Benthic and substrate cover data derived from a time series of photo-transect surveys for the Eastern Banks, Moreton Bay Australia, 2004-2015

This paper describes seagrass species and percentage cover point-based field data sets derived from georeferenced photo transects. Annually or biannually over a ten year period (2004-2015) data sets were collected using 30-50 transects, 500-800 m in length distributed across a 142 km**2 shallow, clear water seagrass habitat, the Eastern Banks, Moreton Bay, Australia. Each of the eight data sets include seagrass property information derived from approximately 3000 georeferenced, downward looking photographs captured at 2-4 m intervals along the transects. Photographs were manually interpreted to estimate seagrass species composition and percentage cover (Coral Point Count excel; CPCe). Understanding seagrass biology, ecology and dynamics for scientific and management purposes requires point-based data on species composition and cover. This data set, and the methods used to derive it are a globally unique example for seagrass ecological applications. It provides the basis for multiple further studies at this site, regional to global comparative studies, and, for the design of similar monitoring programs elsewhere.

本数据集详述了依托地理参考照片样带获取的海草物种组成与盖度百分比点位野外调查数据集。2004年至2015年的十年间，研究团队以年度或半年度为频次开展数据采集：在澳大利亚莫顿湾东滩（Eastern Banks, Moreton Bay）这片面积142平方千米的浅水清透海草生境中，布设30至50条长度500至800米的样带。本次共生成8套数据集，每套数据集均基于沿样带以2至4米间隔拍摄的约3000张朝下取景的地理参考照片，提取得到海草相关属性信息。研究人员通过人工解译照片，估算海草物种组成与盖度百分比，所用工具为Coral Point Count Excel（CPCe）。无论是服务于科学研究还是管理决策，深入理解海草的生物学特性、生态过程与动态变化，均需要基于点位的物种组成与盖度数据。本数据集及其构建方法在海草生态学应用领域属于全球独有的范例，可为该站点后续多项研究、区域乃至全球尺度的对比研究，以及其他地区同类监测方案的设计提供核心支撑。