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.

本数据集旨在深化对金伯利（Kimberley）全域区域生物多样性的认知，并对选定沿海区域（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。研究团队在金伯利南部（卡姆登桑德）、中部（波拿巴群岛）与北部（日食群岛（Eclipse Archipelago））海域完成了4次船基潮下带底栖海底调查，以实现金伯利溺湾海岸带底栖生物多样性的代表性评估。本次调查采用多波束测深技术刻画海底特征、史密斯-麦金太尔采泥器（Smith McIntyre grab）采集沉积物样本以分析底质属性、拖曳式视频观测系统记录底栖生物的覆盖占比与群落多样性，并使用底栖采样橇采集生物标本用于分类学鉴定。本数据集产出了覆盖金伯利全域的混合底栖生物群落生境地图，并深化了对金伯利海洋生物多样性重要性的认知与理解，其中涵盖物种数量统计以及科学新种或区域新记录物种的鉴定结果。在条件允许的情况下，实地调查数据已被整理整合为ESRI GIS形状文件（ESRI GIS shapefiles）或地理参考栅格图层。