Benthic Environments of the Lord Howe Rise Plateau from 2003 and 2007 Surveys

Australia's exclusive economic zone contains 1.6 million km² of submarine plateaus, representing about 13.8% of the world's known inventory. This dataset presents results from two major marine surveys on the Lord Howe Rise plateau in 2003 and 2007, collecting biological samples, underwater photos, video, and multibeam sonar data. The Australian Ocean Data Network hosts this collection, which advances knowledge of plateau ecology.

Use Cases

• Map benthic habitat types based on described hard/rocky substrates and volcanic peaks.
• Assess ecological significance of habitats based on UN CBD criteria like uniqueness and vulnerability.
• Analyze epifaunal community composition from biological samples and photographic data.
• Model submarine plateau geology using multibeam sonar bathymetry and geological samples.

Strengths

• Data originates from two dedicated marine surveys in 2003 and 2007, providing a focused temporal snapshot.
• Includes multiple data modalities: biological samples, geological samples, underwater photographs, video, and multibeam sonar bathymetry.
• Covers a specific, globally significant feature: the Lord Howe Rise plateau within Australia's EEZ.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Freshness should be verified; last metadata update was 2026-06-23.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Results from two major marine surveys involving sample collection, photography, video, and sonar.

Time Range

Survey years 2003 and 2007

Freshness

Data collected during surveys in 2003 and 2007; metadata last updated 2026-06-23.

Geography

Lord Howe Rise submarine plateau within the Australian exclusive economic zone