BRUVS deployments to address strategic knowledge gaps in the Oceanic Shoals bioregion 2014, Western Australia (AIMS)

Stereo Baited Remote Underwater Video Stations (BRUVS) were deployed and retrieved across targeted shallow seabed environments within and adjacent to the proposed Oceanic Shoals Commonwealth Marine Reserve (CMR) in the Timor Sea. The survey concentrated on shelf habitats (< 200m) of the Oceanic Shoals CMR and included potential biodiversity hotspots such as pinnacles, banks and shoals. The allocation of deployment positions across each shoal was conducted using a regular/random design within the bounds of the 60 m depth contour whilst maintaining a minimum distance of 250 m between each SBRUVS unit. Once the positions were derived, the sequence of deployments, in sets of eight replicate units, was determined by proximity and prevailing sea conditions on the day. A total of 76 SBRUVS deployments were conducted across the Margaret Harries Shoals; 24 at Margaret Harries east, 28 at Margaret Harries west and 24 at Margaret Harries south.The survey was undertaken by the Australian Institute of Marine Science between May 8 and May 16 2014 on the AIMS Research Vessel, RV Solander, and aimed to address strategic knowledge gaps in the Oceanic Shoals bioregion.

研究团队在帝汶海拟建的大洋浅滩联邦海洋保护区（Commonwealth Marine Reserve, CMR）及其毗邻区域的目标浅海海底生境中，布设并回收了立体诱饵式远程水下视频监测站（Stereo Baited Remote Underwater Video Stations, BRUVS，以下简称SBRUVS）。本次调查聚焦大洋浅滩联邦海洋保护区的大陆架生境（水深＜200米），涵盖海峰、海台与浅滩等潜在生物多样性热点区域。各浅滩的布设点位采用规则化/随机化设计，布设范围限定在60米等深线范围内，且各SBRUVS单元之间需保持至少250米的最小间距。点位确定后，以8个重复单元为一组的布设序列，将依据当日的点位邻近性与主导海况确定。最终在玛格丽特·哈里斯浅滩共计完成76次SBRUVS布设：其中东玛格丽特·哈里斯浅滩24次、西玛格丽特·哈里斯浅滩28次、南玛格丽特·哈里斯浅滩24次。
本次调查由澳大利亚海洋科学研究所于2014年5月8日至5月16日期间，搭载其科考船“索兰德号”（RV Solander）开展，旨在填补大洋浅滩生物地理区的关键战略认知空白。