AUV Survey of Benthic Habitats and Invasive Species in SE Tasmania

Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) surveys integrated with ship-based multibeam bathymetry mapped benthic habitats and biodiversity in coastal and offshore waters of SE Tasmania. The study trialed this integrated approach to survey high-relief kelp reefs and deep mid-shelf sediments, identifying the distribution of the invasive screw-shell Maoricolpeus roseus. Research was presented at the OCEANS'10 IEEE Sydney Conference in May 2010 by contributors to the Australian Ocean Data Network.

Use Cases

• Predict biodiversity distribution by correlating AUV-captured biological variables with multibeam-derived physical variables.
• Monitor invasive species spread, specifically the screw-shell Maoricolpeus roseus, using AUV image data across rocky reefs and shelf sediments.
• Map benthic habitat types, such as kelp-dominated rocky reefs and deep mid-shelf sediments, from integrated AUV and multibeam survey data.
• Assess marine management zones by analyzing habitat uniqueness and representativeness within the surveyed SE Tasmanian region.

Strengths

• Integrated data from two complementary survey methods: AUV image capture and ship-based multibeam bathymetry.
• Surveys covered a variety of marine habitats, from coastal rocky reefs to deep mid-shelf sediments.
• Data application demonstrated for specific management issues, including mapping an invasive marine pest.

Limitations

• Specific row counts, column details, and dataset size are unknown from the description.
• Data is from a 2010 conference presentation, potentially representing a single study period with temporal staleness.
• Geographic scope is limited to coastal and shelf waters of SE Tasmania.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, presented at OCEANS'10 IEEE Sydney Conference.

Collection Method

Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) surveys integrated with ship-based high-resolution multibeam bathymetry.

Time Range

Study presented in May 2010; specific survey dates unknown.

Freshness

null

Geography

Coastal and offshore waters of Southeast Tasmania.