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Earth Science | Biosphere | Ecological Dynamics | Community Dynamics | Community Structure
274 record(s)
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draft
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This dataset is an output of the Pilbara Marine Conservation Partnership (PMCP) Environmental Pressures Theme - Project Habitats and Biodiversity Characterisation and Mapping. The benthic invertebrate, plant and fish biodiversity of the west Pilbara region was sampled between 10 and 27 June 2013 during voyages on the CSIRO vessel RV Linnaeus and WA Fisheries vessel RV Naturaliste. The equipment used was: 0.75m epibenthic sled at 13 sites for a distance of ~300m or a 1.5m epibenthic sled at 98 sites for a distance of ~150m per tow; a Pipe dredge attached to each sled; an 8 Fathom Florida Flyer Trawl at 43 sites for a distance of ~1km per tow; and a Drop-Camera video system towed for a 500 m transect at 123 sites to observe and record video of the seabed habitat. Continuous underway coding during Drop-camera transects recorded cover of 9 substratum types, 25 biohabitat types, and occurrence of 14 faunal classes. The results for the Sled and Trawl are presented as biomass per area swept by the gear (kg per ha). During the Voyage Biota collected using the Sled and Trawl were sorted into 26 broad taxonomic categories from each tow (samples). These were photographed, weighed, preserved and retained for identification. Large biota such as turtles and seasnakes were measured, counted, weighed (or weight estimated), photographed and returned to the ocean alive. Non-living rocks/shells were photographed and weighed as a category called trash and returned to the ocean. The following groups were retained and identified by taxonomists and voucher specimens curated at WA Museum: Marine Plants; Sponges; Corals; Crustaceans; Echinoderms; Molluscs; and Fishes The following groups were retained with no facility for further identification as part of this project, and are currently at CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere WA: Ascidians - samples separated into colonial and solitary preserved in formalin; Brachiopoda - Frozen; Bryozoa - Frozen; Hydroids - Frozen; Miscellaneous - Frozen; Worms - Formalin. A pipe-dredge was attached to the sled to collect sediment samples: a 500 ml subsample was retained. The Pilbara Marine Conservation Partnership (PMCP) was an initiative designed to enhance the net conservation benefits of the globally-significant coral reef ecosystems of the Pilbara (Western Australia) by providing an assessment of the condition and trajectory of key ecological values. These assessments were designed to inform and complement existing governance and management arrangements and the PMCP is intended to provide ongoing advice and assessment for conservation efforts in the region, providing lasting benefits. The PMCP concept is based on three core ecological components, namely: Coral Reef Health - concentrating mainly on habitat forming primary producers. Fish and Sharks - their community structure, interactions and impacts on lower trophic levels. Environmental Pressures - physical and anthropogenic factors that influence the condition of reefs
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The fish fauna of the edge of coral reefs in Torres Strait was investigated by underwater visual transects at 276 sites on 41 reefs between August 1995 and January 1996. The fish community contained most common families of tropical Indo-Pacific coral reefs. Acanthurids, Chaetodontids, Pomacentrids and Labrids were the most widespread and speciose families observed. The relative abundance of each species at each site was used to classify sites with multi-dimensional scaling (MDS). The species composition varied strongly across the region with sites classifying into four distinct groups. These represented groups of fish species most abundant on (1) the eastern outer ribbon reefs; (2) the mid- shelf reefs; (3) central Warrior reef complex and (4) the western reefs north of Moa Island. These patterns in fish community structure were related to changes in the relative proportions of the major benthic habitats in each area. Many species tended to be abundant either in areas of high coral cover (eastern outer ribbon reefs) or high algal cover (central and western reefs). Other factors that were correlated with fish species composition included the distance from sources of terrestrial runoff in Papua New Guinea and Cape York, northern Australia. This effect is likely to be indirect, through the influence of runoff of benthic habitats. These results show that fish communities in Torres Strait are strongly structured and influenced by the benthic habitats. The distribution of benthic habitats are in turn heavily influenced by the regional physical processes that occur because of the location of Torres Strait between Australia and Papua New Guinea. Refer to the published report: Milton DA and Long BG. (1997) Influence of Coastal Processes on Large Scale Patterns in Reef Fish Communities of Torres Strait, Australia. Final Report June 1997 (MR-GIS 97/6). CSIRO Marine Research, Cleveland. 14pp.
