AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Status of fringing reefs in the Northumberland Islands, southern Great Barrier Reef

Fringing reefs surrounding islands within the Northumberland Islands group were surveyed in September 2000. The Northumberland Islands occupy a relatively large area (approx 9000 km²). In order to get good geographic coverage of reefs, a sub-sample of islands was targeted within three distinct zones at various distances from Broad Sound and the coast.The study zones were:1. near-shore islands immediately adjacent to the coast (within 3km, Temple Island group and West Hill Island)2. mid-shore islands located approximately midway between the coast and the outer limit of the Northumberland Islands (Knight Island, Curlew Island and Poynter Island)3. offshore islands on the seaward side of the Northumberland Islands group bordering the lagoon of the GBR (Prudhoe Island, Pine Peak Island and South Percy Island).Surveys used one or more of the following techniques to gain a broadscale overview of reef habitat around island perimeters and to identify areas of fringing reef that would be suitable for long-term monitoring:1. Broadscale surveys used manta tow or, if visibility was less than 6m, spot checks. For manta tow surveys, the variables recorded included crown-of-thorns starfish counts, estimates of live coral, dead coral and soft coral cover, and the number of bleached corals. During spot checks, observers recorded substrate type and associated benthic organisms, but did not estimate coral cover.2. Detailed surveys were carried out along a series of 50m transects at each reef. Benthic organisms occurring along the transects were recorded on video for later analysis. Fish were also identified along each transect, however fish abundance was not recorded.
 The objectives of this research were:1. to provide an assessment of the status of coral and reef fish communities around a variety of islands within the Northumberland Islands group.2. To provide an interpretation of those data in terms of:a) how the Northumberland Islands reef biota compare with reef assemblages in other regions within the GBRb) the comparative biological/ecological value of the Northumberland Island's reefs c) historical comparisons of reef status (where data is available) to indicate current reef trajectoriesd) options for long-term monitoring of these reefs.

Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
The distribution of coral communities across the central Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea

During 1980 -1981, the coral communities on 2 inner-shelf reefs (Pandora Reef and Phillips Reef), 3 mid-shelf reefs (Rib Reef, John Brewer Reef and Lodestone Reef), 3 outer-shelf reefs (Myrmidon Reef, Dip Reef and Bowl Reef) and 2 Coral Sea reefs (South West Flinders Reef and South Flinders Reef) were surveyed. These reefs were located approximately 10, 50, 100 and 200 km offshore along a transect across the central Great Barrier Reef into the Coral Sea.At each reef, transects which crossed all major habitats to a depth of 30m, were identified using aerial photographs and manta tow. Survey sites, covering an area of 100-500 m², were chosen along each transect where visible differences in reef topography were observed.At each site a checklist of corals (including Scleractinia, the non-scleractinian genera Millepora and Tubipora musica (Alcyonaria)) was compiled and each species assigned a score based on estimates of its relative percentage cover. Estimates were also made of the total hard and soft coral cover. Depth, slope, substratum and general topography were recorded.For each reef, the reef type, depth of the adjacent sea, gradient of the reef slope, depth of the lagoon, height of incident waves, water transparency and sediment type were recorded.
 This research was undertaken to describe large scale patterns in the distribution of coral communities across the continental shelf in the central region of the Great Barrier Reef and into the Coral Sea. Factors considered included the hydrodynamic regime, water transparency and position of reefs on the onshore-offshore transect.

Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Ecology of the Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) in Shark Bay.

Tiger sharks, Galeocerdo cuvier, are apex predators in a variety of nearshore ecosystems throughout the world. This study investigates the biology of tiger sharks in the shallow seagrass ecosystem of Shark Bay, Western Australia. Tiger sharks (n = 252) were the most commonly caught species (94%) compared to other large sharks. Tiger sharks ranged from 148-407cm TL. The overall sex ratio was biased towards females (1.8:1), but the sex ratio of mature animals (&gt; 300cm TL) did not differ from 1:1. Contrary to previous accounts, tiger sharks were caught more often in all habitats during daylight hours than at night. Tiger shark catch rates were highly correlated with water temperature and were highest when water temperatures were above 19°C. The seasonal abundance of tiger sharks is correlated to both water temperature and the occurrence of their main prey: sea snakes and dugongs, Dugong dugon. Stomach contents analysis indicated that sea turtles and smaller elasmobranchs were also common prey. The importance of major seagrass grazers (dugongs and green sea turtles, Chelonia mydas) in the diet of tiger sharks suggests the possibility that these sharks are keystone predators in this ecosystem.

