King's Beach Research Articles

MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES TO THE PORTSEA (VICTORA) COASTLINE FOLLOWING SHIPPING CHANNEL DEEPENING

Portsea Beach is located on the south side of Port Phillip Bay approximately 55 km south of Melbourne and 6 km east of Point Nepean at the Entrance to the Bay. Portsea Beach experienced significant erosion in 2009 and 2010. The erosion occurred shortly after the dredging that was carried out as part of the Port of Melbourne’s “Channel Deepening Project” to deepen the shipping channel that provides access to the Port of Melbourne. The erosion at Portsea did not occur in isolation. Since 2009, there has also been significant on-going erosion along Nepean Bay Beach to the west, and significant accretion along Shelley Beach and Point King Beach to the east.

The nursery role of a sheltered surf-zone in warm-temperate southern Africa

Marine fish nurseries such as surf-zones have usually been classified as nurseries based solely on the density of pre-adult fish, yet the full suite of developmental stages are seldom assessed because of difficulties associated with sampling these habitats. The larval and early juvenile fish assemblage was studied in a sheltered surf-zone (King's Beach, South Africa), where high densities of older juveniles are known to occur. Fishes were collected fortnightly over six months using two modified seine nets. Although the surf composition included typical species for this habitat type, Gobiidae, Gobiesocidae and Haemulidae dominated the larval assemblage, which suggested that the nearby rocky structure and estuaries have an influence on the assemblage. Three species, Liza richardsonii (Mugilidae), Pomadasys olivaceus (Haemulidae) and Diplodus capensis (Sparidae), showed evidence of growth and recruitment into the surf-zone from the late larval stage. The high density of larval and juvenile fishes, the presence of more than one early life history stage and the observed growth of fishes suggests that King's Beach provides a suitable nursery habitat for several fishes.

Weather and place-based human behavior: recreational preferences and sensitivity

This study examines the links between biometeorological variables and the behavior of beach recreationists along with their rating of overall weather conditions. To identify and describe significance of on-site atmospheric conditions, two separate forms of response are examined. The first is sensory perception of the immediate atmospheric surround expressed verbally, which was the subject of earlier work. In the research reported here, on-site observations of behavior that reflect the effects of weather and climate are examined. By employing, independently, separate indicators of on-site experience, the reliability of each is examined and interpreted and apparent threshold conditions verified. The study site is King's Beach located on the coast of Queensland, Australia. On-site observations of atmospheric variables and beach user behavior are made for the daylight hours of 45days spread over a 12-month period. The results show that behavioral data provide reliable and meaningful indications of the significance of the atmospheric environment for leisure. Atmospheric conditions within the zone of acceptability are those that the beach users can readily cope with or modify by a range of minor behavioral adjustments. Optimal weather conditions appear to be those requiring no specific behavioral adjustment. Attendance levels reflect only the outer limits of acceptability of the meteorological environment, while duration of visit enables calibration of levels of approval in so far as it reflects rating of on-site weather within a broad zone of tolerance. In a broad theoretical sense, the results add to an understanding of the relationship between weather and human behavior. This information is potentially useful in effective tourism management and planning.

Fish utilization of surf-zones. Are they changing? A case study of the Sheltered, warm-temperate King’s Beach

Surf-zone fish communities and their shifts over time are generally poorly understood. The aim of this study was to compare the current surf-zone fish assemblage at King's Beach, South Africa, to a similar study conducted three decades ago, before the collapse of many exploited shore fishes in the region. Beach seine nets (mesh sizes of 10 and 50 mm) were used to target juvenile and adult fishes bimonthly from February to August 2011 over the high tide around sunset. A total of 14 species were recorded in both the 30 m and 100 m seine nets. The catch in these seine nets was dominated by Pomadasys olivaceus and Liza richardsonii, and this was significantly different to three decades ago, when P. olivaceus, Sarpa salpa and Diplodus capensis dominated the catch. Important linefish species belonging to the Sparidae and Sciaenidae families were significantly smaller and less abundant in this study. Two sparids, S. salpa and Lithognathus mormyrus, which made a large contribution to the surf-zone catch three decades ago were absent during this study. Reasons for the significant shifts in the surf-zone fish community, including overexploitation of the linefish and potential habitat modification, are discussed.

