Brief description
Repeat surveys of aquatic flora were conducted in Oyster Harbour in 1988, 1996 and 2006. This data is part of the 2013 report "Synthesis of seagrass mapping studies" conducted by the Water Science Branch of the Department of Water. Surveys were initially conducted by the WA Department of Water. The objectives of the study were to map the distribution of the different seagrass species found in Princess Royal Harbour and Oyster Harbour and to compare the distributions with that observed in previous studies (1988 and 1996). This data was acquired by the ACEAS Seagrass Group as part of the 2013 Australia-wide risk assessment of Seagrass. Surveys were conducted again in March 2019 and January 2021 by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation as "Oyster Harbour Seagrass Survey". The datasets making up the 1988-2006 Oyster Harbour seagrass survey data are: WA_Oyster_seagrass_polygons - polygon dataset showing interpolated percentage cover of seagrass (all species combined for 1988 & 1997 surveys, with species information for 2006 survey). This record provides access to the initial WA DoW surveys. See associated DWER records in Data WA catalogue for access to newer surveys at this site.Lineage
Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlanned
Statement: High quality aerial photographs were obtained and interpreted to identify seagrass areas for 1988, 1996 and 2006. Intersecting transects across these areas were used to ground truth density (percentage cover) and species composition of the seagrass habitats. The ground-truthing field work was undertaken by underwater video tows, shore transects, and spot dives and observations from a small punt or boat equipped with GPS tracking equipment. These areas were then digitised in ArcGIS.
Limited resources and the methodology necessitated distributions and densities to be averaged over large areas. Seagrass distributions and changes in density may have been under or over represented in different parts of the harbour, making comparisons to previous surveys and estimations of change difficult.
Notes
CreditDepartment of Water, Government of Western Australia.
text: westlimit=117.94080999999998; southlimit=-34.997757472528; eastlimit=117.98173000000001; northlimit=-34.946200000000005
Subjects
Abundance of biota |
Biological Sciences |
Benthic habitat |
EARTH SCIENCE | BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION | PLANTS | ANGIOSPERMS (FLOWERING PLANTS) | MONOCOTS | SEAGRASS |
EARTH SCIENCE | BIOSPHERE | AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS | BENTHIC HABITAT |
EARTH SCIENCE | BIOSPHERE | AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS | MARINE HABITAT |
Ecology |
Environmental Science and Management |
Environmental Sciences |
Environmental Management |
Environmental Sciences Not Elsewhere Classified |
Marine and Estuarine Ecology (Incl. Marine Ichthyology) |
Other Environmental Sciences |
WESTERN AUSTRALIA |
biota |
cameras |
research aeroplane |
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Other Information
(Oyster Harbour seagrass polygons 1988-2006 [.shp download])
(2013 Synthesis of seagrass mapping studies [report])
(Associated surveys - seagrass survey - points [Data WA catalogue])
uri :
https://catalogue.data.wa.gov.au/dataset/oyster-harbour-seagrass-survey-points
(Associated surveys - seagrass survey - cover [Data WA catalogue])
uri :
https://catalogue.data.wa.gov.au/dataset/oyster-harbour-seagrass-survey-cover
global : a1a2d181-d453-43e1-ae2e-627ec2a9bd1e
Identifiers
- global : 1D34BD8E-74B1-41EB-8F81-398539215527
