Marine Key Ecological Features

Brief description

Key ecological features are the parts of the marine ecosystem that are considered to be of importance for a marine region's biodiversity or ecosystem function and integrity.
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 Darwin in 2007 also contributed to this scientific advice and helped to underpin the identification of key ecological features.
As new information becomes available, the spatial representations of identified key ecological features will continue to be refined and updated.

Sixteen KEFs have been identified in the South-west Marine Region:

1. Commonwealth marine environment surrounding the Houtman Abrolhos Islands
2. Perth Canyon and adjacent shelf break, and other west coast canyons
3. Commonwealth marine environment within and adjacent to the west coast inshore lagoons
4. Commonwealth marine environment within and adjacent to Geographe Bay
5. Cape Mentelle upwelling
6. Naturaliste Plateau
7. Diamantina Fracture Zone
8. Albany Canyons group and adjacent shelf break
9. Commonwealth marine environment surrounding the Recherche Archipelago
10. Ancient coastline at 90-120 m depth
11. Kangaroo Island Pool, canyons and adjacent shelf break, and Eyre Peninsula upwellings.
12. Meso-scale eddies (points).
13. Western demersal slope and associated fish communities.
14. Western rock lobster.
15. Benthic invertebrate communities of the eastern Great Australian Bight. No spatial representation available.
16. Small pelagic fish of the South-west Marine Region. No spatial representation available.

Thirteen KEFs have been identified in the North-west Marine Region:

1. Ancient coastline at 125 m depth contour
2. Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island and surrounding Commonwealth waters
3. Canyons linking the Argo Abyssal Plain and Scott Plateau
4. Canyons linking the Cuvier Abyssal Plain and the Cape Range Peninsula
5. Carbonate bank and terrace system of the Sahul Shelf
6. Commonwealth waters adjacent to Ningaloo Reef
7. Continental Slope Demersal Fish Communities
8. Exmouth Plateau
9. Glomar Shoals
10. Mermaid Reed and Commonwealth waters surrounding the Rowley Shoals
11. Pinnacles of the Bonaparte Basin
12. Seringapatam Reef and Commonwealth waters in the Scott Reef Complex
13. Wallaby Saddle

Eight KEFs have been identified in the North Marine Region:

1. Carbonate bank and terrace system of the Van Diemen Rise
2. Shelf break and slope of the Arafura Shelf
3. Tributary canyons of the Arafura Depression
4. Gulf of Carpentaria basin
5. Gulf of Carpentaria coastal zone
6. Plateaux and saddle north-west of the Wellesley Islands
7. Pinnacles of the Bonaparte Basin
8. Submerged coral reefs of the Gulf of Carpentaria

Three KEFs have been identified in the Coral Sea:

1. Tasmantid seamount chain
2. Reefs, cays and hebivorous fish of the Queensland Plateau
3. Reefs, cays and hebivorous fish of the Marion Plateau

Eight KEFs were identified in the Temperate East marine Region:

1. Tasmantid seamount chain
2. Lord Howe seamount chain
3. Norfolk Ridge
4. Canyons on the eastern continental slope
5. Shelf rocky reefs
6. Elizabeth and Middleton reefs
7. Upwelling off Fraser Island
8. Tasman Front and eddy field

Eight KEFs were identified in the South-east Marine Region.

1. Seamounts, east and south of Tasmania
2. West Tasmanian canyons
3. Bonney coast upwelling
4. Upwelling east of Eden
5. Big Horseshoe canyon
6. East Tasmania tropical convergence zone. No spatial representation available
7. Bass cascade. No spatial representation available
8. Shelf rocky reefs and hard substrate. No spatial representation available

In order to create a spatial representation of KEFs for each Marine Region, some interpretation of the information was required. DSEWPaC 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: In order to create a spatial representation of KEFs for each Marine Region, some interpretation of the information was required. DSEWPaC 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 South-west Marine Region:

1. Commonwealth marine environment surrounding the Houtman Abrolhos Islands. Description: Based on the 12nm territorial boundary around the Houtman Abrolhos Island group from the Geoscience Australia, Australian Maritime Boundary (AMB) dataset.

2. Perth Canyon and adjacent shelf break and other west coast canyons. Description: Includes all canyons in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset offshore from Kalbarri to south of Perth. A separate dataset was created for the Perth canyon and is based on the specific canyon, along with additional areas of the shelf break between 200 m and 500 m depth which are biologically important area for blue whales.

