This dataset contains species identifications of molluscs collected during survey SOL5117 (R.V. Solander, 30 July - 27 August, 2010). Animals were collected from the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf with a benthic sled (SL) and Smith McIntyre grab (GR). Specimens were lodged at Northern Territory Museum on the 27 August 2010. Species-level identifications were undertaken by Richard Willan at the Northern Territory Museum and were delivered to Geoscience Australia on the December 2010 (for large samples) and 26 June 2012 (for smaller molluscs from grabs). See GA Record 2011/08 for further details on survey methods and specimen acquisition. Data is presented here exactly as delivered by the taxonomist, and Geoscience Australia is unable to verify the accuracy of the taxonomic identifications. Comments: The following comments relate to live-taken specimens only: 1. The SOL5117 molluscan samples contain at least one new species (Talabrica sp.), one new record for Australia (Oliva rufofulgurata), and five new records for Commonwealth waters north of the Northern Territory (Strombus hickeyi, Trigonostoma textilis, Dentalium formosum, Phyllidiopsis shireeenae, Ceratosoma trilobatum). 2. Many of the molluscan species in the SOL5117 grab samples, both live individuals and dead shells, are represented only by tiny juveniles, so identification to species level is not possible because the shell characters change considerably as the species reaches maturity. 3. Clearly the majority of molluscs in the SOL5117 samples are represented by dead shells only. 4. Species richness is far higher than suggested by these samples. Judging from the range of species present in the SOL4934 and SOL5117 samples plus the accumulation of species through the samples, the molluscan biodiversity in this area would be between 400 and 500 species, the great majority micromolluscs (i.e., < 5 mm in greatest dimension). 5. The SOL5117 molluscan samples are not as comprehensive as the earlier SOL4934 samples taken in the same areas(s). 6. The SOL5117 molluscan samples provide us with hardly any picture of the composition or abundance of molluscs within or between the sites. 7. The SOL5117 molluscan samples should not be used to assess the conservation status of the submarine communities in the area(s) sampled. 8. More targeted and intensive sampling is required to appropriately measure molluscan diversity, abundance and communities in this region. ~ R Willan

The Vlaming Sub-basin Marine Survey GA-0334 was undertaken in March and April 2012 as part of the Commonwealth Government's National CO2 Infrastructure Plan (NCIP). The purpose was to acquire geophysical and biophysical data to help identify sites suitable for the long term storage of CO2 within reasonable distances of major sources of CO2 emissions. This dataset contains identifications of animals collected from 32 Van Veen grabs deployed during GA-0334. Sediment was elutriated for ~ 5 minutes over a 500um sieve. Retained sediments and animals were then preserved in 70% ethanol for later laboratory sorting and identification (see `lineage'). During sorting, all worms were separated and sent to Infaunal Data Pty Ltd (Lynda Avery) for identification to species or operational taxonomic unit (OTU). Lynda Avery completed identifications on 17 April 2013, and specimens were lodged at the Museum of Victoria. All other taxa were identified to morphospecies at GA by an ecologist. Gray shading indicates taxa identified to species level by Lynda Avery (Refer to GeoCat # 76463 for raw data of species identifications by taxonomist); all other taxa were identified to morphospecies. Data is presented here exactly as delivered by the taxonomist/ecologist, and Geoscience Australia is unable to verify the accuracy of the taxonomic identifications. Stations are named XXGRYY where XX indicates the station number, GR indicates Van Veen grabs, and YY indicates the sequence of grabs deployed (i.e. the YYth grab on the entire survey). H indicates heavy fraction animals and HS indicates animals found on a sponge. The dataset is current as of November 2014, but will be updated as taxonomic experts contribute. See GA Record 2013/09 for further details on survey methods and specimen acquisition.

