AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Queensland - National Intertidal-Subtidal Benthic NISB Habitat Map (PLUS)

The NISB Habitat Map was created by the University of Tasmania for a partnership between the Department of Climate Change and the National Land and Water Resources Audit. It supports the DCC/Audit partnership by providing a nationally consistent set of the available mapping data for those habitats that occur between the approximate position of the highest astronomical tide mark (HAT) and the location of the outer limit of the photic benthic zone (approximately at the 50-70 m depth contour). This area is broadly equivalent to the 'inner' and 'mid-shelf' regions identified by Geoscience Australia. The resulting map data set forms a core component of the ECM National Habitat Map Series. The habitat classes include: coral reef, rock dominated habitat, sediment dominated habitat, mangroves, saltmarsh, seagrass, macroalgae and filter feeders (e.g. sponges), as defined in the NISB Habitat Classification Scheme. The scheme is designed to support the development of marine 'ecoregions' or bioregional subregions. Details of the scheme and the process of its development are available in National Intertidal/Subtidal Benthic (NISB) Habitat Classification Scheme Version 1 (Mount, Bricher and Newton, 2007). The NISB Habitat Map consists of two layers for each state. _NISB.shp consists of the entire available habitat mapping at a resolution finer than 1:50 000 (with a few exceptions, outlined in the data quality section below). _NISB_PLUS.shp consists of all the data in _NISB.shp along with coarser resolution data, including NVIS and OzEstuaries data. These layers were used to produce the National ECM Key Habitat Distribution Map Series 10 km and 50 km tile maps.
Note: This data is labelled as “NISB_plus”, indicating that it is the NISB Habitat layer plus other lower quality layers.

Tags: Australia, Queensland
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Marine Futures Project - Point Ann - reef habitat

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 Point Ann, a site which lies within the Fitzgerald Biosphere, a UNESCO designated International Biosphere Reserve and one of the largest and biologically significant National Parks in Australia (DEC) on West Australia’s south coast, approximately 180km east of Albany.

Tags: Reef habitat, research vessel
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Quantitative fish and benthic community surveys of the reefs of Malakula Island, Vanuatu

Replicate line and belt transects of various sizes were used to estimate densities of several groups of marine organisms around Malakula and associated islands in Vanuatu in 1988.The eight sites chosen for surveys were located at Atchin Island, Crab Bay, Port Sandwich (Lamap), Metai Island (Maskelyne Islands), south east, south and north west of Sakao Island (Maskelyne Islands) and Cook Bay (Maskelyne Islands).Corals, seagrass and other sessile benthic organisms were assessed using 20m line intersect transects. Each site was subdivided into a number of habitats (reef flat, reef crest, shallow slope and deep slope) and five replicate transects were positioned haphazardly within each of these habitats. Reef crests and slopes were surveyed on SCUBA while reef flats were surveyed on snorkel.Permanent transects were established on the south east side of Sakao Island.Invertebrate food and commercial resource species (various Holothurian species, clams (Tridacnidae), Trochus niloticus and Turbo marmoratus (green snail)) were also surveyed. Five (10 in some instances) haphazard 50x5m belt transects were used to survey these species in both the reef crest and reef slope habitats.Selected species of fish were quantified using 50x10m belt transect visual counts. Fish surveyed included , large non-secretive cods and coral trout (Serranidae); snappers or sea perch ( Lutjanidae); sweetlips (Haemulidae); emperors (Lethrinidae); butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae); large wrasses (Labridae); and parrotfishes (Scaridae).
 This component of the survey was designed to provide a detailed picture of marine resources around Malakula Island and associated islands.
 This research was a component of a survey of Vanuatu marine resources conducted in March/April 1988 and was funded by the Australian International Development Assistance Bureau.The objectives of the survey were1. to survey and describe the shallow water reef habitats from selected islands of Vanuatu, adequately covering geographical and environmental variation2. to survey and describe the marine habitats around the shores of Malakula, including offshore islands3. to derive a coastal management plan for Malakula and offshore islands which can serve as a basis for Coastal Zone Management plans for the rest of the country4. to train Ni-Vanuatu personnel in marine survey and marine conservation methods

Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
WAMSI Node 3.4.1 - Reef Morphology and Growth History – Eastern Ningaloo Reef (Exmouth Gulf) Development and demise of a fringing coral reef during Holocene environmental change, eastern Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

The growth history component (WAMSI Node 3.4.1) was to specifically characterise the morphology and growth history of the Ningaloo Reef system, to provide an insight into and predictive capacity for potential and future climatic changes.  
Reefs lining the western Exmouth Gulf, located at the northern limit of the 300 km long Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia, represent modern incipient coral reefs and veneers of non reef-building coral/algal communities on exposed Pleistocene or ‘give-up’ Holocene reef surfaces. 
Acquisition of sixteen cores alongside U-series TIMS dates were used to confirm the nature of the Pleistocene foundation and characterise Holocene reef development. Three calcretised Pleistocene units were identified as:
1) the Last Interglacial (MIS 5e) reef directly underlying Holocene units, 
2) a mid-Pleistocene (MIS 7?) bioclastic conglomerate unit, and 
3) a Pleistocene alluvial fanglomerate. 
Eight Holocene reef facies (total thickness of 1.8-5.3 m) included coral framework facies (domal, arborescent, mixed, tabulate and encrusting) and detrital facies (carbonate sand, skeletal rubble and alluvial fan deposits). Holocene ages range from 7.93-5.8 ka BP with vertical accretion ranging from 1.46-9.88 mm/yr (avg. 4.11 mm/yr). Highest rates of accretion and thickest accumulation occurred in the most seaward and deepest cores composed of massive coral framestone and coralline algal crusts. 
A six stage Holocene chronology is proposed, including: 
1) coastal inundation from 8-8.5 ka BP, 
2) initiation ‘start-up’ from 8-7.5 ka BP, 
3) rapid growth ‘catch-up’ and back-step from 7.5-7 ka BP, 
4) rapid aggradational growth ‘catch-up’ from 7-6.5 ka BP, 
5) reef decline ‘give-up’ and detrital buildup from 6.5-5.8 ka BP, and 
6) detrital buildup and progradation from 5.8 ka BP to present. 
Changes in reef facies and the ultimate demise of the Holocene reef probably involved a combination of increased sea-level, coastal flooding and erosion during the mid-Holocene highstand, with associated increase in sedimentation, turbidity and decline in water quality; burial by sediment buildup during the mid-Holocene highstand and detrital progradation during the mid- to late-Holocene regression; and, the introduction of alluvial sediment during cyclones and other severe storms to an already stressed community. Modern communities have thus shifted from coral-dominated to bored macroalgal pavements. 
This study shows that integration of reef development processes with response to environmental change can be used to assess future pressures on coral reef ecosystems globally.

Tags: Climate Change, Holocene Reef Growth, Land Surface | Geomorphology, Marine Features (Australia) | Exmouth Gulf, WA, Marine Features (Australia) | Ningaloo Marine Park, WA, Oceans | Marine Sediments | Carbonate Sediments, Pleistocene Foundations
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
The Ecology of Cockburn Sound - Algal Epiphytes

The presence/absence of algal epiphytes on seagrass fronds in Cockburn Sound was recorded.  Data includes the algal species, location, depth, quadrat, date.

Tags: Biosphere | Vegetation | Algae, Biosphere | Vegetation | Macrophyte, Oceans | Marine Biology | Marine Plants
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Diurnal rhythms of activity, sediment egestion and cryptic behaviour of Holothuria whitmaei (sea cucumber) at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

The diurnal rates of activity and sediment egestion on three seperate occasions in January, April and August, 2003, and the cryptic behaviour on one occasion in August, 2003 were measured to determine diurnal patterns of holothurian behaviour.

