Authors / CoAuthors
Huang, Z. | Shlacher, T. | Nichol, S. | Williams, A. | Althaus, F. | Kloser, R.
Abstract
The seascape of the vast Australian continental margin is characterised by numerous submarine canyons that represent an equally vast array of geomorphic and oceanographic heterogeneity. Theoretically, this heterogeneity translates into habitats that may vary equally widely in their ecological characteristics. Here we describe the methodology to develop a framework to broadly derive estimates of potential habitat condition (¿suitability¿ sensu lato) for pelagic and epibenthic megafauna (including demersal fishes), and benthic infauna in all of Australia¿s known submarine canyons. We find that the high geomorphic and oceanographic diversity of submarine canyons creates a multitude of potential habitat types. In general, it appears that canyons may be particularly high-quality for benthic species. Canyons that incise the shelf tend to score higher in habitat potential than those confined to the slope. Canyons with particularly high habitat potential are located mainly off the Great Barrier Reef, the NSW coast, the eastern margin of Tasmania and Bass Strait, and on the southern margin. Many of these canyons have complex bottom topography, are likely to be productive, and have less intense sediment disturbance regimes. The framework presented here can be relevant ¿ once refined and comprehensively validated with ecological data - in a management and conservation context to identify canyons (or groups of canyons) that are likely to represent high-value habitat along a vast continental margin where marine planning decisions may require spatial prioritization decisions. <b>Citation:</b> Zhi Huang, Thomas A. Schlacher, Scott Nichol, Alan Williams, Franziska Althaus, Rudy Kloser, A conceptual surrogacy framework to evaluate the habitat potential of submarine canyons, <i>Progress in Oceanography</i>, Volume 169, 2018, Pages 199-213, ISSN 0079-6611, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2017.11.007
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document
eCat Id
102760
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Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
Canberra
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Keywords
- theme.ANZRC Fields of Research.rdf
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- EARTH SCIENCES
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- fauna environmental association
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- habitat diversity
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- niches
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- continental margin
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- predictions
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- spatial planning
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- Published_External
Publication Date
2023-11-01T05:47:54
Creation Date
2016-11-09T09:00:00
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completed
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External Publication
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asNeeded
Topic Category
oceans
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Progress in Oceanography Volume 169, December 2018 199-213
Lineage
This manuscript reports the result of canyon habitat potential assessment study in the NERP Marine Biodiversity Hub project. This work is the result of collaboration between GA (Zhi Huang and Scott Nichol), CSIRO (Franziska Althaus, Alan Williams and Rudy Kloser) and The University of the Subshine Coast (Thomas Schlacher). The paper is published. Citation: Huang, Z., Schlacher, T.A., Nichol, S., Williams, A., Althaus, F., Kloser, R., 2018. A conceptual surrogacy framework to evaluate the habitat potential of submarine canyons, Progress in Oceanography, 169, 199-213.
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[-54.75, -9.2402, 112.92, 159.11]
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