2023
Type of resources
Topics
Keywords
Contact for the resource
Provided by
Years
-
This record provides an overview of the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub Research Plan 2023 project "Delineation and estimation of the Maugean skate population in Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania". For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata. -------------------- The endangered Maugean skate is now only found in Macquarie Harbour, which has a long history of environmental degradation, and recent research suggests that the population may be declining. However, our current abundance estimation tools are inadequate to determine population status and a new method is needed. This project will use next generation genetic sequencing and novel imaging survey tools to delineate and estimate the size of the Macquarie Harbour Maugean skate population to inform conservation strategies. There is also a need to investigate the evolutionary potential of the Maugean skate to adapt to the changing environmental conditions. This research will address these needs by examining the skate's genetic diversity and fine-scale population structure using whole genome typing, and developing a high-resolution dataset of genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms. This genetic approach will help inform adaptive management strategies, such as captive breeding, and enhance our ability to detect differentiated lineages with adaptive potential. Outputs • Tissue sampling results and genome-wide population genetic structure [dataset] • Adaptive resolution imaging sonar (ARIS) and lidar water column scanning [dataset] • Final project report [written]
-
There is an ongoing need for a national index of bathymetry survey coverage in Australian waters. The Marine National Facility (MNF) is Australia's dedicated blue-water research facility, and collects the largest body of publicly-accessible multibeam bathymetry (MBES) data in Australian waters. MNF survey data is routinely published in a raw (unprocessed) form shortly following MNF survey completion by CSIRO's Geophysical Survey and Mapping (GSM) group (https://www.cmar.csiro.au/data/gsm/). Geoscience Australia's AusSeabed initiative (https://ausseabed.gov.au/) works with CSIRO to make MNF MBES data available as maps and for download in gridded format at resolutions specified by the Australian Multibeam Guidelines (https://www.ausseabed.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/95887/Multibeam-Guidelines_v2.pdf). Once gridded MBES data is published, its survey coverage (spatial footprint) is collated into nationally aggregated bathymetry acquisitions maps (e.g. see https://metadata.imas.utas.edu.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search#/metadata/bfaac2bc-0c11-4991-b0fa-2a1dc7fd6e61). This spatial resource is important for research, marine managers, industry, and environmental impact assessment sectors as it provides an overview of the state of research knowledge of the physical seafloor environment in key areas of interest within Australia's vast marine estate. There is a considerable lag between MBES data being made available in L2 specialist format (typically ASCII XYZ), and being processed into a gridded format (e.g. GeoTIFF) following the Australian Multibeam Guidelines resolution specifications. This leaves some uncertainty about the location and coverage of more recently collected MBES data that has yet to be processed and publicly released in a gridded format. This dataset is a compilation of MNF voyage tracks (available through the CSIRO data trawler: https://www.cmar.csiro.au/data/trawler/) from the last 5 calendar years. The dataset will be periodically updated to reflect new voyage tracks; and to remove voyage tracks >5 years old. See 'Last Update' timestamp for an indication of currency. This record will be unpublished at such time that an automated process is developed to update national bathymetry survey coverage databases.
-
This dataset contains polygon extents of all known bathymetry surveys and bathymetry compilations in Australia's marine jurisdiction, including the Australian Antarctic Territory. Each polygon includes metadata identifying attributes, contact details, information on the public availability of data, and (in the case of published data) gridded resolution. The following data sources have been used as inputs: • AusSeabed 'Bathymetry Acquisitions Coverage (Dynamic)' (https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/148613) • AusSeabed 'Bathymetry Compilations Coverage (Dynamic)' (https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/148614) • computed footprints (suffixed by _L0_Coverage) of bathymetry data published through AusSeabed Warehouse Geoserver (https://warehouse.ausseabed.gov.au/geoserver) • computed footprints (suffixed by _BBOX) of bathymetry data published through CSIRO Geoserver (https://www.cmar.csiro.au/geoserver) • manually computed footprints of bathymetry data published through other online repositories: WA Bathymetry Portal (https://dot-wa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=d58dd77d85654783b5fc8c775953c69b), the Australian Ocean Data Network (https://portal.aodn.org.au) and the NSW SEED Portal (https://www.seed.nsw.gov.au) This dataset was generated to enable reporting for Seamap Australia's 'State of Knowledge' functionality (https://seamapaustralia.org/map/), as existing coverage information does not contain metadata on gridding resolution. The dataset is live and will be continually updated as new surveys are conducted and new coverage information becomes available. Gridding resolution will be appended to existing survey extents when historical surveys are published. This dataset is updated regularly (date of last update: 18/09/2024) and will be maintained in perpetuity until such time that the information required for Seamap Australia's 'State of Knowledge' functionality is delivered through an alternative mechanism. Note that a degree of spatial simplification has been conducted to reduce filesize and polygon complexity. All efforts have been made to maintain true survey extent (area-preserving simplification has been used), but polygons may not be representative of the true survey extents, particularly in the case of reported extents from unpublished surveys which cannot be verified.
