This dataset comprises derived bathymetric isobaths (depth contour lines) generated from the Geoscience Australia (GA) AusBathyTopo 250m 2024 gridded bathymetric dataset (https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/150050). The AusBathyTopo 250m grid provides a high-resolution terrain model for Australia, covering ocean and land areas from 92°E to 172°E and 8°S to 60°S at a resolution of 250 metres. The bathymetric contours are clipped to the boundaries of the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ: https://amsis-geoscience-au.hub.arcgis.com/datasets/geoscience-au::exclusive-economic-zone-limits/about), and includes all regions including and below Mean Sea Level (MSL). Four contour datasets are provided: 1) 100 m intervals: full EEZ coverage. 2) 5 m intervals: shallow regions between 0–200 m depth (nominally the Australian continental shelf and shallow oceanic features). 3) 1 m intervals: shallow regions between 0–200 m depth. 4) Composite product: Multi-resolution contours with full EEZ coverage, including: • 2 m intervals for depths 0–30 m. • 5 m intervals for depths 30–100 m. • 10 m intervals for depths 100–200 m. • 50 m intervals for depths 200–2,000 m. • 100 m intervals for depths 2,000–8,000 m. These contour datasets are intended for use in marine spatial planning, mapping visualisation, and broad-scale analysis. Due to the smoothing procedures applied during their creation the are not suitable for engineering or high-precision applications. The contours presented through the Web Mapping Services (WMS) linked to this record are optimised for visualisation purposes and have been simplified using a tolerance of 10 meters for efficient rendering in mapping applications. For users requiring full-resolution data, the download packages include the original, unsimplified contour products.

Water samples for the analysis of pigments using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) were collected only in the first 12 months of the sampling program. Pigment analysis is used to estimate algal community composition and concentration. Pigments which relate specifically to an algal class are termed marker or diagnostic pigments. Some of these diagnostic pigments are found exclusively in one algal class (e.g. prasinoxanthin in prasinophytes), while others are the principal pigments of one class, but are also found in other classes (e.g. fucoxanthin in diatoms and some haptophytes; 19′-butanoyloxyfucoxanthin in chrysophytes and some haptophytes). The presence or absence of these diagnostic pigments can provide a simple guide to the composition of a phytoplankton community, including identifying classes of small flagellates that cannot be determined by light microscopy techniques. There was general similarity in pigment composition between all sites, with a presence of diatoms (as indicated by fucoxanthin), haptophytes (hex-fucoxanthin), prasinophytes (prasinoxanthan), cryptophytes (alloxanthan), cyanophytes (zeaxanthan) and green algae (chl-b) in nearly all monthly samples at all sites. The green algae could be in the form of euglenophytes or prasinophytes; the absence of the pigment lutein in all samples indicates that chlorophytes are not present in Storm Bay, at least at the sites sampled.

An environmental classification developed in conjunction with the NSW Marine Parks Authority Research Committee. For more information see: Breen D.A. and R.P. Avery. (2002). Broad-scale biodiversity assessment of the Manning Shelf marine bioregion. Draft final report for the NSW Marine Parks Authority. Copies of the report may be borrowed from the library: Environment Australia, GPO Box 787, Canberra ACT 2601 Australia. This coverage is intended for used in regional level marine conservation assessment. It was prepared using very low cost techniques (ie. unrectified API) and should not be relied upon for navigation purposes. ----------------------------------- This record describes the environmental classification of the four ocean ocean ecosystems classified by depth. The full study also describes classes for each of the five major estuary ecosystems, and nine habitat surrogates.

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.

Chlorophyll a concentration is widely used as a proxy to describe trends in phytoplankton biomass over spatial and temporal scales. The concentration of chlorophyll a in Storm Bay showed surprisingly little variation across the seasons. There was a gradient in concentration from site 1 to site 3, where chlorophyll a decreased slightly. It was highest and most variable at the inshore sites 1 and 9, and lowest at site 3, furthest out in the bay. There was no clear annually recurrent seasonal bloom, although data suggests higher values in spring and autumn (see later time series).

Quantitative surveys were undertaken at four sites in the Kent Group, north eastern Tasmania (southern and northern shores of East Cove at Deal Island, Winter Cove at Deal Island, NE coast of Dover Island) by divers using underwater visual census methods to survey the reef habitat.