3. Commonwealth marine environment within and adjacent to the west coast inshore lagoons. Description: Based on waters less than 30m depth, in commonwealth waters, from Kalbarri to slightly south of Mandurah.

4. Commonwealth marine environment within and adjacent to Geographe Bay.
Description: Largely based on information available on the extent of seagrass in Geographe Bay. The seaward boundary extends from commonwealth waters north of Cape Naturaliste (in about 40m depth), easterly to the 30m depth contour, then northeasterly along the 30m contour before following a line towards the coastal water limit off Point Casuarina (the northern extent of Geographe Bay).

5. Cape Mentelle upwelling. Description: Includes waters between 100m and 450m depth between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin.

6. Naturaliste Plateau. Description: Based on area identified in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset.

7. Diamantina Fracture Zone. Description: Based on area identified in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset).

8. Albany Canyons Group and adjacent shelf break. Description: Encompasses all canyons in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset along a 700 km stretch of continental slope from approximately 115deg E to 124deg E, including Broke Canyon in the west and Malcolm Canyon in the east.

9. Commonwealth marine environment surrounding the Recherche Archipelago. Description: Based on the 12nm territorial boundary around the Recherche Archipelago Island group from the Geoscience Australia, Australian Maritime Boundary (AMB) dataset.

10. Ancient coastline at 90-120m depth. Description: Based on the area between the 90m and 120 m depth contours derived from the Geoscience Australia bathymetry (Australian bathymetry grid 2009 v4).

11. Kangaroo Island Pool, Canyons and adjacent shelf break, and Eyre Peninsula upwellings. Description: Includes all canyons in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset from the eastern end of the Ceduna Terrace, at approximately 133deg 11min E, and continuing east to the boundary between the South-west and South-east Marine Regions.
This KEF also includes an area of commonwealth waters extending from near Streaky Bay on the western side of the Eyre Peninsula, and then in a southeasterly direction to the boundary between the South-west and South-east Marine Regions. The landward limit is the limit of the state of South Australia, while the seaward extent varies from approximately 45 nautical miles from the mainland in the north-west (Streaky Bay), to the continental shelf margin in the south-east (approximately 30 nautical miles from Kangaroo Island).

12. Meso-scale eddies (several locations).
Description: Only available as indicative point data (see Key Ecological Features (points) - South-west Marine Bioregional Planning Region layer).

13. Western demersal slope and associated fish communities.
Description: Includes the continental slope in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset within the IMCRA 4.0 central western provincial bioregion.

14. Western rock lobster. Description: Commonwealth waters in the South-west Marine Region, to a depth of 150m, north of Cape Leeuwin.

15. Benthic invertebrate communities of the eastern Great Australian Bight. No spatial representation available.

16. Small pelagic fish of the South-west marine region. No spatial representation available.

Following is more detailed information on the source of the spatial representation for individual KEFs for the North-west Marine Region:

1. 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.

2. 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

3. 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.

4. Canyons linking the Cuvier Abyssal Plain and the Cape Range Peninsula,
As defined in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset.

5. 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.

6. Commonwealth waters surrounding Ningaloo Reef,
Defined as the waters contained in the existing Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters).

7. 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.

8. Exmouth Plateau.
As defined in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset.

9. Glomar Shoals.
Defined by the area of terrace as defined in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. Wallaby Saddle,
As defined in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset.

Following is more detailed information on the source of the spatial representation for individual KEFs for the North Marine Region:

1. Carbonate bank and terrace system of the Van Diemen Rise.
Includes the majority of terrace, bank/shoals and deep/hole/valley areas from the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset which lie northwest of Melville Island. The Malita Shelf Valley was spatially defined based on expert advice from Geoscience Australia. It comprises most of the valley area which lies below 140m depth.

2. Shelf break and slope of the Arafura Shelf.
Includes the area of slope north of the Van Diemen Rise from the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset. This KEF also includes an adjacent area of shelf, extending south to the terrace edge of the Van Diemen Rise in the western part and bounded by the 100m depth contour in the east. At the eastern end, the area of shelf included extends to approximately the eastern extent of the slope. The reefs and pinnacles within these slope and shelf areas are also included.

