Full description
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 conducted by the WA Department of Water together with Geoscience Australia. The objective of these surveys was to collect baseline data on seagrass composition and distribution in key estuaries of southern and south-western WA.
This data was acquired by the ACEAS Seagrass Group as part of the 2013 Australia-wide risk assessment of Seagrass.
The datasets making up the Swan-Canning Estuary seagrass survey data are:
WA_SwanCanning_SAVhab_polygons - polygon dataset showing areas of seagrass habitat derived from aerial imagery
Lineage
Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlanned
Statement: Method as taken from the 2013 report "Synthesis of seagrass mapping studies" conducted by the Water Science Branch of the Department of Water":
A seagrass survey of the Swan-Canning estuary was conducted in March 2011 by the Department of Water. The survey used underwater video to classify seagrass coverage at fixed points along transects across the estuary. This data was used together with bathymetry and recent aerial imagery to map seagrass in the estuary. Percentage cover was estimated on a scale of 0 to 100% incorporating 8 categories. The GPS coordinates were pre-determined for this study with the help of rapid-eye imagery which identified the presence of submerged aquatic vegetation. Transects spanned across the width of the estuary in different directions. Seagrass distribution is limited by light and therefore depth. Using bathymetry information, GPS coordinates were spaced closer together in the shallower regions to maximise information on seagrass coverage. Coordinates were 50 m apart in the 0-2m depth range, 100 m apart in the 2-3 m depth range and 500 m apart in areas where depths were greater than 3 m. Depths and readings of photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) were taken at every point.
Seagrass distribution in the estuary was mapped by physically drawing polygons around habitats visible in the aerial imagery in ARC GIS and integrating information from the data collected in the field. The maps may under or over represent seagrass habitats in different parts of the estuary. The distance between transects limited the ability to use interpolation of the density data. Interpolated maps proved too inaccurate.
This dataset does not include percentage cover estimates and instead includes only polygons indicating seagrass habitats. Additional data including percentage estimates may be available from the original data provider (see Point of Contact).
Notes
CreditDepartment of Water, Government of Western Australia.
text: westlimit=115.75446000000001; southlimit=-32.037679558518; eastlimit=115.88335000000001; northlimit=-31.962310000000002
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 |
research vessel |
underwater cameras |
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Other Information
(Swan Canning seagrass polygons 2011 [.shp download])
(2013 Synthesis of seagrass mapping studies [report])
global : a1a2d181-d453-43e1-ae2e-627ec2a9bd1e
Identifiers
- global : 78546037-EE5B-43C4-8018-0C9CE81E51B3