Tags: 25 416033, Biosphere | Ecological Dynamics | Diurnal Movements, Biosphere | Ecological Dynamics | Feeding Habitat, Cryptic behaviour, Holothuria whitmaei, Oceans | Marine Biology | Marine Invertebrates, Sediment egestion, black teatfish
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Investigator Strait CTD Survey April 1986

A total of 28 conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) stations were collected in Investigator Strait from 6-7  April 1986, from the ship the Wave Dancer (cruise IS05), and analysed for water temperature, salinity and sediment data. The data were digitised from the reference below.

Tags: Oceans | Ocean Temperature | Water Temperature, Oceans | Salinity/density | Salinity, depth, sea_water_salinity, sea_water_temperature, sediment_size
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Temperate Australian quantitative spatial and temporal abundance data for rocky reef biota (biodiversity): Ceduna district (SA)

The data is quantitative abundance of fish and megafaunal invertebrates and algal % cover derived from transect based counts at a wide range of locations across Temperate Australia. The methods are described in detail in Edgar and Barrett (1997). Primarily the data are derived from transects at 5 m depth and/or 10 m depth at each site surveyed. Methods were initially developed for research on temporal changes following protection in Tasmanian MPAs (Maria Is, Tinderbox, Ninepin Point, Governor Island). The data represented by this record was collected in MPA studies and surveys interstate, and was collected from the Ceduna district (SA). In many cases the dataset involved temporal replication (year scale).

Tags: Abundance - fish, Abundance - invertebrates, Carapace length - rock lobster, Fish size class, Percentage cover algal species, Shell length - abalone
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Radiolarian abundance counts from the eastern and southern Indian Ocean

Abundance counts by taxon of radiolaria from ~100 surface sediment gravity cores from the Southern and Eastern Indian Ocean collected between 1988 and 2004.

Tags: Oceans | Marine Biology | Marine Microbiota, Oceans | Ocean Chemistry | Alkalinity, Oceans | Ocean Chemistry | Dissolved Gases, Oceans | Ocean Chemistry | Nitrate, Oceans | Ocean Chemistry | Nutrients, Oceans | Ocean Chemistry | Oxygen, Paleoclimate | Ocean/lake Records | Microfossils, Radiolaria, latitude, longitude, sea_floor_depth_below_sea_surface, taxonomic_group_count
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Seasonality of asexual reproduction in Holothuria atra, Holothuria edulis and Stichopus chloronotus on the Great Barrier Reef

Asexual reproduction by fission was monitored in populations of Holothuria atra, Holothuria edulis and Stichopus chloronotus on 3 nearshore fringing reefs (Brook Island, Fantome Island and Great Palm Island) and one midshelf reef (Rib Reef) on the Great Barrier Reef between March 1995 and August 1996.Holothuria atra was monitored at Brook Island, Fantome Island, one site at Great Palm Island and Rib Reef at depths of 0.5-3 m. Stichopus chloronotus was monitored at 3 sites on Great Palm Island and at Rib Reef at depths of 0.5-3 m. Holothuria edulis, occurring at depths of 12-15 m, was monitored at one site on Great Palm Island. Monitoring of the shallow nearshore reef sites occurred every 4 to 8 weeks, while the deeper Holothuria edulis population and the populations at Rib Reef were monitored less frequently. Between 100 and 400 Holothuria atra and Stichopus chloronotus and a minimum of 60 Holothuria edulis were examined for external signs of asexual reproduction on each occasion. The number of intact individuals and recently divided specimens (with a fresh wound or with a healed wound and no regenerated anus or mouth) were recorded. Population density was estimated on one occasion at each site using belt transects between May and August 1995.In February 1995, 30 Holothuria atra, 20 Holothuria edulis and 45 Stichopus chloronotus were collected and maintained in outdoor aquaria and fission and spawning in these individuals was monitored throughout 1995.
 This study of Holothuria atra, Holothuria edulis and Stichopus chloronotus was undertaken to determine:1. the seasonality of asexual reproduction by fission2. spatial differences in fission frequency and3. the proportion of the populations reproducing by fission

Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
lpdaac-tiles-c5

The MODIS Land Cover Type product contains five classification schemes, which describe land cover properties derived from observations spanning a years input of Terra- and Aqua-MODIS data. The primary land cover scheme identifies 17 land cover classes defined by the International Geosphere Biosphere Programme (IGBP), which includes 11 natural vegetation classes, 3 developed and mosaicked land classes, and three non-vegetated land classes.

