This dataset contains results from a series of laboratory and field experiments on local grazer communities to determine the parameter values required by the COASEC (Coastal Ocean Ecology) model. These experiments are part of the second stage of the Perth Coastal Waters Study. These parameters were delta, the grazing demand (biomass of food eatern per biomass of grazer per day; beta, the assimilation constant (the difference between the food consumed and defecated as a percentage of the food consumed); micron, the mortality constant (the turnover rate of the community), and kg, the ratio of food available to food demand to satisfy 50% of maximum potential growth of grazer communities. Empirically derived parameter values for the main grazers, crustaceans and gastropods were very different from each other and from the default values in the model. Experiments indicated that both types of grazers primarily fed on periphyton and grazing rates varied between summer and winter. Grazing impacts on larger epiphytes are dependent upon the type of grazer and the species of epiphyte.

This dataset contains species distribution, abundance and identity data of benthic invertebrates from the Pittwater region, NSW. Epifauna samples were obtained every 3 months from mangroves and saltmarshes between June 1991 and March 1991. Taxa identified consisted of 9 species of molluscs, all of which were gastropods. The data were taken as a control site for similiar sampling in Jervis Bay. The data are part of the Jervis Bay Marine Ecological Study. NB - As the database has been lost, the only data still available are those published in the JERVIS BAY BASELINE STUDIES Final Report.

This dataset contains the results from surveys of epiphyte fauna from 3 sites along the Perth metropolitan coastline, Western Australia. Samples from Warnbro, Shoalwater and Marmion were collected in September 1993. All sites had the seagrasses Posidonia sinuosa and Amphibolis griffithii within 10 m of each other, and in depths of between 3 m and 6 m. At each site the species abundance and biomass of grazers and epifaunal groups, particularly molluscs and crustaceans were determined. This was to assess their suitability as indicator species in monitoring programs.

This dataset contains species distribution, abundance and identity data of benthic invertebrates from Botany Bay, NSW. Epifauna samples were obtained every 3 months from mangroves and saltmarshes between June 1990 and March 1991. Taxa identified consisted of 9 species of molluscs, all of which were gastropods. The data were taken as a control site for similiar sampling in Jervis Bay. The data are part of the Jervis Bay Marine Ecological Study. NB - As the database has been lost, the only data still available are those published in the JERVIS BAY BASELINE STUDIES Final Report.

This dataset contains species distribution, abundance and identity data of benthic invertebrates from Jervis Bay, NSW. Epifauna samples were obtained every 3 months for 3 years from 4 sites in mangroves and saltmarshes around Jervis Bay, between October 1988 and July 1991. Taxa identified comprised 28 species (20 molluscs, 7 crabs and 1 barnacle). Tatea spp. and Assiminea buccinoides were the most common gastropods around Jervis Bay. The data are part of the Jervis Bay Marine Ecological Study. NB - As the database has been lost, the only data still available are those published in the JERVIS BAY BASELINE STUDIES Final Report.

We attempted to asses the potential for using stable isotopes as a tool for rapid assessment of trophic interactions in a nearshore benthic ecosystem in Western Australia. The information gained from this experiment will help us to refine our use of stable isotopes, and contribute to efforts to develop "sharper" tools to achieve the ultimate goal of providing accurate characterisation of food webs, information sorely needed by managers of marine resources. A controlled laboratory scale feeding experiment with the gastropod, Turbo torquatus was conducted to assess the suitability of stable isotope analyses for diet inference. Seventy eight T.torquatus were fed enriched macroalgae (Ulva lactuca) to alter their natural isotopic profile (ä13C and ä15N) and then fed three locally occurring macroalgae (Ulva lactuca, Carpopeltis phyllophora, and Ecklonia radiate) over 17 weeks to assess how their isotopic profile reflected that of their diet. Feeding the enriched macroalgae (Ulva lactuca) to Turbo torquatus increased their carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios to very high levels after just 72 hours. Unfortunately even after 17 weeks of feeding on natural macroalgae (not enriched) the heavier isotope for both carbon and nitrogen was still retained in the muscle tissue of the gastropods. This suggests that the enrichment of Ulva lactuca appears to have been for too long or the concentration of 98% ä13C NaHCO3 and 98% ä15N NH4Cl was much too high.

This dataset contains the results from quadrat surveys from 5 sites in Cockburn Sound, Perth, Western Australia. A survey was conducted in September 1994 to determine the biomass and distribution of filter feeders in relation to seagrass distributions. Macro-suspension-feeders biomass was high in Posidonia meadows and generally lower in bare sediment, although on bare sediment the introduced polychaete Sabella spallanzanii reached considerable biomass. Epifaunal feeders on Posidonia leaves reached a substantial biomass. Heterozostera and Amphibolis meadows appear to support a low biomass of macro-suspension-feeders and epifaunal feeders.

The dataset comprises catch records of infauna from box core deployments completed on research voyage SS 03/2005. The survey design was a natural experiment (i.e. control-impact, but not before-after) to test the long-term, broadscale effects of prawn fishing on non-target species and habitats. Deployments were stratified by fishing intensity (three strata) and day/night. The survey was repeated in three regions: (a) north of Groote Eylandt, (b) north-east of the Vanderlins, and (c) north of Mornington Island. The number of deployments completed as part of the natural experiment was 123.

A study of the scallop resources, advection and settlement of P fumatus in Bass Strait was carried out in Bass Strait and Great Oyster Bay on a series of cruises from 1986 to 1992. Scallop growth and reproduction were also analysed. Vessels used included Merindah Pearl and Dell Richey. Additional data identified in June 2015. See TRIM references in stored data location.