Marine Futures Project - Geographe Bay - biota

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 Geographe Bay in the southwest Capes region. The marine environment at this location varies from extensive seagrass meadows in protected waters, to kelp-dominated granite and limestone reefs in areas of high wave energy. A small number of corals are also found throughout the region, reflecting the influence of the southward flow of the Leeuwin Current. The fish fauna is also diverse, with a high proportion of endemic species.

海洋未来项目（Marine Futures Project）旨在基于对海洋栖息地、生物多样性及其资源利用价值之间关联的深化认知，对西澳大利亚州重点海洋生态系统的当前状态开展基准评估。研究团队采用水声测绘技术（hydroacoustics）与Reson 8101多波束测深系统，完成了约1500平方千米的海底制图，并通过拖曳视频样带与诱饵式远程水下视频系统，对预设底栖生境开展实地校验。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，其中包括西南岬角地区的乔治湾（Geographe Bay）。该区域的海洋环境差异显著：受保护水域分布有大面积海草床，而在波浪能较高的区域则以巨藻主导的花岗岩、石灰岩礁为主。区域内还分布有少量珊瑚，这一现象反映了向南流动的勒温洋流（Leeuwin Current）的影响。该区域鱼类区系同样丰富多样，特有物种占比颇高。