Key Ecological Features of the North-west Marine Region.

The North-west Bioregional Profile identifies a number of ecological features that are of conservation value because of the role they play in the environment of the North-west Marine Region. Key ecological features (KEFs) meet one or more of the following criteria:1. a species, group of species, or a community with a regionally important ecological role (e.g. a predator, prey that affects a large biomass or number of other marine species);2. a species, group of species, or a community that is nationally or regionally important for biodiversity;3. an area or habitat that is nationally or regionally important for: a) enhanced or high productivity (such as predictable upwellings - an upwelling occurs when cold nutrient-rich waters from the bottom of the ocean rise to the surface);b) aggregations of marine life (such as feeding, resting, breeding or nursery areas);c) biodiversity and endemism (species which only occur in a specific area); or4. a unique seafloor feature, with known or presumed ecological properties of regional significance.KEFs have been identified by the Australian Government on the basis of advice from scientists about the ecological processes and characteristics of the area. A workshop held in Perth in September 2007 also contributed to this scientific advice and helped to underpin the identification of key ecological features. Thirteen KEFs have been identified in the North-west Marine Region:Ancient coastline at 125 m depth contourAshmore Reef and Cartier Island and surrounding Commonwealth watersCanyons linking the Argo Abyssal Plain and Scott PlateauCanyons linking the Cuvier Abyssal Plain and the Cape Range PeninsulaCarbonate bank and terrace system of the Sahul ShelfCommonwealth waters adjacent to Ningaloo ReefContinental Slope Demersal Fish CommunitiesExmouth PlateauGlomar ShoalsMermaid Reed and Commonwealth waters surrounding the Rowley ShoalsPinnacles of the Bonaparte BasinSeringapatam Reef and Commonwealth waters in the Scott Reef ComplexWallaby SaddleIn order to create a spatial representation of KEFs for the North-west Marine Region, some interpretation of the information was required. DoE has made every effort to use the best available spatial information, and best judgement on how to spatially represent the features based on the scientific advice provided. This does not preclude others from making their own interpretation of available information.

《西北生物区域概况》（North-west Bioregional Profile）识别出一批具备保护价值的生态特征，这些特征在西北海洋区域（North-west Marine Region）的生态环境中发挥着关键作用。
关键生态特征（Key Ecological Features，KEFs）需满足以下一项或多项判定标准：
1. 具备区域重要生态功能的物种、物种群或群落（例如：捕食者、对大量海洋生物量或其他海洋物种数量产生影响的猎物）；
2. 在国家或区域层面具有生物多样性重要意义的物种、物种群或群落；
3. 在国家或区域层面具备以下重要性的区域或生境：
a) 高或增强型生产力（例如可预测的上升流——上升流指海洋底层富含营养物质的冷水上升至海面的现象）；
b) 海洋生物聚集区（例如觅食、休憩、繁殖或育苗场）；
c) 生物多样性与特有性（仅分布于特定区域的物种）；
或
4. 具有区域重要性已知或推定生态属性的独特海底地貌。
澳大利亚政府基于科学家针对该区域生态过程与特征提供的科学建议，识别出了本区域的关键生态特征。2007年9月在珀斯举办的一场研讨会也为该科学建议提供了支撑，并为关键生态特征的识别工作奠定了基础。
西北海洋区域共计识别出13项关键生态特征：
1. 125米等深线古海岸线
2. 阿什莫尔礁（Ashmore Reef）、卡蒂尔岛（Cartier Island）及其周边联邦海域
3. 连接阿尔戈深海平原（Argo Abyssal Plain）与斯科特海台（Scott Plateau）的海谷
4. 连接库维尔深海平原（Cuvier Abyssal Plain）与开普岭半岛（Cape Range Peninsula）的海谷
5. 萨胡尔陆架（Sahul Shelf）碳酸盐岸台与阶地系统
6. 宁格罗礁（Ningaloo Reef）邻近联邦海域
7. 大陆坡底栖鱼类群落（Continental Slope Demersal Fish Communities）
8. 埃克斯茅斯海台（Exmouth Plateau）
9. 格洛马尔浅滩（Glomar Shoals）
10. 美人鱼礁（Mermaid Reed）及罗利浅滩（Rowley Shoals）周边联邦海域
11. 波拿巴盆地（Bonaparte Basin）尖峰地貌
12. 塞林加帕坦礁（Seringapatam Reef）及斯科特礁群（Scott Reef Complex）内的联邦海域
13. 沃利鞍状海脊（Wallaby Saddle）
为了构建西北海洋区域关键生态特征的空间表征，需对现有信息进行一定阐释。澳大利亚环境部（DoE）已尽最大努力采用最可用的空间数据，并基于所提供的科学建议，以最佳判断方式对各特征进行空间表征。此举并不妨碍其他主体基于现有信息做出自己的阐释。