Seagrass and associated benthic community data derived from field surveys at Low Isles, Great Barrier Reef, conducted July-August, 1997.

The distribution of seagrass and associated benthic communities on the reef and lagoon of Low Isles, Great Barrier Reef, was mapped between the 29 July and 29 August 1997. For this survey, observers walked or free-dived at survey points positioned approximately 50 m apart along a series of transects. Visual estimates of above-ground seagrass biomass and % cover of each benthos and substrate type were recorded at each survey point. A differential handheld global positioning system (GPS) was used to locate each survey point (accuracy 3m). A total of 349 benthic survey points were examined. To assist with mapping meadow/habitat type boundaries, an additional 177 field points were assessed and a georeferenced 1:12,000 aerial photograph (26th August 1997) was used as a secondary source of information. Bathymetric data (elevation below Mean Sea Level) measured at each point assessed and from Ellison (1997) supplemented information used to determine boundaries, particularly in the subtidal lagoon. 127.8 29.6 hectares was mapped.
Survey details and original data from https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.858945

1997年7月29日至8月29日期间，研究团队对大堡礁洛岛（Low Isles）的礁体与泻湖区域内的海草及其伴生底栖群落的分布状况完成了测绘制图。本次调查中，调查人员沿一系列样带，在间距约50米的调查点位上步行或开展自由潜水作业。在每个调查点位，研究人员均记录了地上海草生物量的目视估算结果，以及各类底栖生物与底质类型的盖度百分比。调查点位的定位采用差分手持全球定位系统（GPS），定位精度为3米。本次调查共完成349个底栖调查点位的观测工作。为辅助划定草甸/生境类型的边界，研究人员额外踏勘了177个野外点位，并以1997年8月26日拍摄的地理参考1:12000航空照片作为辅助信息源。各点位测得的水深数据（平均海平面以下的高程值）以及Ellison（1997）的相关补充数据，被用于确定群落分布边界，该补充数据在潮下带泻湖的边界划定中尤为关键。本次测绘覆盖总面积为127.8 29.6公顷。本调查的详细信息与原始数据可通过以下链接获取：https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.858945