3. Tributary canyons of the Arafura Depression.
Includes all canyons in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset in the northernmost part of the region between approximately 132deg 40min E and 136deg 20min E.

4. Gulf of Carpentaria basin.
Based on the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset.

5. Gulf of Carpentaria coastal zone.
The coastal area in the Gulf of Carpentaria, which extends from the State/Territory jurisdictional boundary to the 20metre depth contour, derived from the 2009 bathymetry grid of Australia produced by Geoscience Australia.

6. Plateaux and saddle north-west of the Wellesley Islands, including the canyon.
Based on the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset.

7. Pinnacles of the Bonaparte Basin.
Includes all pinnacles that are located within the Bonaparte Basin (as defined in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset).

8. Submerged coral reefs of the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Includes known submerged coral reefs in the southern part of the Gulf of Carpentaria as identified by Geoscience Australia. Spatial data was created by interpreting locations and extents from hand drawn maps and should be treated as indicative only.

Following is more detailed information on the source of the spatial representation for individual KEFs for the Coral Sea:

1.Tasmantid seamount chain is a prominent chain of submarine volcanoes extending into the Tasman Basin. This dataset represents areas identified in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features data set as pinnacles, seamounts and guyots.

2.Reefs, cays and hebivorous fish of the Queensland Plateau dataset represents areas identified in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features data set as reefs, or cays.

3.Reefs, cays and hebivorous fish of the Marion Plateau dataset represents areas identified in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features data set as reefs, or cays.

Following is more detailed information on the source of the spatial representation for individual KEFs for the Temperate East Marine Region

1. Tasmantid seamount chain is a prominent chain of submarine volcanoes extending into the Tasman Basin. This dataset represents areas identified in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features data set as pinnacles, seamounts or guyots.

2. Lord Howe seamount chain supports the southernmost coral reefs in the world (Speare PJ, Cappo MC, Rees M, Brownlie J and Oxley WG (2004) Deeper Water Fish and Benthic Surveys in the Lord Howe Island Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters): February 2004. Australian Institute of Marine Science). Pinnacles, seamounts and guyots identified in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset were captured to represent these features.

3. Norfolk Ridge is a contiguous north-south feature at depths 1000 - 2000m connecting New Zealand, Norfolk Island, and New Caledonia with seamounts and other elevated features at 500 - 1000m depth. This dataset represents depth contours identified in the Geoscience Australia Bathymetric contours dataset 2005.

4. Canyons on the eastern continental slope data is a combination of partial datasets - shelf incising canyon head perimeters (CSIRO 2010) and Geomorphic features of the EEZ (Geoscience Australia 2004).

5. Shelf rocky reefs data accompanied the report to DSEWPaC titled "Key Ecological Features of the East and South-east Marine Regions: deep-reefs within 150-700m depths" R.J.Kloser and G.Keith, June 2010.

6. Elizabeth and Middleton reefs dataset represents areas identified in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features data set as reefs, or cays.

7. Upwelling off Fraser Island - The location of the Upwelling off Fraser Island is indicative only and the data was provided by(CSIRO 2010).

8. Tasman Front and eddy field - The Tasman Front feature displays significant seasonal and annual variation. The location of the Tasman Front was derived through review of cumulative annual chlorophyll occurrence data provided by CSIRO.

Following is more detailed information on the source of the spatial representation for individual KEFs for the South-East Marine Region.

1. Seamounts, South and east of Tasmania
This data represents areas identified in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features data set as pinnacles, hills, mountains, peaks, seamounts or guyots.

2. West Tasmanian Canyons
This data represents areas identified in the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features data set as canyons.

3. Bonney Coast Upwelling
This feature displays seasonal and annual variation. The location of the Bonney Coast Upwelling was derived through a review of enhanced chlorophyll occurence for summer seasonal data (1998 - 2010) provided by CSIRO.

4. Upwelling East of Eden
This feature displays seasonal and annual variation. The location of the Upwelling east of Eden was derived through a review of enhanced chlorophyll occurence for winter seasonal data (1998 - 2010) provided by CSIRO.

5. Big Horseshoe Canyon
This feature is the eastern most arm of the Bass Canyon system and was identified using the Geoscience Australia geomorphic features dataset.

Notes

Credit
Key Ecological Features, COPYRIGHT Commonwealth of Australia, Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, 2013