Fish Utilization of Surf-Zones. Are They changing? A Case Study of the Sheltered, Warm-Temperate King's Beach

Surf-zone fish communities and their shifts over time are generally poorly understood. The aim of this study was to compare the current surf-zone fish assemblage at King's Beach, South Africa, to a similar study conducted three decades ago, before the collapse of many exploited shore fishes in the region. Beach seine nets (mesh sizes of 10 and 50 mm) were used to target juvenile and adult fishes bimonthly from February to August 2011 over the high tide around sunset. A total of 14 species were recorded in both the 30 m and 100 m seine nets. The catch in these seine nets was dominated by Pomadasys olivaceus and Liza richardsonii, and this was significantly different to three decades ago, when P. olivaceus, Sarpa salpa and Diplodus capensis dominated the catch. Important linefish species belonging to the Sparidae and Sciaenidae families were significantly smaller and less abundant in this study. Two sparids, S. salpa and Lithognathus mormyrus, which made a large contribution to the surf-zone catch three dec...

Physiological response of temperate microphytobenthos to freezing temperatures

Microphytobenthos (MPB) contributes up to half the primary production of estuaries. These microorganisms are sensitive to changes in sediment temperatures, particularly the extreme temperatures during exposure periods. This study investigates the physiological responses of MPB to freezing temperatures at two locations near Hobart, Tasmania during winter. Photosynthetic parameters were measured at 2 mm intervals to a depth of 10 mm. FV/FM values at three different distances from the shoreline at Kings Beach and Browns River in winter were between 0.584 and 0.617. rETRmax values were between 24.696 and 20.773. Maximum α values peaked in the subsurface rather than at the sediment surface. In vitro laboratory experiments (down to −5°C) showed little difference in response between the control and treatment groups, indicating no apparent effects of short term freezing on the MPB. Little change in photosynthetic parameters in response to freezing was probably associated with the resistance of light-harvesting reactions to freezing temperatures, recovery of the plasmalemma integrity or cryoprotection. Sediment composition and species composition were similar at both sampling sites. Therefore, responses of MPB were not due to species and grain size composition.

HCI remixed: essays on works that have influenced the HCI community

Over almost three decades, the field of human-computer interaction (HCI) has produced a rich and varied literature. Although the focus of attention today is naturally on new work, older contributions that played a role in shaping the trajectory and character of the field have much to tell us. contributors to HCI Remixed were asked to reflect on a single work at least ten years old that influenced their approach to HCI. result is this collection of fifty-one short, engaging, and idiosyncratic essays, reflections on a range of works in a variety of forms that chart the emergence of a new field. An article, a demo, a book: any of these can solve a problem, demonstrate the usefulness of a new method, or prompt a shift in perspective. HCI Remixed offers us glimpses of how this comes about. contributors consider such HCI classics as Sutherland's Sketchpad, Englebart's demo of NLS, and Fitts on Fitts' Law--and such forgotten gems as Pulfer's NRC Music Machine, and Galloway and Rabinowitz's Hole in Space. Others reflect on works somewhere in between classic and forgotten--Kidd's The Marks Are on the Knowledge Worker, King Beach's Becoming a Bartender, and others. Some contributors turn to works in neighboring disciplines--Henry Dreyfuss's book on industrial design, for example--and some range farther afield, to Lovelock's Gaia hypothesis and Jane Jacobs's Death and Life of Great American Cities. Taken together, the essays offer an accessible, lively, and engaging introduction to HCI research that reflects the diversity of the field's beginnings.Thomas Erickson is Research Staff Member at the IBM T. J. Watson Research Center. David W. McDonald is Assistant Professor at the Information School at the University of Washington, Seattle.

Eighth International Conference on the Juvenile Hormones June 20-24, North Lake Tahoe Conference Center King's Beach, California

Abstracts are listed in alphabetical order by the last name of the senior author.