Geoscience Australia carried out marine surveys in Jervis Bay (NSW) in 2007, 2008 and 2009 (GA303, GA305, GA309, GA312) to map seabed bathymetry and characterise benthic environments through co-located sampling of surface sediments (for textural and biogeochemical analysis) and infauna, observation of benthic habitats using underwater towed video and stills photography, and measurement of ocean tides and wave-generated currents. Data and samples were acquired using the Defence Science & Technology Organisation (DSTO) Research Vessel Kimbla. Bathymetric mapping, sampling and tide/wave measurement were concentrated in a 3x5 km survey grid (named Darling Road Grid, DRG) within the southern part of the Jervis Bay, incorporating the bay entrance. Additional sampling and stills photography plus bathymetric mapping along transits was undertaken at representative habitat types outside the DRG. This 42 sample data set comprises the mineraology of surface seabed sediment (~0-2 cm) in Jervis Bay. More information: Radke, L.C., Huang, Z., Przeslawski, R., Webster, I.T., McArthur, M.A., Anderson, T.J., P.J. Siwabessy, Brooke, B. 2011. Including biogeochemical factors and a temporal component in benthic habitat maps: influences on infaunal diversity in a temperate embayment. Marine and Freshwater Research 62 (12): 1432 - 1448. Huang, Z., McArthur, M., Radke, L., Anderson, T., Nichol, S., Siwabessy, J. and Brooke, B. 2012. Developing physical surrogates for benthic biodiversity using co-located samples and regression tree models: a conceptual synthesis for a sandy temperature embayment. International Journal of Geographical Information Science DOI:10.1080/13658816.2012.658808.

This resource contains geochemistry data for the Oceanic Shoals Commonwealth Marine Reserve (CMR) in the Timor Sea collected by Geoscience Australia during September and October 2012 on RV Solander (survey GA0339/SOL5650). This dataset comprises inorganic element data from the fine fraction (Mud: <63um) of the upper ~2cm of seabed sediment. The Oceanic Shoals Commonwealth Marine Reserve survey was undertaken as an activity within the Australian Government's National Environmental Research Program Marine Biodiversity Hub and was the key component of Research Theme 4 - Regional Biodiversity Discovery to Support Marine Bioregional Plans. Hub partners involved in the survey included the Australian Institute of Marine Science, Geoscience Australia, the University of Western Australia, Museum Victoria and the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. Data acquired during the survey included: multibeam sonar bathymetry and acoustic backscatter; sub-bottom acoustic profiles; physical samples of seabed sediments, infauna and epibenthic biota; towed underwater video and still camera observations of seabed habitats; baited video observations of demersal and pelagic fish, and; oceanographic measurements of the water column from CTD (conductivity, temperature, depth) casts and from deployment of sea surface drifters. Further information on the survey is available in the post-survey report published as Geoscience Australia Record 2013/38 (Nichol et al. 2013).

Geoscience Australia carried out marine surveys in Jervis Bay (NSW) in 2007, 2008 and 2009 (GA303, GA305, GA309, GA312) to map seabed bathymetry and characterise benthic environments through co-located sampling of surface sediments (for textural and biogeochemical analysis) and infauna, observation of benthic habitats using underwater towed video and stills photography, and measurement of ocean tides and wave-generated currents. Data and samples were acquired using the Defence Science & Technology Organisation (DSTO) Research Vessel Kimbla. Bathymetric mapping, sampling and tide/wave measurement were concentrated in a 3x5 km survey grid (named Darling Road Grid, DRG) within the southern part of the Jervis Bay, incorporating the bay entrance. Additional sampling and stills photography plus bathymetric mapping along transits was undertaken at representative habitat types outside the DRG. This 128 sample data set comprises major, minor and trace elements derived from x-ray fluorescence analysis of surface seabed sediments (~0-2 cm). Sediment surface area data are also presented. More Information: Radke, L.C., Huang, Z., Przeslawski, R., Webster, I.T., McArthur, M.A., Anderson, T.J., P.J. Siwabessy, Brooke, B. 2011. Including biogeochemical factors and a temporal component in benthic habitat maps: influences on infaunal diversity in a temperate embayment. Marine and Freshwater Research 62 (12): 1432 - 1448. Huang, Z., McArthur, M., Radke, L., Anderson, T., Nichol, S., Siwabessy, J. and Brooke, B. 2012. Developing physical surrogates for benthic biodiversity using co-located samples and regression tree models: a conceptual synthesis for a sandy temperature embayment. International Journal of Geographical Information Science DOI:10.1080/13658816.2012.658808.

