Benthic Biota of Northern Australia: Specimens from 2012 Survey

261 voucher specimens were collected during a marine survey from Darwin to Cairns between 15-24 October 2012. The Australian Ocean Data Network published the post-survey report, focusing on sessile invertebrates like sponges and corals for biodiversity and biodiscovery research. Sampling targeted two areas previously mapped by Geoscience Australia, using an ROV and benthic sled.

Use Cases

• Analyze benthic community composition based on specimen counts and biomass data for sponges and cnidarians
• Identify potential sources of marine natural products based on specimens sent for cancer and HIV compound screening
• Compare sessile invertebrate abundance and diversity between the bank (Area I) and terrace/hole (Area II) features
• Study habitat provision by sponges and octocorals based on their ecological importance noted in the description

Strengths

• 261 voucher specimens collected, providing a substantial sample set for analysis
• 139 kg of sponge biomass and 93 sponge voucher specimens offer a focused data point on a key group
• Sampling effort was precisely documented as occurring between 15-24 October 2012

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 route between Darwin and Cairns

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Data collected using an ROV and benthic sled during the transit of the R.V. Southern Surveyor

Time Range

15-24 October 2012

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-05 00:30:06.592551; freshness should be verified

Geography

Northern Australia, specifically a transit route between Darwin and Cairns, including a bank (Area I) and terrace/hole feature within the proposed Wessel Islands CMR (Area II)