-
This record provides an overview of the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub project "Advancing national standards and best practices to monitor key marine values and pressures". No data outputs were generated by this project. -------------------- This project advances the establishment and use of national standards and best practices to monitor the condition status of priority values and pressures of Australia’s marine estate. It builds on national standards and best practice process developed in the previous NESP Marine Biodiversity Hub to produce three new national standards for monitoring (drop cameras, socioeconomic surveys of marine users, marine microplastics). A practical implementation was developed to embed the application of standards, with particular attention to inclusive and diverse approaches (e.g. engagement of community groups and Indigenous partnerships). The plan sets out a future path to develop, maintain and make available national standards; increase their uptake; and assess effectiveness and impact as related to the delivery of priority monitoring activities. Outputs • Workshop and questionnaire report gauging the needs of scientists, Indigenous communities, and marine managers [written] • Scientific publication on marine best practice development [written] • New national standards for (1) drop cameras; (2) socioeconomic surveys; and (3) microplastics studies [written] • Implementation plan (final report) [written]
-
Aquatic flora surveys were conducted in the Leschenault Estuary in April 2009. This data is part of the 2013 report "Synthesis of seagrass mapping studies" conducted by the Water Science Branch of the Department of Water. Surveys were initially conducted by the WA Department of Water together with Geoscience Australia. The objective of these surveys was to collect baseline data on seagrass composition and distribution in key estuaries of southern and south-western WA. This data was acquired by the ACEAS Seagrass Group as part of the 2013 Australia-wide risk assessment of Seagrass. Surveys were conducted again 2015-2023 (February 2015, February and March 2016, February 2017, February and March 2018, February 2019, February and March 2020, February 2021, February and March 2022, and February and March 2023) by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation as "Leschenault Estuary Seagrass Survey". The datasets making up the 2009 Leschenault Estuary seagrass survey data are: WA_Leschenault_SAV_sites - point dataset of species presence/absence and survey methodology at each site. WA_Leschenault_SAV_polygons - polygon dataset showing interpolated percentage cover in polygons derived from site points. This record provides access to the initial WA DoW surveys. See associated DWER records in Data WA catalogue for access to newer surveys at this site.
