This dataset contains species identifications of echinoderms collected during survey GA2476 (R.V. Solander, 12 August - 15 September 2008). Animals were collected from the Western Australian Margin with a BODO sediment grab or rock dredge. Specimens were lodged at Museum of Victoria on the 10 March 2009. Species-level identifications were undertaken by Tim O'Hara at the Museum of Victoria and were delivered to Geoscience Australia on the 24 April 2009. See GA Record 2009/02 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.

This dataset contains species identifications of sponges collected during survey SOL4934 (R.V. Solander, 27 August - 24 September, 2009). Animals were collected from the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf with a benthic sled. Specimens were lodged at Northern Territory Museum on the 26 September 2009. Species-level identifications were undertaken by Belinda Glasby at the Northern Territory Museum and were delivered to Geoscience Australia on the 23 February 2011. See GA Record 2010/09 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.

Geoscience Australia carried out a marine survey on Carnarvon shelf (WA) in 2008 (SOL4769) to map seabed bathymetry and characterise benthic environments through co-located sampling of surface sediments 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 Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) Research Vessel Solander. Bathymetric mapping, sampling and video transects were completed in three survey areas that extended seaward from Ningaloo Reef to the shelf edge, including: Mandu Creek (80 sq km); Point Cloates (281 sq km), and; Gnaraloo (321 sq km). Additional bathymetric mapping (but no sampling or video) was completed between Mandu creek and Point Cloates, covering 277 sq km and north of Mandu Creek, covering 79 sq km. Two oceanographic moorings were deployed in the Point Cloates survey area. The survey also mapped and sampled an area to the northeast of the Muiron Islands covering 52 sq km. This is a folder of the images derived from benthic samples taken on cruise Sol4769 aboard RV Solander. Subfolders house images of Echinodermata, Mollusca, Polychaete, images taken of fresh material during cruise, and various categories of Crustacea, denoted by a C_ prefix in the folder name. Images of fresh material were made using a Canon EOS 40D camera on a rostrum in the wet lab of the ship. Images of preserved material were made using a Nikon Coolpix camera mounted on a Macroscope in the benthic lab at GA. These images formed the first point of reference in identifying subsequent specimens to save wear and tear on the specimens put aside as reference material.

Geoscience Australia carried out a marine survey on Lord Howe Island shelf (NSW) in 2008 (SS06_2008) to map seabed bathymetry and characterise benthic environments through colocated sampling of surface sediments and infauna, rock coring, observation of benthic habitats using underwater towed video, and measurement of ocean tides and wave generated currents. Subbottom profile data was also collected to map sediment thickness and shelf stratigraphy. Data and samples were acquired using the National Facility Research Vessel Southern Surveyor. Bathymetric data from this survey was merged with other preexisting bathymetric data (including LADS) to generate a grid covering 1034 sq km. As part of a separate Geoscience Australia survey in 2007 (TAN0713), an oceanographic mooring was deployed on the northern edge of Lord Howe Island shelf. The mooring was recovered during the 2008 survey following a 6 month deployment. The "2461_ss062008" folder contains raw multibeam backscatter data of the Lord Howe Rise. The raw multibeam backscatter data were collected along survey lines using SIMRAD EM300 from aboard RV Southern Surveyor

This dataset contains species identifications of benthic worms collected during survey TAN0713 (R.V. Tangaroa, 7 Oct - 22 Nov 2007). Animals were collected from the Faust and Capel basins and Gifford Guyot with a boxcore, rock dredge, or epibenthic sled. Specimens were lodged at Museum of Victoria in June 2008. Species-level identifications were undertaken by Robin Wilson at the Museum of Victoria and were delivered to Geoscience Australia on 1 Aug 2008. See GA Record 2009/22 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.

This dataset contains species identifications of molluscs from shell grit and sediments collected during survey SOL5463 (R.V. Southern Surveyor, 3-31 May 2012). Sediments were collected with a Smith Mac grab and processed in the GA laboratory. Sediment samples from two grabs contained many mollusc shells, some intact, and these were lodged at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT). Species-level identifications were undertaken by Dr Richard Willan at the MAGNT and were delivered to Geoscience Australia on the 19 September 2012. See GA Record 2012/66 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. Note that all specimens were identified from dead material and shell fragments. Specimens that were alive upon collection were processed separately with infaunal samples.