Conurban

Conurban

A new species of Gastrosaccus (Crustacea, Mysidacea) from Algoa Bay (South Africa)

Gastrosaccus wittmanni sp. nov. was collected from surface-waters near Kings Beach in Algoa Bay (South Africa). Morphologically, it is characterised by having seven strong spines on each side of the telson. In between the strong spines, spinules are present except between the first most proximal pair. The endopod of the first female pleopod bears one terminal plumose seta. Most of the setae on antennules, antennae, thoracopods, pleopods and uropods are jointed.

HUMAN RECREATIONAL PATTERNS ON BEACHES WITH DIEFERENT LEVELS OF DEVELOPMENT

SUMMARY Three South African beaches, King's Beach, Joorst Park and Sardinia Bay, with different levels of development, were selected to study the recreational use patterns over a holiday cycle by means of aerial photography and questionnaire surveys. King's Beach was classified as developed, Joorst Park as semi-developed and Sardinia Bay as undeveloped on the basis of the number of facilities present. Differences in popularity, use patterns, size and age composition of visitor groups, times of peak visitor abundance, types of accommodation and transport used, distance travelled and time spent on the beach were observed. The most developed beach consistently received the most visitors (of higher socio-economic level) as determined by visitor abundance at 11:00, except on New Year's Day, when the semi-developed Joorst Park received the highest numbers of visitors (6 500). This beach, frequented mainly on public holidays by visitors of a low socio-economic level from the nearby township, remained relatively unused during the rest of the holiday season. The other beaches, in contrast, were more continually used by visitors with private cars. Visitor group size was largest at the semi-developed Joorst Park. Visitors older than 50 years were more abundant at the undeveloped Sardinia Bay than at the other beaches, seeking the peace and quiet that this beach provides. Camping was most prevalent amongst the visitors to Joorst Park due to lack of other cheap accommodation there. Also, visitors to Joorst Park stayed on the beach for longer periods and a higher percentage of the respondents travelled long distances to the beach than on the other beaches. Although recreation patterns were linked to the level of beach development, other factors not related to beach development, such as cultural/ethnic background, political/historical influences, socio-economic level of beach users and distance of the beach from the visitor's home also played an important role. Environmental education emerges as one of the most urgent needs to properly manage dune and beach use in South Africa.

Recreation climate assessment

AbstractThe study examines methods for assessing the atmospheric resource component of recreation environments. Beach use is selected as it is a highly weather sensitive recreational activity. The study area is King's Beach in Queensland, Australia. The nature of the relationship between beach climate and the enjoyment of recreational pursuits is taken to be a function of thermal, physical, and aesthetic components of the atmospheric environment. A body‐atmosphere heat‐budget model is used to integrate and isolate the thermal component of beach weather and enable identification of important non‐thermal recreational resource attributes of the atmosphere. Beach‐user sensory perception of on‐site atmospheric conditions expressed verbally is used to assess the physical and aesthetic components of the atmospheric environment. The immediate thermal environment of the beach user is the main contributing factor to assessments of the desirability of on‐site meteorological conditions, followed by the non‐thermal effects of cloud and wind. Rainfall events of half‐hour duration or longer have an overriding effect.

Significance of free-floating macrophytes in the ecology of a sandy beach surf zone

