Benthic Biota of Northern Australia: \nSS2012t07 Post-survey Report

We undertook a biological data acquisition program as part of the transit of the R.V. Southern Surveyor between Darwin and Cairns 15-24 October 2012. The overarching aim of this program was to use an ROV and benthic sled to collect benthic marine information and specimens for biodiversity and biodiscovery research in areas previously mapped by Geoscience Australia during survey GA-276, including a bank (Area I) and terrace/hole feature within the proposed Wessel Islands CMR (Area II). This study focuses on sessile invertebrates such as sponges and octocorals due to their ecological importance as habitat providers and their chemical importance as sources of marine natural products and medicines.\n\nIn less than 24 hours of sampling effort, survey SS2012/t07 resulted in 261 voucher specimens which will be used for biodiversity and natural products research. A total of 49 samples are to be lodged at the ABL, and samples with weights larger than 300 g will be sent to the NCI for screening of active compounds against cancer and HIV. Sponges were the most abundant group collected based on both biomass (~ 139 kg) and number of voucher specimens (93), followed by cnidarians (30 kg, 73 vouchers), particularly hard corals (23 kg, 11 vouchers). As expected the top of the bank in Area I had a seemingly diverse and abundant sessile invertebrate community, with consistent patchy occurrence of sponges, octocorals, and hard corals. The terrace at in Area II supports moderate densities of sponges and octocorals, while the adjacent deep hole at ~ 100 m seems to be covered with muddy gravel and supports scattered mobile and sedentary invertebrates, of which crinoids dominate, as well as skates and numerous small demersal fish.\n\nYou can also purchase hard copies of Geoscience Australia data and other products at http://www.ga.gov.au/products-services/how-to-order-products/sales-centre.html

2012年10月15日至24日，我们依托“南方考察号”（R.V. Southern Surveyor）科考船在达尔文与凯恩斯之间的航次开展了一项生物数据采集项目，作为该航次的配套工作。本项目的核心目标为，借助遥控水下机器人（Remotely Operated Vehicle, ROV）与底栖采样器（benthic sled），在澳大利亚地质调查局（Geoscience Australia）此前通过GA-276航次测绘的海域内，采集底栖海洋数据与样本，用于生物多样性及生物勘探研究；该海域涵盖一处滩涂（I区）以及拟建韦塞尔群岛CMR（Wessel Islands CMR）内的台地/海洞地貌（II区）。本研究聚焦于海绵、八放珊瑚等固着无脊椎动物——此类生物既是重要的栖息地提供者，同时也是海洋天然产物与药物的潜在化学来源，具备极高的生态与化学研究价值。

在累计不足24小时的采样作业中，SS2012/t07航次共采集到261份凭证标本（voucher specimens），将用于生物多样性与天然产物相关研究。共计49份样本将留存于ABL，而重量超过300克的样本将被送往NCI，用于针对癌症与HIV的活性化合物筛选。从生物量（约139千克）与凭证标本数量（93份）两方面来看，海绵均为本次采集量最丰富的类群；其次为刺胞动物（30千克，73份标本），其中以硬珊瑚居多（23千克，11份标本）。正如预期，I区滩涂顶部的固着无脊椎动物群落多样性与丰度均较高，海绵、八放珊瑚与硬珊瑚呈稳定的斑块状分布。II区台地的海绵与八放珊瑚密度中等；而毗邻的约100米深海洞区域以含泥砾石为主要底质，栖息着零散分布的移动与固着无脊椎动物，其中海百合（crinoids）为优势类群，同时可见鳐类（skates）与大量小型底栖鱼类（demersal fish）。

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