Authors / CoAuthors
Smith, J. | O'Brien, P.E. | Stark, J.S. | Johnstone, G.
Abstract
An integrated analysis of geoscience information and benthos data have been used to identify seafloor habitats and associated benthic communities in the near-shore environment of the Vestfold Hills, East Antarctica. A multibeam echo-sounder was used to collect high-resolution bathymetry of the seafloor to depths of 215 m. A towed underwater video was used to identify macrobenthos along 16 transects. Abiotic variables including depth, backscatter intensity, substrate, slope, seafloor features (e.g. iceberg scours, sand ripples) and latitude were extracted from the multibeam and video datasets. Multivariate analysis of the benthos data was used to identify discrete benthic communities within the study area. Analysis of bio-physical relationships indicates that these benthic communities occur within distinct geographical regions and seafloor habitats. The habitats are distinguished primarily on the basis of depth and substrate. The two dominant seafloor habitats and associated benthic communities are: 1) deep, muddy basins with low to medium biological cover, consisting predominantly of bivalves, urchins, and seapens; and 2) shallow rocky outcrops, typically covered in dense macroalgae communities and associated invertebrates such as amphipods, spirorbid polychaetes and holothurians. In between are transition zones which provide habitat to mixed benthic communities. This study demonstrates the efficacy of using multibeam systems to survey large areas of the seafloor and collect high-resolution baseline data across previously unexplored regions. This baseline data is critical to improve our understanding of ecosystem dynamics and the relationships between biota and habitats and allows managers to make informed decisions about the effects of different activities on marine habitats.
Product Type
nonGeographicDataset
eCat Id
75721
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Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
Canberra
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- External PublicationAbstract
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- AQ
- 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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[-68.7, -68.5, 77.7333, 78.1333]
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