Tags: Biosphere | Ecological Dynamics | Predation, Dugong, Keystone Predator, Marine Features (Australia) | Shark Bay, WA, Predator-Prey Interactions, Sea Turtles, Tiger Sharks
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
EPA Environmental Scoping Document for Pluto LNG Development

Prepared for submission to the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority to initiate the State environmental approval process under the Environmental Protection Act, for the proposed Pluto LNG Development.
Referral and Scoping document which includes a summary of the Pluto LNG Development.

Tags: Fauna, Flora, Geology, Hydrosphere | Ground Water, Hydrosphere | Ground Water | Drainage, Land Surface | Soils, Land Surface | Topography | Landforms
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Surveys of deepwater surface sediments using a van Veen Grab in Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia (WAMSI Node 3 Project 1 Subproject 3.1.1)

A total of 335 sediment samples were collected over the 2006/2007 surveys providing broad coverage of Ningaloo Marine Park. Sampling sites were chosen to include geomorphic provinces across the shelf from the base of the fore reef slope/inner shelf to the outer continental shelf/upper slope. A widely spaced systematic grid of samples was used in order to characterise each region and these were stratified by depth contours across the shelf up to the edge of Ningaloo Marine Park State boundary. Positions were fixed using a Global Positioning System (GPS) and imported directly into ArcGISTM for live onboard spatial analysis. Grabs were dropped at or close to towed video stations to obtain habitat linkages to surficial sediment facies, and infer biological activity and sediment transport pathways from sedimentary bedforms identified on the towed video data.
 Physical factors including geomorphology, sediment composition, mobility of substrate, bathymetry, the hardness and roughness of the seabed and water depth will be significant in describing the distribution of benthic biota and classifying habitat types over the region. The relationships determined at this scale will improve our understanding of habitat variability and be used to aid in the production of offshore habitat maps for Ningaloo Marine Park.The sediment/substrate data will provide ground-truthing and add value to the acoustic backscatter data from the single and multi beam surveys completed in 2006/2007.
 The van Veen grab sampler collects surface and subsurface material to a depth of ~10 cm.Sediment fractions were separated for; grain size, component analysis, taxonomy of main biological constituents, and X - ray diffraction (XRD) for the determination of ratios of carbonate mineralogy.

Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Spatially variable effects of copper on sessile invertebrates across a marina

A manipulative field experiment was used to assess the spatial variation in the effect of copper on sessile invertebrates within a marina in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria. Sessile invertebrate assemblages were grown on perspex plates for 6 weeks and then dosed with plaster blocks impregnated with copper sulfate. After 1 week of exposure to the copper the plates were collected and the numbers of sponges, polychaetes, barnacles, bryozoans and ascidians were counted on each plate. The variation in abundances of individual taxa were estimated at spatial scales of metres. Water flow was measured as a possible explanation for the variation in the effects of copper. 
Three of the 20 sessile invertebrates species showed significant small scale variation in the effect of copper. The effects of copper on these species varied in magnitude and direction. Water flow did not explain the variation in the effects of copper. It is suggested that variations in organic or inorganic compounds or in pH levels may provide alternative explanations for the spatially variable effects of copper in the marina.

Tags: Biosphere | Ecological Dynamics | Community Structure, Oceans | Marine Biology | Marine Invertebrates, Port Phillip Bay, Sandringham Yacht Club, taxonomic_group_count, water_flow
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Draft - WAMSI 2 - Dredging Node - 5.5 - Defining thresholds and indicators of primary producers - Seagrass pressure-response relationships - Experiment 2

Objectives of Project 5.5 are to:
(1) determining the pressure:response relationships that relate the effects of dredging-generated sediments on tropical primary producers, 
(2) examine the pathways, rates and timeframes of recovery from impacts and; 
(3) identify and examine the effects of key environmental variables on the pressure:response relationships and recovery.
Specifically Experiment 2 will be studying "Effect of different intensity &amp; duration of sediment deposition on seagrasses (Laboratory and Field Experiment)"