Macrophytes, detached by storms and heavy wave actlon, accumulate in the surf zone off King's Beach, Algoa Bay, South Africa. The con~position of these macrophytes, their temporal and spatial occurrence, and their associated fauna were invesbgated. These macrophytes are a transient feature at King's Beach. They are living and actively photosyntheslzlng while in the surf zone, thus breaking down very slowly. Mesh bags contaimng the 2 dominant species of red algae were placed behlnd the breakers and breakdown rates of the algae monitored. In addition, changes in fauna1 biomass values and numbers were analysed. In bags with 10 mm mesh, 50 % breakdown occurred after 8 d and in bags with 2 mm mesh, after 26 d. These algae pass through the beach system rapidly in longshore currents and do not accumulate there. They are neither important in the energetics of the surf zone nor form an important nursery area for juvenile fishes at King's Beach. The fauna associated wlth these algae is derived from their attachment sites of origin and does not colonize them in the surf. Amphipods dominate the epifauna. INTRODUCTION detached macrophytes in a Southern African surf zone by determining whether these algal accumulations are The role of beached macrophytes in coastal food web important in surf zone energetics and/or are utilised as dynamics has been investigated by several authors nursery areas for juvenile fishes, as recorded else(e.g. Gnffiths & Stenton-Dozey 1981, Koop & Field where. 1981). The influence of surf zone accumulations of plants on ecological processes in coastal marine MATERIALS AND METHODS environments has, however, received less attention (Lenanton et al. 1982), particularly in terms of macroStudy area. King's Beach (3358'S, 2539' E) , is an faunal-drift algae associates (Kulczycki et al. 1981). ENE-facing beach, stretching 1.3 km in a southerly Along the western Australian coast large numbers of direction from the harbour of Port Elizabeth (Fig. 1). macrophytes are removed from nearshore seagrass This is a medium energy beach, being less exposed meadows and kelp beds by storms and heavy swells. than other beaches in Algoa Bay, as it is protected from These macrophytes accumulate along the shore formthe prevailing south-westerly winds by the mainland of ing large patches of plant material in the surf zone and Cape Recife (Lasiak 1984). King's Beach experiences wrack banks on beaches and rocks (Lenanton et al. continuous moderate wave action; waves break at a 1982). Similar wrack accumulations were recorded by distance of 50 to 100 m offshore and have an average Zobell (1971). According to Lenanton et al. (1982) a brealung height of 0.7 m (McLachlan 1980). The physinumber of fish species use portions of the open coast of cal, chemical and biological features of King's Beach south-western Australia as an alternative to estuaries have been described by McLachlan (1977, 1979, 1980). as nursery areas. The detached macrophyte accumulaThe temperate waters of Algoa Bay are subjected to tions provide a source of food and shelter for these seasonal fluctuations with a maximum temperature fishes (Lenanton et al. 1982) and also a habitat for range of 11 to 26°C in the surf (Lasiak 1984). However, epifauna (Eiseman & Benz 1975, Hooks et al. 1976, temperature varied between 14 and 18°C during this Cowper 1978, Heck 1979, Gore et al. 1981, Heck & study. Tides are semidiurnal subequal with a maximum Thoman 1981, Kulczycki et al. 1981). spring range of 2.1 m. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of Field sampling. Algal wrack is most abundant in the O Inter-Research/Printed in F. R. Germany Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 38: 53-63, 1987

Juveniles, food and the surf zone habitat: implications for teleost nursery areas

The length composition, abundance patterns and feeding habits of juvenile Diplodus sargus capensis, Lithognathus mormyrus, Pomadasys olivaceum, Rhabdosargus globiceps, Sarpa salpa and Trachurus trachurus are given. Zooplankton, in the form of copepods, chaetognaths, crustacean larvae and mysids, constituted a major component of the diet of these fish. The swimming prawn, Macropetasma africanus, was also a major prey item consumed by D. sargus, P. olivaceum and R. globiceps. The use of King's Beach as a nursery area is discussed in relation to food availability and shelter from predators.

Vertical gradients of meiofauna and bacteria in subtidal sandy sediments from two high-energy surf zones in Algoa Bay, South Africa

Subtidal sediments off two South African sandy beaches of different wave exposure were sampled using SCUBA and long cores. Kings Beach had fine, well sorted sand and Sundays River beach had medium, moderately well-sorted sand decreasing in particle size offshore. The sand from these beaches had a high content of CaCO3. Subsieves ranged from 2,1 to 7,7 per cent. Organic matter was in the range 1,5–2,6 per cent and porosity 21,6–33,9 per cent. Permeability was correlated with grain size. The less exposed sediments of Kings Beach had much higher chlorophyll a and phaeopigment values, but supported a poorer benthic diatom population than did the sediments of the Sundays River beach. Nutrient levels in both the sea and the sediment were high. The pH and oxygen saturation decreased with depth into the sediment, but no anoxic conditions were encountered. Meiofaunal biomass, to a depth of 60 cm, averaged 1 119 and 656 mg·m−2 at Kings and Sundays River beaches respectively. Nematodes dominated virtually throughout, whereas harpacticoid copepod numbers were low. Bacterial numbers ranged from 12 × 106 to 130 × 106·cm−3, and at both beaches increased in an offshore direction. Bacterial biomass averaged 6 197 and 5 234 mg·m−2 at Kings and Sundays River beaches respectively. Significant numbers of meiofauna and bacteria were still encountered in the 50–60 cm depth layer and it was therefore concluded that use of long cores when sampling in high energy systems is essential.