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This map shows copepod abundance in Albatross Bay, Gulf of Carpentaria. The biomass and species composition of tropical zooplankton in Albatross Bay, Gulf of Carpentaria, northern Australia, were examined monthly for three years between March 1986 and March 1988. Zooplankton taxonomic groups were identified to species level where possible, with a primary focus on copepods. Data is stored as mean number of individuals per site. Sampling occurred across 5 sites (Site 1 = Inshore, Site 5 = Offshore, Sites progressed westward). Temperature and salinity were also recorded for many samples. This map has 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.
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Biological and physical data collected from plankton samples collected from Albatross Bay. The samples were worked on as part of preliminary analysis. The analysis occurred 20 November to 15 December 1989. The biomass and species composition of tropical zooplankton in Albatross Bay, Gulf of Carpentaria, northern Australia, were examined monthly for three years between March 1986 and March 1988. Zooplankton taxonomic groups were identified to species level where possible, with a primary focus on copepods. Data is stored as mean number of individuals per site. Sampling occurred across 5 sites (Site 1 = Inshore, Site 5 = Offshore, Sites progressed westward). Temperature and salinity were also recorded for many samples. This data has 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.
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As part of the Pilbara Marine Conservation Partnership (PMCP), coral reef surveys of reef macroalgae species (including seagrasses) were undertaken between northern Ningaloo and the Dampier Archipelago. This dataset contains biomass estimates (g DW m-2 and g WW m-2) of macrophytes collected in shallow reef areas in the Pilbara region during two sampling trips: November 2013 and May 2014. Surveys were undertaken using using SCUBA at depths between 2-13m, with macroalgae and seagrasses identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. The data include: * Macroalgae and seagrass diversity (0.25 square metre quadrats) * Macroalgae and seagrass species composition and biomass per quadrat (0.25 square metre) These data were collected to estimate macrophyte biomass in shallow reef areas across the Pilbara region in two contrasting seasons. These data are an output of the Pilbara Marine Conservation Partnership (PMCP) Coral Reef Health Theme.
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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.
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Coral reef surveys of reef macroalgae species (including seagrasses) were undertaken between northern Ningaloo and the Dampier Archipelago. This dataset contains biomass estimates (g DW m-2 and g WW m-2) of macrophytes collected in shallow reef areas in the Pilbara region during two sampling trips: November 2013 and May 2014. Surveys were undertaken using using SCUBA at depths between 2-13m, with macroalgae and seagrasses identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. The data include: * Macroalgae and seagrass diversity (0.25 square metre quadrats) * Macroalgae and seagrass species composition and biomass per quadrat (0.25 square metre) These data were collected to estimate macrophyte biomass in shallow reef areas across the Pilbara region in two contrasting seasons.
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Megabenthos was sampled using a beam trawl at 105 sites throughout the Gulf of Carpentaria during the Southern Surveyor cruise SS 03/90. The megabenthos was identified, counted and weighed. The results were used in pattern analysis of the communities.
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This dataset contains the results from surveys of jetties and piles in Cockburn Sound, Perth, Western Australia. A survey was conducted in October 1995 to determine the biomass and distribution of filter feeders residing on jetties and piles etc.
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This dataset contains the results from quadrat surveys in the Marmion Lagoon, Perth, Western Australia. Approximately monthly surveys were conducted between October 1993 and October 1994 to determine the biomass and distribution of filter feeders in relation to seagrass distributions.