261 voucher specimens were collected during a transit survey between Darwin and Cairns from 15-24 October 2012. The Australian Ocean Data Network hosts this dataset, which focuses on sessile invertebrates like sponges and corals for biodiversity and biodiscovery research. Sampling targeted a bank and terrace/hole feature within the proposed Wessel Islands CMR.
Use Cases
- Analyze benthic community composition based on biomass and voucher counts for sponges and cnidarians
- Screen for marine natural products based on specimens sent for compound activity testing
- Study habitat provision by sessile invertebrates in bank and terrace environments
- Compare specimen abundance and diversity between the surveyed bank top and deep hole features
Strengths
- 261 voucher specimens collected in less than 24 hours of sampling effort
- 139 kg of sponge biomass collected, making sponges the most abundant group
- 49 samples designated for lodging at the ABL, indicating curated specimen management
Limitations
- Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
- Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment
- Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to the specific transit survey route
Provenance
- Source
- Australian Ocean Data Network
- Collection Method
- Data acquired via ROV and benthic sled sampling during a ship transit.
- Time Range
- 15-24 October 2012
- Freshness
- Last updated 2026-06-23 02:30:18.800504; freshness should be verified
- Geography
- Northern Australia, between Darwin and Cairns, including a bank and terrace/hole feature within the proposed Wessel Islands CMR