Australian Institute of Marine Science - Baited Remote Underwater Video Stations (BRUVS)

Recordings of marine organism attracted to baited underwater video cameras (BRUVS). BRUVS are deployed in groups of 4-6, separated by approximately 450 m, for approximately 60 minutes. The spacing and deployment times are designed to achieve independence of each sampling set. The tapes are then reviewed to record the identity, timing of arrival and maximum number of those species attracted to the bait or otherwise present at the sampling station. The data were collected by review of video tapes with custom software that captures species images and records timecodes.

These data are predominantly bony fish (Class Actinopterygii) and cartilaginous fish (Class Elasmobranchii), significant records of sea snakes (Family Hydrophiidae), and minor representations of crabs (Order Decapoda) and squid (Family Loliginidae) and are predominately from the Queensland coast (Great Barrier Reef) with a small number of records from the North West Coast of Western Australia, Northern Territory and Lord Howe Island. Habitat coverage includes demersal, marine, reef and inter-reef habitats, including coral reef, rocky reef, seagrass, algal beds, Halimeda algae banks, unconsolidated mud and sand. Water depths from 8 to 140 metres, mostly around 20-70 metres.

Total Distribution Records: 18,540

Total Number of Taxa: 683 species