Summary Although ecosystem structure and function can be influenced by both bottom up (primary productivity) and top-down (predation) processes (ref), top-down processes (predation) have been demonstrated to account for over 70% of the variation in the some temperate kelp communities (Halpern et al in press). Removal of key predators such as fish and lobsters, has been shown to have the potential to result in trophic cascade effects in which grazers may take over the system, producing massive changes to ecosystem structure. (Babcock et al 1999, Shears et al 2003, Steneck et al 2004). Locally, it has been suggested that predation by western rocklobster Panuluris cygnus may be particularly important in the structuring of local ecosystems. Abundances of P.cygnus have been shown to be strongly negatively correlated with the abundance of large (>2cm) trochid gastropods (Edgar 1990) and adult P.cygnus are known to feed readily on a wide range of locally abundant crustaceans and molluscs (James and Tong 1997, James et al 2001, Power et al 2005). Despite this, understanding about the linkages between lobster predation and local macroinvertebrates populations is still currently very limited. Here we contrast differences in the rates of predation on locally abundant blue mussels Mytilus edulis (Lamarck 1819), using fished and unfished areas as the principal source of contrast. Methods Predation rates on mussels, Mytilus eduli, were measured by adapting predator exclusion methods first described in Edgar 1990. To test the hypothesis that large predators, including P.cygnus, may be controlling abundances of molluscs, caged and uncaged mussels were deployed inside and outside fished reserves at Marmion, Rottnest Island and Jurien Bay. At each of the three locations, 12 similar sized mussels (70mm total length) were attached to a series of 8 plastic mesh grids, with 4 of the grids being fully enclosed to prevent predator access and 4 of the grids remaining open to allow predator access. (Fig. 1) 8 grids were attached to concrete blocks using cable tiestm and blocks deployed in approximately 4m water depth on seagrass substrate immediately adjacent high relief limestone reef. At Marmion and Jurien Bay, 3 blocks containing attached mussels were deployed outside reserves and 2 blocks with mussels were deployed inside reserves. At Rottnest Island 3 blocks were deployed both inside and outside of reserves. After a deployment period of seven days all grids were retrieved and the mussels on each plastic grid recorded as either alive, dead or missing

This record describes the seabed image data (digitised 35 mm slide still camera images) collected during the NORFANZ voyage on the Norfolk Ridge and Lord Howe Rise in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, in May-June 2003. Fourteen seamount and slope sites were sampled, 10 on the Norfolk Ridge and 4 on the Lord Howe Rise. The camera was deployed using two systems: (1) a headline camera unit deployed with the orange roughy net, and (2) a vertical-drop camera system. The headline camera system yielded usable photographs from 14 operations at 6 sites on the Norfolk Ridge and 1 operation at 1 site on the Lord Howe Rise where the camera frame got heavily damaged. The drop camera system was used on 7 occasions: 5 operations at 4 sites on the Norfolk Ridge and 2 operations at 2 sites on the Lord Howe Rise. The dataset contains 2141 images of the seabed.

Scanned copies of the Bureau of Meteorology Operational Synoptic Charts covering Australia. The charts are Mean Sea Level (MSL) charts with irregular upper air charts, this collection is on 3 CD's - for the months (April-October) between 1956 and 1959 - for the months (April-October) between 1960 and 1969 - random selection between 1956 and 1959.

Maps showing quarterly means of wind curl on Australia's oceans from interpreted basedata supplied by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Re-analysis Project, 1976 to 1998 inclusive. These maps have been produced by CSIRO for the National Oceans Office, as part of an ongoing commitment to natural resource planning and management through the 'National Marine Bioregionalisation' project.

Incidental photographs of field activities were taken by field staff during research voyage SS 03/2005 on the RV Southern Surveyor. Subjects include the research vessel, prawn trawls, epibenthic sleds, CTD casts, box cores and life on the ship.

This biological overview for the Southern Surveyor voyage SS 07/2005. The voyage took place off the Western Australian Coast during July August 2005. This dataset has been partly processed and has not yet been archived within the CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Data Centre in Hobart. Additional information regarding this dataset is contained in the cruise report for this voyage and/or the data processing report. On this cruise pigments and chlorophyll a were collected by Neale Johnston and later processed at CMAR, Hobart by Pru Bonham.