Tags: Biosphere | Aquatic Habitat | Benthic Habitat, Oceans | Coastal Processes | Sediment Transport, Oceans | Marine Biology | Marine Plants, Oceans | Marine Sediments | Turbidity, Oceans | Water Quality | Light Transmission, TBC
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Determining the grainsize of sediment with increasing depth in core GC12, located in the Capricorn Channel

A gravity core (GC12) was collected from a depth of 990.5 mbsl within the Capricorn Channel, southern Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Samples were separated into different size fractions to determine the % of each grainsize at each sample depth. Although not overly accurate, the information is correlated with analyses of other parameters to impart clues to the environmental changes within the core. The smallest size fraction (&lt;100µm) dominates at all depths, with an average of 95% in this size bracket at the base of the core. A peak in the larger grainsize fraction at 490cm is the result of a pteropod layer within the sediments. These pteropod accumulations are regular features within the cores. The exact reason for their occurence is unknown.

Tags: Oceans | Marine Sediments | Sediment Grain Size, core_depth, grainsize_size_category
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Derwent Estuary Ambient Water Quality monitoring program - Site RBS

Site RBS is sampled monthly by the Derwent Estuary Program as part of the  Derwent Ambient Water Quality monitoring program.
Since 2003, ambient water quality monitoring has been carried out on a monthly basis at up to 28 sites throughout the Derwent estuary by Norske Skog Boyer, Nyrstar Hobart and the State Government. Monitoring is carried out by three different boat-based sampling parties, but is co-ordinated to occur on the same day each month. 
At each site, in-situ field measurements are taken using calibrated sensors for temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen and turbidity. Water clarity is also measured using a secchi disk. Surface and bottom water samples are collected for analysis of true color, total suspended solids(TSS), total  and dissolved nutrients, organic carbon and zinc. at most sites, depth integrated samples are also collected for chlorophyll a using a plastic tube. Bottom samples in the Middle and Outer estuary are collected using a niskin bottle. Pumps are used in the upper estuary site to fill up the bottles. All water samples are analysed at Analytical Service Tasmania, a National Association of Testing Authorities-accredited laboratory. Monitoring site depth is 2 meters

Tags: Derwent Estuary, Hydrolab Vertical Profiler, Niskin Bottles, Oceans | Ocean Chemistry | Ammonia, Oceans | Ocean Chemistry | Nitrate, Oceans | Ocean Chemistry | Nitrite, Oceans | Ocean Chemistry | Phosphate, Oceans | Ocean Optics | Secchi Depth, Oceans | Salinity/density | Salinity, Oceans | Water Quality | Chlorophyll, Oceans | Water Quality | Conductivity, Oceans | Water Quality | Nitrogen Compounds, Oceans | Water Quality | Oxygen, Oceans | Water Quality | Ph, Oceans | Water Quality | Phosphorous Compounds, Oceans | Water Quality | Suspended Solids, Oceans | Water Quality | Trace Metals, Oceans | Water Quality | Turbidity, Oceans | Water Quality | Water Temperature, Secchi Disks, True Colour, sea_water_salinity, sea_water_temperature
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Fast Repetition Rate Fluorometry (FRRF) data collected on the RV L'Astrolabe from 27/02/2008 to 02/03/2008 (Dumont d'Urville - Hobart)

These data were collected on the RV L'Astrolabe (platform code: FHZI) from 27/02/2008 to 02/03/2008 on a trip from Dumont D'Urville to Hobart.
Maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII), also called maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm), has become one of the most widely utilized fluorescence parameters in phytoplankton research. It represents the potential photochemical efficiency, which is the probability that the light energy captured by the photosynthetic apparatus is being utilized as photochemistry. Fv/Fm has been shown to have an instant response to variations in physical and chemical properties and is interpreted as a diagnostic of the overall health or competence of phytoplankton. Together with the absorption cross section area of PSII and chlorophyll concentration, it can be used to measure primary production (Cheah et al. 2011, Deep Sea Research).
Seawater from 3 m depth was supplied continuously from the ship’s clean seawater line. FRR fluorescence yields were measured continuously at 1 minute intervals in dark-adapted state (! 15 minutes dark-adaptation) using a flash sequence consisting of a series of 100 subsaturation flashlets (1.1 μs flash duration and 2.8 μs interflash period) and a series of 20 relaxation flashlets (1.1 μs flash duration and 51.6 μs interflash period).

