WAMSI 2 - Kimberley Node - Project 1.1.1 - Distribution and predictors of benthic biodiversity, Western Australia

AimTo provide a better understanding of the regional biodiversity found throughout the Kimberley, identify and characterise in finer detail the major habitat types in selected coastal areas such as Camden Sound Marine Park and Bonaparte Archipelago.Four major ship-based surveys of subtidal seabed were completed in the Southern (Camden Sound), Central (Bonaparte Archipelago) and Northern (Eclipse Archipelago) Kimberly regions, to provide a representative benthic biodiversity assessment along the Kimberley ria coast. Survey methods included multibeam to characterise the seabed, Smith McIntyre grab samples to determine the nature of sediments, towed video observations of the abundance (as %cover) and diversity of benthic biota, and benthic sleds to collect biological specimens for taxonomic identification.OutcomesA habitat map identifying the mixed benthic assemblages throughout the Kimberley and a better understanding and appreciation of the importance of marine biodiversity in the Kimberley (including number of species and identification of species new to science and/or new to the region).Where possible field data was collated and combined into ESRI GIS shapefiles or georeferenced raster layers.

本数据集旨在增进对金伯利（Kimberley）全域区域生物多样性的认知，并针对选定的沿岸区域——如卡姆登桑德海洋公园（Camden Sound Marine Park）与波拿巴群岛（Bonaparte Archipelago）——的主要生境类型开展精细化识别与特征刻画。研究团队已在金伯利南部（卡姆登桑德海域）、中部（波拿巴群岛）与北部（日食群岛（Eclipse Archipelago））区域完成4次船载潮下带海底调查，以实现金伯利溺湾海岸沿线底栖生物多样性的代表性评估。本次调查采用的方法包括：利用多波束测深系统刻画海底特征，使用史密斯-麦金泰尔采泥器（Smith McIntyre grab）分析沉积物性质，通过拖曳视频观测底栖生物的丰度（以覆盖百分比计）与多样性，并借助底栖拖橇采样器（benthic sled）采集生物标本用于分类鉴定。成果产出包括：一张覆盖金伯利全域、标注混合底栖生物群落的生境地图，以及对金伯利海洋生物多样性重要性的更深入认知与理解（涵盖物种数量统计、科学新种及区域新记录种的鉴定结果）。在条件允许的情况下，野外调查数据已被整理并整合为ESRI地理信息系统（ESRI GIS）形状文件或地理参考栅格图层。