Authors / CoAuthors
Abstract
This flythrough highlights shallow and mesophotic seabed environments of Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs, located within the Lord Howe Marine Park. These reefs are unique because they are the southern-most platform reefs in the world and host a diverse range of tropical, sub-tropical and temperate marine species. High-resolution multibeam bathymetry data and seafloor imagery used in this flythrough was acquired by the Marine Biodiversity Hub, during the period 31 January to 6 February 2020 on board the Australian Maritime College vessel, TV Bluefin. Participating agencies included Geoscience Australia, the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (University of Tasmania), the Australian Centre for Field Robotics (University of Sydney) through their involvement with the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS), NSW Department of Primary Industries and Parks Australia. The specific aim of the survey was to fill knowledge gaps on the distribution, extent and structure of seabed habitats and associated sessile and mobile fauna in the lagoon and mesophotic shelves of Elizabeth (Recreational Use Zone) and Middleton (National Park Zone) Reefs, using a suite of national standard survey tools and best practice sampling procedures. Data acquisition for the project included seabed mapping using multibeam sonar (Kongsberg EM 2040C HD, 300 kHz), seabed imagery acquisition by Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV Sirius and AUV Nimbus), sediment samples, and imagery of demersal fish communities by stereo-baited remote underwater videos (stereo-BRUVs). This work was undertaken by the Marine Biodiversity Hub, a collaborative partnership supported through funding from the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program (NESP), and Parks Australia. AUV data was sourced from Australia’s Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) – IMOS is enabled by the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). It is operated by a consortium of institutions as an unincorporated joint venture, with the University of Tasmania as Lead Agent. This multimedia product is published with the permission of the CEO, Geoscience Australia.
Product Type
dataset
eCat Id
145118
Contact for the resource
Point of contact
Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
Canberra
ACT
2601
Australia
Point of contact
- Contact instructions
- PSCD
Resource provider
Keywords
- theme.ANZRC Fields of Research.rdf
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- ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCESEARTH SCIENCES
- ( Theme )
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- Multibeam
- ( Theme )
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- Bathymetry
- ( Instrument )
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- Multibeam
- ( Instrument )
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- Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)
- ( Taxon )
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- Mesophotic Coral Ecosystem
- ( Place )
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- Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs
- ( Product )
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- Bathymetry Grid
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- Published_External
Publication Date
2021-10-01T04:44:44
Creation Date
Security Constraints
Legal Constraints
Status
final
Purpose
Science communication, public outreach
Maintenance Information
asNeeded
Topic Category
geoscientificInformation environment oceans biota
Series Information
Lineage
This multimedia product was created using multibeam bathymetry data and autonomous underwater vehicle imagery acquired by the Marine Biodiversity Hub in February 2020 (Survey GA4848).
Parent Information
Extents
[-44.00, -9.00, 112.00, 154.00]
Reference System
Spatial Resolution
Service Information
Associations
Source Information