A 1988 survey of Macrocystis pyrifera (giant kelp) stocks along the east coast of Tasmania, conducted by Craig Sanderson for his master's thesis. The survey identified significant kelp beds at Darlington, Southerly Bottom, Fortesque Bay, and George III Rock, with other areas assessed via anecdotal reports. The data is provided by the Australian Ocean Data Network.
Use Cases
- Map the historical distribution of Macrocystis pyrifera beds based on the survey locations mentioned.
- Assess baseline kelp forest extent for ecological restoration projects based on the 1988 survey data.
- Study changes in kelp coverage over time using the 1988 survey as a historical reference point.
Strengths
- Based on first-hand field research conducted for a master's thesis.
- Identifies specific locations of significant kelp stands (>1/2 acre).
Limitations
- Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
- Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
Provenance
- Source
- Australian Ocean Data Network
- Collection Method
- Field survey by boat, supplemented by anecdotal reports for unsurveyed areas.
- Time Range
- 1988
- Freshness
- Last updated 2026-06-04 06:59:56.359958; freshness should be verified.
- Geography
- East coast of Tasmania, Australia.