KSN Project 2.2.2 provides key information on the oceanographic and biological forcing associated with nutrient supply that determines the near-shore productivity of the Kimberley region, and links these with higher trophic levels. Key objectives of the research were - To make new estimates of pelagic primary productivity, identifying the key physical and community processes driving production in the region. - To better describe the phytoplankton and zooplankton communities in coastal waters of the Kimberley, to determine the trophic linkages within these communities and to identify the key factors controlling pelagic secondary productivity. - To integrate these parameters into an extensible biogeochemical modelling framework, allowing predictive linkages between physical and biological processes in the region. This metadata records specifically relates to modelling aspects of the project completed by CSIRO. The data originates from a number of model simulations conducted between 3/1/2010 to 21/12/2010. All field data are held at Pawsey and RV Southern Surveyor and RV Solander.

This dataset shows the global distribution of mangroves. It was compiled by UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) in collaboration with the International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems (ISME). The factsheet providing background information relevant to this dataset can be found at http://biodiversitya-z.org/content/mangrove--2. temporal range 1960-1996 The factsheet providing background information relevant to this dataset can be found at http://biodiversitya-z.org/content/mangrove--2.

This data set contains the Australian Bureau of Statistics population data for Australian states and territories. Population data was collected as part of national census’ in 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011. Data presented is the total population for all collection districts by place of enumeration. District Boundaries differed for each census and therefore were re-projected onto the 2011 population mesh blocks to standardise the spatial extent of the reporting areas. Given the focus of this project, population data was clipped by a 50km coastal buffer. Note: population data for census’ 1991 – 1996 - 2001 was purchased by NESP and is made publically available through by NESP Note: population data for 2006 and 2011 was downloaded through the ABS webportal. http://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/censushome.nsf/home/tablebuilder?opendocument&navpos=240 Note. 2006 Census district boundaries were downloaded from the ABS website http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/2919.0.55.001Main+Features1Aug%202006?OpenDocument and 2011 population mesh blocks http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/1270.0.55.001 This data contains geographical information in shape files that represent the population density in Australia, from 1991 to 2011. The data contains the summary polygon, state_code, cd_code19, 91_pop_dat (population count), area and density (in persons per km^2). For other data sets the count will be 96_pop_dat, 2001_pop_dat, 2006_pop_dat and 2011_pop_dat.

This data set is a summary of seismic survey transects from 1961 to 2015. The data was summarised to 0.1 deg grids and the number of km of the grid surveyed over a 5 year period was calculated. Geoscience Australia is releasing its 2014 version of the Marine Seismic Surveys Shape and Kml files. These files have been updated to include recent openfile surveys. The spatial files have been created from a cleansed, updated collection of p190 navigation files. This navigation collection has grown from the checking of navigation submitted to the GA Repository under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Regulations http://www.ga.gov.au/metadata-gateway/metadata/record/gcat_f5f24293-c9c1-6ed9-e044-00144fdd4fa6/Marine+Seismic+Survey+Shape+and+Kml+Files+-+2014+Version This data contains geographical information in shapefiles that represent 2D and 3D seismic surveys from 1961 to 2013.They represent most of the seismic surveys shot around Australia. According to Mike Sexton (pers. comm., 2013; GA) 3D surveys are modern surveys that shoot with multiple cables, acquiring many times more data than a 2D survey. The cables have no impact on the environment. Over time, seismic surveys have used a variety of sources commencing with dynamite in the 1960s (usually 50 lbs, but sometimes 200 lbs). The shot spacing was usually of the order of 200 m. Since then, electrical discharges (sparkers), gas-exploders, vibratory sources and air guns have been used. The shot interval has been reduced to about 20 m.

The Blue Habitats website has been established as a portal for information on the global distribution of marine ‘blue’ habitats. Knowledge on the distribution of blue habitats is an important input into ocean management, marine spatial planning and biodiversity conservation. Conservation International, GRID-Arendal and Geoscience Australia recently collaborated to produce a map of the global distribution of seafloor geomorphic features. The global seafloor geomorphic features map represents an important contribution towards the understanding of the distribution of blue habitats. Certain geomorphic feature are known to be good surrogates for biodiversity. For example, seamounts support a different suite of species to abyssal plains. A detailed description and analysis of the global geomorphic features map can be found in in the scientific paper published in Marine Geology (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2014.01.011). The map and the underlying spatial data can be accessed from this website.

The physical climate defines a significant portion of the habitats in which biological communities and species reside. It is important to quantify these environmental conditions, and how they have changed, as this will inform future efforts to study many natural systems. We present the results of a statistical summary of the variability in sea surface temperature (SST) time-series data for the waters surrounding Australia, from 1993 to 2013. We partition variation in the SST series into annual trends, inter-annual trends, and a number of components of random variation. We utilise satellite data and validate the statistical summary from these data to summaries of data from long-term monitoringstations and from the global drifter program. The spatially dense results show clear trends that associate with oceanographic features. Noteworthy oceanographic features include: average warming was greatest off southern West Australia and off eastern Tasmania where the warming was around 0.6 C per decade for a twenty year study period, and; insubstantial warming in areas dominated by the East Australian Current but this area did exhibit high levels of inter-annual variability (long-term trend increases and decreases but does not increase on average). The results of the analyses can be directly incorporated into (biogeographic) models that explain variation in biological data where both biological and environmental data are on a fine scale.