Tags: Continents | Antarctica, Countries | Australia, Fast Repetition Rate Fluorometer (FRRF), Global/Oceans | Southern Ocean, Instrument's photomultiplier electronic sensitivity (1-256), Latitude, Longitude, Maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm), Minimum fluorescence in the light chamber of the FRRF (also used as a proxy for biomass), Oceans | Ocean Temperature | Sea Surface Temperature, Oceans | Salinity/density | Salinity, Photosynthesis, connectivity between PSII reaction centres under actinic light, functional absorption cross section of PSII (measure of the proportion of light harvested for photoc, maximum fluorescence in the light chamber of the FRRF, maximum quantum yield of photosystem II ( (FmL - FoL) / FmL), primary production, time constant of electron transport from PSII to PSI, variable fluorescence (FmL - FoL)
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Zooplankton, planktivorous fish and currents at Davies Reef, Great Barrier Reef

On each sampling date (10-18 August, 10-18 September, 1-9 November, 1-4 December 1976, and 18-23 May 1977) during the 2-3 h of peak flow of the ebb and flood tides, fine-scale water speeds and directions from the surface down to about 23 m were measured; zooplankton was collected from 7 transects at stations located in front of (A), close to (B), and on top of the reef (C); and planktivorous fish were collected for gut content analysis from stations A-C and station D (behind the reef face).Gut contents were analysed from 240 individual fish from the 15 most common species (out of 37 species observed). Gut contents comprised copepods, larvaceans, salps, forams, miscellaneous crustacea, amphipods, gastropods, coral planulae, chaetognaths, polychaetes, pteropods, fish scales. Other mention is made to doliolids, heteropods, gastropod larvae, filamentous algae, fish eggs, and gelatinous material with reference to fish species in the text.Total numbers of zooplankton were recorded, 93 samples of plankton were processed for ash-free dry weights, and density (numbers m-3) calculated for 19 separate taxonomic categories in 60 separate plankton samples. Only 5 of these categories (Salps, Larvaceans, Copepods, Medusae, Forams) together with biomass are presented in the paper (the other categories showed no cross-reef trends or contained too few individuals for analysis). Densities for fish species that were not exceptionally aggregated or higly motile (Chromis, Caesio and Pterocaesio species) were determined at five depth intervals.The fine-scale water currents were measured at chest height on the fore reef face by releasing several milliliters of fluorescein dye and recording the compass direction of flow and the time the dye took to flow 1 m.
 This research was undertaken to test if planktivorous fishes on the windward reef face remove most of the zooplankton from the water near the reef face.

Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Determination of pteridines and flavins in seawater from Davies Reef, Great Barrier Reef

Individual pteridines and flavins from marine waters were analysed at picomolar concentrations. Samples were concentrated by adsorption on bonded-phase, C18 silica and Florisil Sep-Pak extraction columns connected in series.Sample extracts were analysed by reverse-phase liquid chromatography with fluorometric detection enabling quantitative identification of pteridines and flavins from reef waters at Davies Reef on Great Barrier Reef. Retention times, percent recovery, relative molar fluorescence and detection limits were recorded for each component.The application of these methods to the measurement of pterin and flavin excretion from several reef-dwelling, benthic organisms (the coral Acropora sp. and sponge Phyllopsongia sp.) was tested in some experiments.
 To examine the presence of flavin in pteridine micronutirients in coral reef waters.
 Pteridines: 6-biopterin, 6-hydroxymethylpterin, isoxanthopterin, Lumazine, Lumazine-6-carboxylic acid, pterin, pterin-6-carboxylic acid, xanthopterin.Flavins: lumiflavin, lumichrome, riboflavin, riboflavin-5-phosphate.

Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
IMOS - Ocean Gliders - Slocum glider deployment in Western Australia off Two Rocks (February - March 2009)

The dataset contains temperature, salinity and biological parameters like for example dissolved oxygen and turbidity data measured by a Slocum glider in the region of Two Rocks (Western Australia).
The Ocean Gliders Facility (formerly known as the Australian National Facility for Ocean Gliders (ANFOG)), manages Slocum gliders to be deployed on the continental shelf.
The variables available in this dataset are:
Temperature, salinity, conductivity, density, pressure, chromophoric dissolved oxygen matter, dissolved oxygen, fluorescence and backscatter coefficient at 660nm.

