Authors / CoAuthors
Radke, L. | Li, J. | Douglas, G. | Przeslawski, R. | Nichol, S.
Abstract
Baseline information on biodiversity and habitats is required to manage Australia's northern tropical marine estate. This study aims to develop an improved understanding of seafloor environments of the Timor Sea. Clustering methods were applied to a large dataset comprising physical and geochemical variables which describe organic matter (OM) reactivity/quantity/source and geochemical processes. Infauna data were used to assess different groupings. Clusters based on physical/geochemical data discriminated infauna better than geomorphic features. Major variations amongst clusters included grainsize and a cross-shelf transition in from authigenic-Mn /As enrichments (inner shelf) to authigenic-P enrichment (outer shelf). Groups comprising raised features had the highest reactive OM concentrations (e.g. low chlorin indices and C:N-ratios, and high k) and benthic algal '13C signatures. Surface area normalised OM concentrations higher than continental shelf norms were observed in association with: (i) low -15N, inferring Trichodesmium input; and (ii) pockmarks, which impart bottom-up controls on seabed chemistry and cause inconsistencies between bulk and pigment OM pools. Low Shannon-Wiener diversity occurred in association with low redox and porewater pH and evidence for high energy. Highest beta-diversity was observed at euphotic depths. Geochemical data and clustering methods used here provide insight into ecosystem processes influencing biodiversity patterns in the region.
Product Type
nonGeographicDataset
eCat Id
78324
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Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
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Keywords
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- GA Publication
- ( Theme )
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- marine
- ( Theme )
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- NERP
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- NT
- Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)
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- Earth Sciences
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- Published_Internal
Publication Date
2013-01-01T00:00:00
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geoscientificInformation
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[-12.4, -10.3, 129.5, 130.1]
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