This dataset contains species-level identifications of polychaetes collected during survey SOL5117 (R.V. Solander 30 July - 27 August, 2010). Animals were collected from the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf with a Smith McIntyre grab, with a few specimens from a benthic sled. Species-level identifications were undertaken by Chris Glasby and Charlotte Watson at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) and were delivered to Geoscience Australia on the 6 June 2013. See GA Record 2011/08 for further details on survey methods and specimen acquisition. Data is presented here as delivered by the taxonomist, and Geoscience Australia is unable to verify the accuracy of the taxonomic identifications. The data file contains two spreadsheets: - 'species list' includes all polychaete species as identified at the MAGNT, including family, abundance, and comments from the taxonomists. It also contains phyla-level identifications for non-polychaete specimens that were mistakenly sent to the MAGNT with the polychaete samples. CG = Chris Glasby; CW = Charlotte Watson - 'Stations' includes location and depth for each station at which grabs and sleds were deployed.

This dataset contains identifications of arthropods collected during survey SOL4934 (R.V. Solander, 27 August - 24 September, 2009) and SOL5117 (R.V. Solander 30 July - 27 August, 2010). Animals were collected from the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf with a Smith McIntyre grab and identified to operational taxonomic units by an ecologist (Rachel Przeslawski). Specimens were lodged at the Australian Museum on the 27 August 2011. See GA Records 2010/09 2011/08 for further details on survey methods and specimen acquisition. The data files is organised into 3 spreadsheets: - 'arthropod list' presents identifications as they were entered in the laboratory during the identification process. 'Voucher' column refers to those specimens kept at Geoscience Australia as voucher specimens. 'Completion' refers to the order in which specimens and their operational taxonomic units were identified. - 'arthropod matrix' is the species composition matrix to be used for data analysis. Stations are listed as columns; species are listed as rows. - 'stations' includes the location and depth of each station from which grabs were deployed Arthropods were identified only to operational taxonomic unit by a non-taxonomist and so the accuracy of identifications is uncertain. See geocat no 72919 for all taxa identified from grabs from SOL4934 and geocat no 72926 (molluscs) and geocat (worms) from SOL5117.

Geoscience Australia carried out marine surveys in southeast Tasmania in 2008 and 2009 (GA0315) to map seabed bathymetry and characterise benthic environments through observation of habitats using underwater towed video. Data was acquired using the Tasmania Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute (TAFI) Research Vessel Challenger. Bathymetric mapping was undertaken in seven survey areas, including: Freycinet Pensinula (83 sq km, east coast and shelf); Tasman Peninsula (117 sq km, east coast and shelf); Port Arthur and adjacent open coast (17 sq km); The Friars (41 sq km, south of Bruny Island); lower Huon River estuary (39 sq km); D Entrecastreaux Channel (7 sq km, at Tinderbox north of Bruny Island), and; Maria Island (3 sq km, western side). Video characterisations of the seabed concentrated on areas of bedrock reef and adjacent seabed in all mapped areas, except for D Entrecastreaux Channel and Maria Island. The "challenger" folder contains processed multibeam backscatter data of the South East Tasmania Shelf. The SIMRAD EM3002 multibeam backscatter data were processed using the CMST_GA MB Process, a multibeam processing toolbox codeveloped by Geoscience Australia and Curtin University of Technology.

This dataset contains species identifications of molluscs collected during survey SOL4934 (R.V. Solander, 27 August - 24 September, 2009). Animals were collected from the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf with a benthic sled. Specimens were lodged at Northern Territory Museum on the 3 May 2010. Species-level identifications were undertaken by Richard Willan at the Northern Territory Museum and were delivered to Geoscience Australia on the 5 May 2010 (leg 1 only). See GA Record 2010/09 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.