Key Ecological Features of the North-west Marine Region.

Brief description

The North-west Bioregional Profile identifies a number of ecological features that are of conservation value because of the role they play in the environment of the North-west Marine Region. Key ecological features (KEFs) meet one or more of the following criteria: 1. a species, group of species, or a community with a regionally important ecological role (e.g. a predator, prey that affects a large biomass or number of other marine species); 2. a species, group of species, or a community that is nationally or regionally important for biodiversity; 3. an area or habitat that is nationally or regionally important for: a) enhanced or high productivity (such as predictable upwellings - an upwelling occurs when cold nutrient-rich waters from the bottom of the ocean rise to the surface); b) aggregations of marine life (such as feeding, resting, breeding or nursery areas); c) biodiversity and endemism (species which only occur in a specific area); or 4. a unique seafloor feature, with known or presumed ecological properties of regional significance. KEFs have been identified by the Australian Government on the basis of advice from scientists about the ecological processes and characteristics of the area. A workshop held in Perth in September 2007 also contributed to this scientific advice and helped to underpin the identification of key ecological features. Thirteen KEFs have been identified in the North-west Marine Region: Ancient coastline at 125 m depth contour Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island and surrounding Commonwealth waters Canyons linking the Argo Abyssal Plain and Scott Plateau Canyons linking the Cuvier Abyssal Plain and the Cape Range Peninsula Carbonate bank and terrace system of the Sahul Shelf Commonwealth waters adjacent to Ningaloo Reef Continental Slope Demersal Fish Communities Exmouth Plateau Glomar Shoals Mermaid Reed and Commonwealth waters surrounding the Rowley Shoals Pinnacles of the Bonaparte Basin Seringapatam Reef and Commonwealth waters in the Scott Reef Complex Wallaby Saddle In order to create a spatial representation of KEFs for the North-west Marine Region, some interpretation of the information was required. DoE has made every effort to use the best available spatial information, and best judgement on how to spatially represent the features based on the scientific advice provided. This does not preclude others from making their own interpretation of available information.

Lineage

Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlanned

Statement: The Key Ecological Features layer in this dataset represent the features identified in the North-west Bioregional Profile. The Key Ecological Features (KEFs) polygon layer was created from information provided to DoE at scientific based workshops, discussions held with relevant scientific experts as part of the development of the North-west Bioregional Profile, and information contained published reports. In order to create a spatial representation of KEFs for the North-west Marine Region, some interpretation of the information was required. DoE has made every effort to use the best available spatial information, and best judgement on how to spatially represent the features based on the scientific advice provided. This does not preclude others from making their own interpretation of the available information. Following is more detailed information on the source of the spatial representation for individual KEFs for the North-west Marine Region: Ancient coastline at 125 m depth contour, Defined by depth range 115-135 metres in the Northwest Shelf Province and Northwest Shelf Transition provincial bioregions as defined in IMCRA 4.0. Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island and surrounding Commonwealth waters, Includes the existing Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve and Cartier Island Marine Reserve and waters between them plus the surrounding areas of reef, apron/fan and canyon as defined in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset Canyons linking the Argo Abyssal Plain and Scott Plateau, Includes the three canyons, as defined in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic feature dataset, adjacent to the south-west corner of Scott Plateau. Canyons linking the Cuvier Abyssal Plain and the Cape Range Peninsula, As defined in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset. Carbonate bank and terrace system of the Sahul Shelf, Includes the banks/shoals and terraces as defined in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset which fall between 125 degrees East and the Northwest Marine Region Boundary around 129 degrees East. The banks/shoals to the south of 13 degrees South and west of 127 East have been excluded. Commonwealth waters surrounding Ningaloo Reef, Defined as the waters contained in the existing Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters). Continental Slope Demersal Fish Communities. Defined as the area of slope, as defined in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset, found in the Northwest Province and Timor Province provincial bioregions as defined in IMCRA 4.0, at the depth ranges of 220-500 metres and 750-1000 metres. Exmouth Plateau. As defined in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset. Glomar Shoals. Defined by the area of terrace as defined in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset. Mermaid Reed and Commonwealth waters surrounding the Rowley Shoals, Includes all existing State and Commonwealth marine reserves plus adjacent apron/fan features, as defined in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset, within a 6 nautical mile buffer of the reef features, as defined in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset. Pinnacles of the Bonaparte Basin. Includes all pinnacles that are located within the basin feature of the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, as defined in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset, clipped to the North-west Marine Region boundary. Seringapatam Reef and Commonwealth waters in the Scott Reef Complex, Includes both reefs plus the adjacent apron/fan features, and the canyon approximately 10km to the west of Scott Reef (based on the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset). The southern edge of the KEF is defined by the state water boundary around Scott Reef. Wallaby Saddle, As defined in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset. The polygons are indicative of the area of each Key Ecological Feature.