-
This record provides an overview of the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub Research Plan 2023 project "Eastern Grey Nurse Shark population abundance and trend". For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata. -------------------- Australia’s eastern grey nurse shark population is listed as Critically Endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The Recovery Plan for the Grey Nurse Shark identifies research and actions needed to improve the shark’s population status and ensure its long-term conservation. This project refines the abundance and trend estimate for the eastern Australian population of grey nurse shark and examined the shark’s expansion range into Victorian waters (evidence suggests the shark may now range as far west as Wilsons Promontory). The project builds upon previous research which has estimated the eastern grey nurse shark adult population at ~2,000 individuals. Epigenetic techniques are used estimate age of juveniles (based on patterns of DNA methylation), and stereo video analysis is used to obtain precise length measurements for use against growth curves. Understanding the species' population structure is important to inform the assessment of current conservation arrangements such as spatial closures. Findings will provide a more precise estimate of the abundance of Australia’s eastern grey nurse shark population, and reduce uncertainty surrounding trends in abundance by building a stronger evidence base for decision-making around the species’ recovery and conservation. Outputs • Tissue samples and extracted products from juvenile grey nurse sharks [dataset] • Final project report [written]
-
This record provides an overview of the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub project "Ecological outcomes of wastewater discharges in contrasting receiving environments". For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata. -------------------- Australia’s Waste Policy Action Plan, Threat Abatement Plan for the impacts of marine debris and Australia’s One Health Master Action Plan all refer to the need for emerging pollutants to be incorporated into contaminant guidelines. Wastewater treatment plants currently report on a limited number of contaminants and lack consistent testing requirements. NESP MaC Scoping Study 1.16 has determined there is a clear and consistent need for data on environmental concentrations of emerging contaminants and an assessment of their impact on ecological communities. This project aims to determine the concentration of emerging pollutants in different wastewater outfall settings, and assess where environmental impacts are greatest. It will also continue to collate, analyse and maintain the information from Water Treatment Authorities on outfall flows, pollutant concentrations and loads and presented annually within the National Outfalls Database. Outputs • Measures of CEC (contaminants of emerging concern) in water samples taken from outfall sites [dataset] • Final project report [written]
-
Aquatic flora surveys were conducted in Wilson Inlet in 2007 and 2008. This data is part of the 2013 report "Synthesis of seagrass mapping studies" conducted by the Water Science Branch of the Department of Water. The 2007 survey was conducted to review any changes in seagrass distribution since the previous survey in 1996 (data not included in this record), and was funded internally by the Water Science branch. The 2008 survey was conducted by the WA Department of Water together with Geoscience Australia. The objective of the 2008 survey was to collect baseline data on seagrass composition and distribution in key estuaries of southern and south-western WA. This data was acquired by the ACEAS Seagrass Group as part of the 2013 Australia-wide risk assessment of Seagrass. Surveys were conducted again in December 2017, April 2018, December 2019, December 2020, December 2021 and December 2022 by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation as "Wilson Inlet Seagrass Survey". The datasets making up the 2007-2008 Wilson Inlet seagrass survey data are: WA_WilsonInlet_seagrass_polygons - polygon dataset showing interpolated percentage cover of seagrass with species information (where available). This record provides access to the initial WA DoW surveys. See associated DWER records in Data WA catalogue for access to newer surveys at this site.
-
Repeat surveys of aquatic flora were conducted in Oyster Harbour in 1988, 1996 and 2006. This data is part of the 2013 report "Synthesis of seagrass mapping studies" conducted by the Water Science Branch of the Department of Water. Surveys were initially conducted by the WA Department of Water. The objectives of the study were to map the distribution of the different seagrass species found in Princess Royal Harbour and Oyster Harbour and to compare the distributions with that observed in previous studies (1988 and 1996). This data was acquired by the ACEAS Seagrass Group as part of the 2013 Australia-wide risk assessment of Seagrass. Surveys were conducted again in March 2019 and January 2021 by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation as "Oyster Harbour Seagrass Survey". The datasets making up the 1988-2006 Oyster Harbour seagrass survey data are: WA_Oyster_seagrass_polygons - polygon dataset showing interpolated percentage cover of seagrass (all species combined for 1988 & 1997 surveys, with species information for 2006 survey). This record provides access to the initial WA DoW surveys. See associated DWER records in Data WA catalogue for access to newer surveys at this site.
-
Distribution and abundance of seagrass, mangrove and saltmarsh in NSW estuaries. This dataset is ongoing. This record describes a snapshot of the data taken in February 2023 for use in the Seamap Australia project. A more recent version of the dataset may be available through the NSW DPI Fisheries Data Portal. This dataset supersedes https://metadata.imas.utas.edu.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search#/metadata/281FAA64-F6F3-400C-A48F-D342E4ABCA83 (Estuarine macrophytes of NSW 2009) and https://metadata.imas.utas.edu.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search#/metadata/021f65eb-38c6-4db2-9dbe-821b6b427780 (An Estuarine Inventory for NSW 1984).