Solitary Islands Marine Park 2022-23 landform, substrate and ecosystem mapping from MBES, towed-video and sediment surveys (Temperate East)

This record details the mapping of marine 'landforms' (geomorphic features), 'substrate type', and 'ecosystems' classified using multibeam echosounder and marine LiDAR data for the Commonwealth Solitary Islands Marine Park (SIMP) during 2022-23.

Mapping was conducted using multibeam echosounder (MBES), towed-video and sediment surveys. A bathymetry mosaic was generated using data sourced from the NSW DCCEEW bathymetry mosaic (https://datasets.seed.nsw.gov.au/dataset/aa8f268e-a23d-4d27-b046-f60c45f8349b), updated with MBES data collected within SIMP in 2023. Coupled with sediment sampling and towed video surveys, the data was used to: 1) ground-truth the MBES data, 2) map the extent and characterise the diversity of unconsolidated seabed types; and, 3) map the extent of rocky reefs and characterise sessile invertebrate diversity within these reef-dominated areas. 

Seabed ‘landforms’ were derived from the bathymetry mosaic using the Seabed Landforms Classification Toolbox (Linklater et al. 2023). Landform features were subsequently grouped into 'hard' and 'soft' features according to the Seamap Australia National Benthic Habitat Classification Scheme (Lucieer et al. 2019), and additionally labelled with depth zonation to conform to the NESP Natural Values Common Language (Hayes et al. 2021).

This package contains a synthesised seabed classification dataset, with three additional contextual datasets:
• ‘SIMP_SeabedClassified’ defines seabed landforms, and reef and sediment areas delineated by depth intervals (10 m increments) classified according to the Parks Australia Natural Values Ecosystems and Seamap Australia Substratum component. See also https://datasets.seed.nsw.gov.au/dataset/f0e83f61-3790-4707-8dfe-2e505fbf3fd3
• ‘SIMP_BathyMosaicSources’ outlines the source coverages of the input bathymetric mosaic (also appended to the synthesised seabed classification dataset described above). See https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/149091 for access to bathymetry and backscatter survey data.
• 'SIMP_TowedVideoSubClass' provides point classifications of the primary seabed substrate from still images derived from towed videos. See https://squidle.org/geodata/explore#map for annotated imagery.
• 'SIMP_Sediments_Metadata' provides the location and associated metadata of sediment grabs. See https://pid.geoscience.gov.au/dataset/ga/69869 for access to the analysed sediment data in the MARS database.

The 'Lineage' section of this record provides full methodology and a data dictionary.

Surveys were funded by Parks Australia's Director of Marine Parks (Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water) and completed under contract to the New South Wales Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. See Final Project Report: https://australianmarineparks.gov.au/static/734c97e56886d93a15c611222d227b33/amp-simp2024-report.pdf

References:

Lucieer, V., Barrett, N., Butler, C. et al. (2019). A seafloor habitat map for the Australian continental shelf. Sci Data 6, 120. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-019-0126-2

Hayes, K.R., Dunstan, P., Woolley, S. et al. (2021). Designing a targeted monitoring program to support evidence based management of Australian Marine Parks: A pilot on the South-East Marine Parks Network. Report to Parks Australia and the National Environmental Science Program, Marine Biodiversity Hub. Parks Australia, University of Tasmanian and CSIRO, Hobart, Australia, https://www.nespmarine.edu.au/system/files/Hayes%20et%20al_SS2_M8_D7_M4_Designing%20a%20targeted%20monitoring%20program%20to%20support%20evidence-based%20management%20of%20AMPs.pdf.

Linklater, M, Morris, B.D. and Hanslow, D.J. (2023). Classification of seabed landforms on continental and island shelves. Frontiers of Marine Science, 10, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1258556.

Tags: Antipatharia, Bryzoa, Cnidaria, Gumbayngyirr, Octocoralia, Porifera, Solitary Islands, Sub-tropical, Temperate, Temperate East, Tweed-Moreton Bioregion, Yaegl, benthic invertebrates, habitat mapping, marine, seabed
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network