Tags: 0406 - Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience, Earth Sciences, coastal modelling, marine, model hydrodynamic, scallops
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Crown-of-thorns starfish movement and feeding electivity data

In situ time-lapse photography was used to characterise movement and feeding preferences of the Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) in the northern and southern Great Barrier Reef in 2015.
This record describes the data accompanying the publication (in press): Homing behaviour by destructive crown-of-thorns starfish is triggered by local availability of coral prey.
Data files are:
1) CoTS movement and behavioural observations
2) CoTS individual movement tracks (per image) from time-lapse photography
3) feeding electivity on coral species by CoTS from time-lapse photography

Tags: Acanthaster planci, Crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS), behaviour, coral reefs, movement, predation, random walk model, time-lapse photography
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Holothuria and Trochus surveys of Ashmore, Cartier and Mermaid Reefs

Surveys of Holothurians and Trochus were conducted at Ashmore, Cartier and Mermaid Reefs to assess the impact of Indonesian fishing pressure on the natural stocks of these organisms. The project supported by an external organisation, began in October 2000 with the initial survey of Ashmore Reef. Cartier Reef was then surveyed in November 2001. Both Cartier and Ashmore Reefs were resurveyed in May 2003. Mermaid Reef was surveyed in June 2003 to provide some control reference for relatively undisturbed populations of Trochus and Holothuria.

Tags: Field Surveys | Biological Surveys, Fishing Effects, Holothurians, Human Dimensions | Environmental Impacts, Marine Features (Australia) | Ashmore Reef, WA, Marine Features (Australia) | Mermaid Reef, WA, Oceans | Marine Environment Monitoring | Marine Obstructions, Offshore Islands (Australia) | Ashmore & Cartier Islands, Trochus
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Development of the coral index, a summary of coral reef resilience as a guide for management

This dataset provides all data utilised by the R code stored at the GitHub Repository &#39;Coral Index&#39; (link below) that provides analysis and production of figures for the manuscript Thompson A, Martin K, Logan M (2020) Development of the coral index, a summary of coral reef resilience as a guide for management. Journal of Environmental Management (in press).
The dataset includes a series of .csv files:
all.reef.csv: Benthic cover data and density of juvenile hard corals (&lt;5 cm) extracted from the AIMS Long-term Monitoring Program and Marine Monitoring Program database.
discharge.annual.csv: River discharge data for rivers adjacent to the surveyed reefs sourced from the Queensland Government Water Monitoring Information Portal
bom.month.csv: Monthly mean estimates of water quality parameters derived from satellite observations download from the Bureau of Meteorology eReefs Marine Water Quality Dashboard
waterTemp.csv: Seawater temperature logger data from coral reef sites extracted from the AIMS Temperature logger database
genus_wq_scores.csv: a parameter developed by Thompson et al. 2014 based on the distribution of coral genera along a water quality gradient used for scoring the community composition indicator
gomp.acr.2.csv, gomp.acr.5.csv, gomp.oth.2.csv, gomp.oth.5.csv: distribution of predictions for annual rate of increase in cover of Acroporidae (acr) or other hard corals (oth) at 2 m and 5 m depths derived from gompertz growth equation models used for scoring the cover change indicator
MA.limits.csv: Reef level thresholds developed for scoring the macroalgae indicator
names.lookup.csv and temperature.lookup.csv: files that enable linking of data where unique locational identifiers differ among sources.
In combination these data are used to demonstrate use of an multi indicator index of reef resilience, to quantify the impacts of acute and chronic pressures on inshore coral reefs. These data represent a timepoint capture of ongoing monitoring programs.

Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Marine Biological Survey of the Central Kimberley, Western Australia.