Structural aspects of the surf-zone fish assemblage at King's Beach, Algoa Bay, South Africa: Long-term fluctuations

Regular collections of fish were obtained from the surf-zone at King's Beach, Algoa Bay. A total of 3970 fish, representing 50 species was caught with a coarse net and 16 857 fish, representing 37 species, were caught with a fine net. Predominant species were the blacktail, Diplodus sargus; the sand steenbras, Lithognathus mormyrus; the mullet, Liza richardsoni; the gorrie, Pomadasys olivaceum; the white stumpnose, Rhabdosargus globiceps; the sandshark, Rhinobatos annulatus; and the streepie, Sarpa salpa. No seasonal trends were discernible in the overall abundance or species diversity. The species composition of the dominant component of the fish assemblage varied considerably. This indicated instability in the community structure and cast doubts on the applicability of a classic community concept and the use of diversity indices. Neither classification nor correspondence analysis were of any use in identifying a characteristic species component. Multiple regression analysis indicated that short-term variations in wind conditions might be a primary determinant of fluctuations in abundance. The lack of seasonality in the community parameters may reflect the fact that short-term variability masks seasonal perturbations.

Structural aspects of the surf-zone fish assemblage at King's Beach, Algoa Bay, South Africa: Short-term fluctuations

Short-term changes in the King's Beach surf-zone fish assemblage were investigated by means of two 24 h studies (January and August 1979), and by seine netting on three consecutive days at both high and low tide. They revealed considerable variation in the fish assemblage over a 24 h period. Four species: the gorrie, Pomadasys olivaceum; the mullet, Liza richardsoni; the streepie, Sarpa salpa; and the sand steenbras, Lithognathus mormyrus, dominated the catches of both 24 h studies. The number of species caught reached a peak just after twilight. Trends in other community parameters were not consistent for these two sets of data. Considerable variation in dominant species, numbers and species diversity indices was observed from day to as well as between high and low tide. Shortterm fluctuations in various community parameters often exceeded the long-term variability observed in a seasonal study of this fish assemblage.

Molluscan predation by Ovalipes punctatus (De Haan) (Crustacea: Brachyura: Portunidae)

Molluscan predation by the three-spot swimming crab was investigated. The dentition of the heteromorphic chelae allowed crushing, shearing, cutting and holding of prey. Laboratory investigations indicated that small mussels and gastropods were crushed, the larger mussels were prized open, and the foot of the larger gastropods shredded and bits removed. Stomach contents of freshly captured crabs indicated that the crabs are selective carnivores and preferred prey species which are not most abundant in situ (crabs from Kings Beach, Donax serra Röding; crabs from Maitlands River Beach, Bullia rhodostoma Reeve). Ovalipes punctatus (De Haan) foraged on a variety of prey and had no upper prey size limit, but the crabs did show preferences for certain prey sizes. Data indicate that the swimming crabs can effectively utilize the entire mollusc populations on the beaches as prey items.

Recruitment and growth patterns of juvenile marine teleosts caught at King's Beach, Algoa Bay

The recruitment patterns of six teleosts were studied at King's Beach, Algoa Bay. February to May marked the major recruit· ment period for Dip/odus sargus, Lithognathus mormyrus, Rhabdosargus g/obiceps and Trachurus capensis. The major recruitment of Sarpa sa/pa fry took place between August and September. Pomadasys olivaceum fry of < 5 cm total length were caught throughout the year indicating an extended breeding period. The estimated growth rates of new recruits between February and May (autumn/winter) was 0,60 cm month - 1 for L. mormyrus, 0,75 cm month -1 for R. g/obiceps and 0,40 cm month -1 for T. capensis. The empirical growth curve derived for S. sa/pa indicated a growth rate of 0,75 cm month -1. No growth estimates could be made for P. olivaceum or D. sargus.