This theme delivered new datasets and models that characterise large-scale processes influencing marine biodiversity patterns on a national scale. It focused on areas prioritised by the Department of the Environment through marine bioregional planning, such as the Commonwealth Marine Reserve network.
A larval dispersal model was developed to help understand connectivity across the marine estate, with a focus on Key Ecological Features and marine protected areas. The theme also produced new genetic data on the taxonomy of brittle stars and squat lobsters to better understand biogeographic patterns of benthic biodiversity, nationally and globally.
Thirty-six national marine datasets (new and updated) were compiled and published. These included descriptions of sea floor topography and sediments, submarine canyons, sea-surface water quality and seabed exposure to waves and currents, as well as national catalogues of marine biota, including rare and threatened species.
New insights into seafloor processes associated with physical features on the continental shelf (reefs, bank, pinnacles, canyon heads) were gleaned from field research undertaken in themes 1 and 4, particularly the expedition to Oceanic Shoals Commonwealth Marine Reserve, where hard-ground reefs influenced seafloor biological communities and fish aggregations.
ABOVE: High resolution multibeam sonar image of the seabed in the Oceanic Shoals Commonwealth Marine Reserve. Image: Geoscience Australia
End-user engagement
Representatives from the Department were engaged in meetings and discussions to share progress reports and highlights. The engagement built trust and understanding, and facilitated the collaborative development of summary documents and provision of data through the Australian Ocean Data Network.
Building capacity
High performance computing and satellite data analysis was developed and applied to modelling connectivity and sea-surface dynamics, and gene sequencing and machine learning methods were applied to understanding biogeographic structure and benthic biodiversity prediction.
Impact
Continuing engagement with the Department has ensured the accessibility and utility of research outputs. Further improvements are possible by increasing the direct links between departmental and research data systems. Models and datasets produced in this theme have been used by researchers inside and outside the Marine Biodiversity Hub.
Research partners
Australian Institute of Marine Science
CSIRO
Dalhousie University, Canada
Geoscience Australia
Integrated Marine Observing System
Museé National d’Histoire Naturelle du Luxembourg
Museum Victoria
National Computational Infrastructure at the Australian National University
Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia
University of Melbourne
Scott Nichol
scott.nichol@ga.gov.au
(02) 6249 9346