This report describes the results of the third and final expedition to the Kimberley to document the marine flora and fauna of the area. The expedition took place in November-December 1996 with the assistance of a grant from the National Estates Grant Program.


Twenty-four stations were examined. Detailed notes are presented on the station locations and habitat types present. At each station algae, seagrasses, molluscs, fish, crustacea and corals were collected and notes were made on the few mangroves observed in this area.


3.Five areas of particular significance were found. 
These were:
- Station 5, Hedley Island - coral pools, fish, algae and general diversity.
- Station 11, Low Water, East Montelivet - extensive coral/coralline reef flat with high diversity coral cover. Large pools, with spectacular coral cover and fish.
- Station 13, East side, Cassini Island - geomorphology and coral cover. Station 21, Wild Cat Reefs, eastern reef, west side - high algal diversity. 
- Station 22, The Breakwater, Montgomery Reef - special reef.


This report provides an extensive section outlining the coastal geomorphology of the central Kimberley.


There have been no published records of the marine algae which occur in the Kimberley. This report provides details of ca. seventy species collected during the expedition. Coralline algae are poorly known and species in this group are currently being worked on taxonomically.


One hundred and forty four species of scleractinian corals, 292 species of molluscs, 89 species of non-caridean decapod crustaceans and 80 species of caridean shrimps, 228 species of fish and 19 barnacles were recorded. Potentially new species were found in several groups.


The taxonomy of many of the groups collected is poorly known. Material was obtained for specialists in particular groups in Australia and overseas. The material has been sorted and sent to the specialists for examination and determination of species. This work is complex and time consuming, so it has not been possible to provide identifications for this report. However, the material is currently being worked up and will be presented in the scientific literature when it has been completed.



Tags: Biosphere | Vegetation | Algae, Biosphere | Zoology | Corals, Biosphere | Zoology | Crustaceans, Biosphere | Zoology | Fish, Biosphere | Zoology | Mollusks, Fauna, Field Surveys | Biological Surveys, Flora, Land Surface | Geomorphology, Marine Features (Australia) | Kimberley Coast, WA, Marine Planning Regions (Australia) | North-west, Oceans | Coastal Processes | Mangroves, Oceans | Marine Biology | Marine Plants, Seagrass, States, Territories (Australia) | Western Australia
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Top-down sea urchin overgrazing overwhelms bottom-up nutrient stimulation of urban kelp beds

Biogenic marine habitats are increasingly threatened by a multitude of human impacts, and temperate coasts in particular are exposed to progressively more intense and frequent anthropogenic stressors. In this study, the single and multiple effects of the urban stressors of nutrification and sedimentation on kelp bed communities were examined within Australia’s largest urbanised embayment (Port Phillip Bay, Victoria). Within this system, grazing by sea urchins (Heliocidaris erythrogramma) plays an important role in structuring reef communities by overgrazing kelp beds and maintaining an alternative and stable urchin barrens state. It is therefore important to explore the effects of urban stressors on kelp bed dynamics related to urchin abundance, and test the relative strengths of bottom-up and / or physical drivers (e.g. elevated nutrients and sediment) versus top-down (e.g. urchin grazing) forces on kelp bed community structure. The interactions of these drivers were assessed to determine whether their combination has synergistic, antagonistic, or additive effects on kelp beds. It was found that kelp responds positively to nutrient enhancement, but when combined with enhanced abundance of grazing sea urchins, the local positive effect of nutrient enhancement is overwhelmed by the negative effect of increased herbivory. Turf-forming algae behaved very differently, showing no detectable response to nutrification, yet showing a positive response to urchins, apparently mediated by overgrazing of canopy-forming algae that limit turf development. No direct effects of enhanced sediment load (at twice the ambient load) were found on intact kelp beds. Collectively, the results demonstrate that the ‘top-down’ control of urchin grazing locally overwhelms the positive ‘bottom-up’ effect of nutrient enhancement, and that intact kelp beds demonstrate resilience to direct impacts of urban stressors.

Tags: Ecklonia radiata, Heliocidaris erythrogramma, Temperate Reef
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network