Using Spatial Statistics Techniques to Identify Hotspots of Australian Submarine Canyons for Conservation  

Authors / CoAuthors

Huang, Z. | Nichol, S.L.

Abstract

Submarine canyons have been recognised as areas of significant ecological and conservation value. In Australia, 713 canyons were mapped and classified in terms of their geomorphic properties. Many of them are identified as Key Ecological Features (KEFs) and protected by Commonwealth Marine Reserves (CMRs) using expert opinion based on limit physical and ecological information. The effectiveness of these KEFs and CMRs to include ecologically significant submarine canyons as prioritised conservation areas needs to be objectively examined. This study used two local-based spatial statistical techniques, Local Moran's I (LMI) and the Gi* statistic, to identify hotspots of Australian canyons (or unique canyons) for conservation priority. The hotspot analysis identified 29 unique canyons according to their physical attributes that have ecological relevance. Most of these unique physical canyons are distributed on the southern margins. Twenty-four of the 29 canyons are enclosed by the existing KEFs and protected by CMRs to varied extents. In addition, the hotspot analysis identified 79 unique canyons according to their chlorophyll a concentrations, all of which are located in the South-east marine planning region. The findings can be used to update or revise the profile descriptions for some existing KEFs. In future, if the boundaries of these KEFs are deemed necessary to be reviewed, the new information and knowledge could also be used to enhance the conservation priorities of these KEFs.

Product Type

nonGeographicDataset

eCat Id

83211

Contact for the resource

Keywords

• External PublicationArticle

( Theme )

• marine

( Theme )

• NERP Marine Biodiversity Hub

Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)

• Marine Geoscience

• Published_Internal

Publication Date

2015-01-01T00:00:00

Creation Date

Security Constraints

Australian Government Security ClassificationSystem    

Classification - unclassified

Legal Constraints

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence    

Access - license

Use - license

Status

Purpose

Maintenance Information

asNeeded

Topic Category

oceans

Series Information

Lineage

A study of the NERP Marine Biodiversity Hub theme3 project 1: Shelf and Canyon Ecosystems

Parent Information

Extents

Reference System

Spatial Resolution

Service Information

Associations

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Source Information

NERP Marine Biodiversity Hub