Tags: CTD (Conductivity-Temperature-Depth Profilers), Coloured Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM), Countries | Australia, Fluorometers, Glider, IMOS Node | Bluewater and Climate, Oceans | Ocean Chemistry | Chlorophyll, Oceans | Ocean Chemistry | Oxygen, Oceans | Ocean Chemistry | Suspended Solids, Oceans | Ocean Circulation | Ocean Currents, Oceans | Ocean Optics | Fluorescence, Oceans | Ocean Optics | Turbidity, Oceans | Ocean Temperature | Water Temperature, Oceans | Salinity/density | Conductivity, Slocum Glider, States, Territories (Australia) | Western Australia, concentration_of_coloured_dissolved_organic_matter, fluorescence_in_sea_water, mass_concentration_of_oxygen_in_sea_water, sea_water_electrical_conductivity, sea_water_pressure, sea_water_salinity, sea_water_temperature, volumetric_backscatter_coefficient
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Radiated Underwater Noise Measured from Drilling Rigs, Rig Tenders, a Fishing Vessel and Natural Sources in Timor Sea.

Radiated Underwater Noise Measured from the Drilling Rig, Ocean Legend, Rig Tenders, Pacific Ariki and Pacific Frontier, Fishing Vessel Reef Venturer and Natural Sources in Timor Sea, Northern Australia.

Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Organic matter oxidation and sediment chemistry, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

Sampling stations were in the open lagoon of Mangrove Bay (on the the upper west coast of North West Cape), and within the back-lagoon of Ningaloo Reef.At each station, triplicate sediment cores were taken for interstitial sulphate and hydrogen sulphide; dissolved metals (Ca, Mg, Sr, Mn, Fe); total alkalinity; dissolved inorganic and photo-oxidizable nutrients and Cl-; DOC; solid-phase nutrients (TOC, Toal N, P, Fe and S); and sulphate reduction (the last used a different set of cores). Duplicate cores were taken for pH and Eh measurements. Other samples were taken at each site for benthic respiration (C02 and O2), grain size, porosity and temperature. Sediment characteristics were recorded as percent sand, silt, clay or CaCO3.Samples were collected during November 1993 and October 1994.
 To compare and contrast microbial decomposition of organic matter and sediment chimistry in lagoonal sands of a sheltered sanctuary zone (Mangrove Bay) with sands composed mainly of reef-derived carbonates in the intertidal back-lagoon of Ningaloo Reef.

Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
GBRHIN: Heron Island North Shelf Mooring component of the GBR Mooring Array

GBRHIN: Heron Island North Shelf Mooring component of the GBR Mooring Array.
 Southern GBR - Heron and One Tree Island MooringsIn the southern Capricorn region, the mooring pair is located around Heron Island with the mooring to the seaward side of One Tree Island (GBROTE) being located on the shelf break, while the one on the shelf south of Heron Island (GBRHIS) is on the outer shelf. The aim is to look at how the East Australian Current interacts with the outer shelf reefs and to better understand the complex intrusions and mixing processes occurring in this region. An additional mooring is located on the shelf to the north of Heron Island (GBRHIN).
 The Mooring array is part of the GBROOS or Great Barrier Reef Ocean Observing System project which in turn is part of the Australian Integrated Marine Observing System or IMOS.

Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Shell cross sections of the bivalve Ostrea angasi collected from Little Swanport, Tasmania

Petrological and some geochemical analysis methods require the sample to be made into a thin or thick section. This record provides a series of shell cross-sectional images and also outlines the process involved in thin/thick section preparation. 
This is part of a project that assesses the viability of interpretating environmental records (such as temperature, salinity and heavy metal pollution) from shell geochemistry through trace element and isotopic analysis.

Tags: 23257002, Biosphere | Zoology | Mollusks, Oceans | Ocean Chemistry | Trace Elements, Ostrea (Eostrea) angasi, Paleoclimate | Ocean/lake Records | Isotopes
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network