent species, coral morphology played a key role in juvenile distribution. Corymbose corals supported a disproportionate number of coral species and individuals relative to their availability, whereas less complex shapes (i.e. massive & encrusting) were rarely used by juvenile fish. Habitat specialisation by juvenile species of ecological and fisheries importance, for a variety of habitat types, argues strongly for the careful conservation and management of multiple habitat types within marine parks, and indicates that the current emphasis on planning conservation using representative habitat areas is warranted. Furthermore, the close association of many juvenile fish with corals susceptible to climate change related disturbances suggests that identifying and protecting reefs resilient to this should be a conservation priority.