2016 SoE Marine Chapter - State and Trends - Invertebrate species, outer shelf (25 m - 250 m)

Brief description

The Marine chapter of the 2016 State of the Environment (SoE) report incorporates multiple expert templates developed from streams of marine data. This metadata record describes the Expert Assessment "The state and trends of quality of species and groups – invertebrate species, outer shelf (25 m - 250 m)". The full Expert Assessment, including figures and tables (where provided), is attached to this record. Where available, the Data Stream(s) used to generate this Expert Assessment are accessible through the "On-line Resources" section of this record. ---------------------------------------- DESCRIPTION OF ECOLOGICAL HABITAT/COMMUNITY FOR EXPERT ASSESSMENT A wide range of both sessile and mobile invertebrate species inhabit the continental shelf. Large areas of soft sediments are dominated by infauna and mobile epifauna, but there are also extensive regions with abundant sessile epifauna, including sponges, soft corals and bryozoans. Hard corals are covered in another section. DATA STREAM(S) USED IN EXPERT ASSESSMENT Peer reviewed publications, fishery stock assessment reports and data from the IMOS autonomous underwater vehicle facility. Details of the specific data sets used to generate the assessment have not been provided. ---------------------------------------- 2016 SOE ASSESSMENT SUMMARY [see attached Expert Assessment for full details] • 2016 • Assessment grade: Good Assessment trend: Stable Confidence grade: Limited evidence Confidence trend: Limited evidence Comparability: Grade and trend are comparable to the 2011 assessment • 2011 • Assessment grade: Good Assessment trend: Stable Confidence grade: Limited evidence Confidence trend: Limited evidence ---------------------------------------- CHANGES SINCE 2011 SOE ASSESSMENT N/A

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Statement: QUALITY OF DATA USED IN THE ASSESSMENT High

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Purpose
To describe the state and trends in invertebrate species, outer shelf (25 m - 250 m) for use in the Marine chapter of the 2016 State of the Environment report.