The Oceanic Shoals Commonwealth Marine Reserve (CMR) (>71,000 km2) is located in the Timor Sea and is part of the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas of Australia. The Reserve incorporates extensive areas of carbonate banks and terraces that are recognised in the North and North West Marine Region Plans as Key Ecological Features (KEFs). Although poorly studied, these banks and terraces have been identified as potential biodiversity hotspots for the Australian tropical north. As part of the National Environment Research Program Marine Biodiversity Hub, Geoscience Australia in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Marine Science undertook a marine biodiversity survey in 2012 to improve the knowledge of this area and better understand the importance of these KEFs. Amongst the many activities undertaken, continuous high-resolution multibeam mapping, video and still camera observations, and physical seabed sampling of four areas covering 510 km2 within the western side of the CMR was completed. Multibeam imagery reveals a high geomorphic diversity in the Oceanic Shoals CMR, with numerous banks and terraces, elevated 30 to 65 m above the generally flat seabed (~105 m water depth), that provide hard substrate for benthic communities. The surrounding plains are characterised by fields of depressions up to 1 m deep (pockmarks) formed in soft silty sediments that are generally barren of any epibenthos (Fig .1). A distinctive feature of many pockmarks is a linear scour mark that extends several tens of metres (up to 150 m) from pockmark depressions. Previous numerical and flume tank simulations have shown that scouring of pockmarks occurs in the direction of the dominant near-seabed flow. These geomorphic features may therefore serve as a proxy for local-scale bottom currents, which may in turn inform on sediment processes operating in these areas and contribute to the understanding of the distribution of biodiversity. This study focused on characterising these seabed scoured depressions and investigating their potential as an environmental proxy for habitat studies. We used ArcGIS spatial analyst tools to quantify the features and explored their potential relationships with other variables (multibeam backscatter, regional modelled bottom stress, biological abundance and presence/absence) to provide insight into their development, and contribute to a better understanding of the environment surrounding carbonate banks. Preliminary results show a relationship between pockmark types, (i.e. with or without scour mark) and backscatter strength. This relationship suggests some additional shallow sub-surface control, mainly related to the presence of buried carbonate banks. In addition, the results suggest that tidal flows are redirected by the banks, leading to locally varied flow directions and 'shadowing' in the lee of the larger banks. This in turn is likely to have an influence on the observed density and abundance of benthic assemblages.

Flythrough movie showing the bathymetry, seabed habitats and biota of the outer continental shelf within the Flinders Commonwealth Marine Reserve (CMR), offshore from Flinders Island northeast Tasmania. The bathymetric image is derived from multibeam sonar collected by Geoscience Australia in 2012 using a 30 kHz Simrad EM3002 system on RV Challenger. Videos and seabed images were collected by the University of Tasmania and CSIRO as part of the same field program. Key features on the shelf bathymetry include low profile reefs, flat sandy seabed and the heads of two submarine canyons. The reefs provide hard substrate for sponge gardens whereas the sand flats are mostly barren. The two submarine canyons are sites of local upwelling, and attract large schools of Tasmanian Striped Trumpeter. The Flinders CMR is a study site for the Marine Biodiversity Research Hub, funded through the National Environmental Research Program (NERP). ..

New mapping by Geoscience Australia has identified 713 submarine canyons on the Australian margin and an additional 40 within external territorial seas. Ninety-five canyons are classified as shelf-incising and the remainders are located on the continental slope and classed as blind canyons. A range of metrics were derived to describe canyon form and distribution and used to identify morphologically unique canyons. This poster illustrates this dataset in the context of the national network of Commonwealth Marine Reserves.

