Marine Futures Project - Middle Island - reef habitat

The Marine Futures Project was designed to benchmark the current status of key Western Australian marine ecosystems, based on an improved understanding of the relationship between marine habitats, biodiversity and our use of these values. Approximately 1,500 km2 of seafloor were mapped using hydroacoustics (Reson 8101 Multibeam), and expected benthic habitats "ground-truthed" using towed video transects and baited remote underwater video systems. Both sources of information were then combined in a spatial predictive modelling framework to produce fine-scale habitat maps showing the extent of substrate types, biotic formations, etc.Surveys took place across 9 study areas, including Middle Island, the project's easternmost site located within the Recherche Archipelago. The Recherche Archipelago provides habitats for a diverse range of both terrestrial and marine species, and can be accessed either by vessel from the town of Esperance, or by four wheel drive along the coastal roads adjoining the Cape Arid National Park.

海洋未来项目（Marine Futures Project）旨在基于对海洋生境、生物多样性与人类对这些资源利用之间关系的深化认知，对西澳大利亚州重点海洋生态系统的现状开展基准评估。研究团队采用水声测绘技术（Reson 8101多波束测深系统）对约1500平方千米的海底进行制图，并通过拖曳视频样带与诱饵式远程水下视频系统，对预估的底栖生境开展实地验证。随后将两类数据源整合至空间预测建模框架中，生成可展示底质类型、生物群落结构等分布范围的精细尺度生境地图。本次调查覆盖9个研究区域，其中包括坐落于勒谢什群岛（Recherche Archipelago）内的项目最东端点位——中岛（Middle Island）。勒谢什群岛为多种陆生与海洋物种提供了栖息生境，该区域可通过从埃斯佩兰斯镇乘船抵达，或沿毗邻卡普阿里德国家公园（Cape Arid National Park）的沿海道路驾驶四驱车辆前往。