Developing a process-orientated framework for contiguous 'extreme and in-between' benthic habitats in a sandy bay from decision-tree models, co-located samples and habitat mapping  

Authors / CoAuthors

Radke, L. | Huang, Z. | McArthur, M. | Anderson, T. | Nichol, S.

Abstract

This study investigated bio-environment relationships in Jervis Bay, a sandy partially enclosed embayment in NSW. Three decision tree models and a robust model selection process were applied to a wide-range of physical data (multibeam bathymetry and backscatter grids and derivatives, parameters that describe seabed sediment and water column physical/geochemical characteristics, seabed exposure) and co-located biological data. The models for selected infaunal species and three diversity indices explained 32-79% of data variance. Patterns of abundance and diversity were statistically related to a wide range of environmental variables, including sediment physical (e.g. mud, CaCO3, gravel) and geochemical properties (e.g. chlorophyll a, total sediment metabolism, total sulphur), seabed morphometric characteristics (e.g. local Moran's I of bathymetry, rugosity), seabed exposure regime and water column light attenuation. The modelled response curves together with results from an earlier habitat mapping study informed the development of a conceptual model that provides a process-based framework for the interpretation of biodiversity patterns in the southern part of the Bay. The conceptual model had three zones which were noted for: (i) fine-sediment resuspension and macroalgae accumulation (leading to anoxia; extreme); (ii) bioturbation (in-between); and (iii) exposure of the seabed to waves (extreme in places). Most bio-environment relationships pointed to complex relationships between multiple biological and physical factors occurring in the different process domains/zones. The combined use of co-located samples and bio-environment and conceptual models enabled a mechanistic understanding of benthic biodiversity patterns in Jervis Bay.

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nonGeographicDataset

eCat Id

73849

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Keywords

• GA Publication

( Theme )

• abiotic surrogates

( Theme )

• coasts

( Theme )

• environmental

( Theme )

• geochemistry

( Theme )

• marine survey

( Theme )

• marine

( Theme )

• NERP

Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)

• Earth Sciences

• Published_Internal

Publication Date

2012-01-01T00:00:00

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Australian Government Security ClassificationSystem    

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence    

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geoscientificInformation

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