Submarine canyons have been recognised as areas of significant ecological and conservation value for their enhanced primary productivity, benthic biomass and biodiversity. In Australia, 753 submarine canyons were mapped on all margins of the continent by the Marine Biodiversity Hub through the Australian Government's National Environmental Research Program. An analysis of canyon geomorphic metrics provided the basis to objectively classify these canyons across a hierarchy of physical characteristics (e.g. volume, depth range, rugosity) separately for shelf-incising and slope-confined canyons (Huang et al., 2014). Here we extend this analysis to include oceanographic variables in presenting a first pass assessment of habitat quality for all canyons on the Australian margin, with a focus on their upper reaches. This study is based on the premise that habitat heterogeneity, productivity and disturbance are the three factors that potentially determine the quality of a canyon habitat. For each factor we derived a range of variables to inform the assessment of habitat quality (see Table). Habitat heterogeneity was measured using a selection of eight geomorphic metrics including canyon volume and rugosity that are considered likely to have a positive relationship with habitat heterogeneity. Canyon productivity was assessed from five variables including: distance to the shelf break as a proxy of nutrient inputs from land and the continental shelf; bottom current speed as an indicator of nutrient supply to benthic epifauna (derived from time-series re-analysis of the BLUElink oceanographic model and in-situ data), and; measures of the probability, frequency and intensity of upwelling (also from BLUElink data). The BLUElink variables have positive relationships with productivity whereas the relationship between distance to shelf and productivity is negative. Benthic disturbance was assessed from the maximum and range of bottom current speeds, and the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones. According to these relationships, individual canyons were assigned habitat quality scores, first separately for each variable and then aggregated for the three habitat factors. The final scores were obtained by averaging the scores of the three habitat factors. The results show that many submarine canyons on the eastern Australian margin have high habitat quality scores (see Figure). This is interpreted to be mainly due to the influence of the upwelling-favourable East Australian Current which generates high productivity throughout the year. The Albany canyons on the south-western margin also offer high habitat quality for marine species due to complex geometrical and geophysical structures. They also benefit from the upwelling-favourable Flinders Current. In contrast, canyons on the northern and western margins have lower habitat quality. Many of these canyons receive little input from land and continental shelf. In addition, the downwelling- favourable Leeuwin Current, which flows along the western margin of the continent, hampers the supply of deep water nutrients from reaching the upper reaches of canyons, particularly canyon heads that intersect the euphotic zone. Overall, these results provide a framework for targeted studies of canyons aimed at testing and verifying the habitat potential identified here and for establishing monitoring priorities for the ongoing management of canyon ecosystems.

Marine organisms are exposed not only to natural environmental stressors, but also the additional effects of anthropogenic stressors, notably increasing temperatures and reduced pH. Early life stages of marine organisms have been recognised as potentially vulnerable to the stressors associated with climate change and ocean acidification, but identifying patterns across studies, species and a range of response variables is challenging. This study is supported by the Marine Biodiversity Hub through the National Environmental Research Program and identifies knowledge gaps in research on multiple abiotic stressors and early life stage (embryo to larvae), while quantifying interactions based on life history. Temperature was the most common stressor (91% of studies), while the most common combination of stressors was temperature and salinity (66%), followed by temperature and pH (17.5%). All studies were conducted in the laboratory although four studies also undertook field experiments. Synergistic interactions (68% of individual tests) were more common than additive (16%) or antagonistic (16%) interactions. The meta-analysis yielded several key results: 1) Embryos are not more vulnerable to stress than larvae in combined stressor treatments. 2) Sub-lethal responses are not more likely to be affected by stress than lethal responses. 3) Interaction types vary among stressors, phyla, ontogenetic stages, and biological responses. 4) Elevated temperature is generally a greater stressor than ocean acidification, but this depends on ontogenetic stage and phylum. 5) Ocean acidification is a greater stressor for calcifying than non-calcifying larvae. Our findings will assist in monitoring and predicting the health of marine populations and communities by identifying sensitive and robust taxa.