Raw grab camera image data to investigate substrate categories associated with benthic invertebrate fauna of the Southern Benguela Ecoregion on the Algoa Voyage 263, August 2019

This is raw grab image data from the Southern Benguela Cruise, which was conducted in the Southern Benguela Ecoregion on the Algoa Voyage 263, August 2019. This study focuses on providing a better understanding of the benthic invertebrate communities and associated habitats of three priority areas within the southernmost portion of the Southern Benguela Ecoregion. This includes Robben Island, the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area (TMNP MPA) and the newly proposed Seas of Good Hope Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area (EBSA). The aims are: 1) To contribute to the first baseline assessment for continuous long-term monitoring. 2) To determine the species diversity of benthic invertebrate communities, and how geological (i.e habitat type) and physical factors (i.e. location, depth) may be responsible for driving their distribution and abundance. 3) To verify habitat types: Verification of the habitats associated with physical features (e.g. geological substrate) by means of in situ sampling of the seabed (using a dredge or grab) and underwater visual assessments (using benthic cameras). 4) To provide legitimate conservation rationale for the establishment of the Seas of Good Hope EBSA and possible expansion of the TMNP MPA.

本数据集源于2019年8月在南阿尔戈阿航行263次期间，于南本格拉生态区域进行的原始抓取图像数据。本研究旨在深化对南本格拉生态区域最南部三个重点区域（包括罗本岛、桌山国家公园海洋保护区（TMNP MPA）以及新提议的善意希望海域生态和生物重要区域（EBSA））的底栖无脊椎动物群落及其相关栖息地的理解。研究目标包括：1）为首次基线评估和持续长期监测提供贡献。2）确定底栖无脊椎动物群落的物种多样性，并探究地质因素（即栖息地类型）和物理因素（例如位置、深度）如何驱动其分布和丰度。3）验证栖息地类型：通过现场海底采样（使用耙子或抓斗）和海底视觉评估（使用底栖相机）验证与物理特征（例如地质基底层）相关的栖息地。4）为善意希望海域EBSA的设立及其可能的TMNP MPA扩展提供合法的保育依据。