Peel-Harvey Estuary Seagrass Survey 2021

March-April 2021 survey of the Peel-Harvey Estuary recorded seagrass species distribution, percentage cover, canopy height, and epiphytic cover via underwater drop camera and viewing cone observations. The dataset includes point, polygon extent, and polygon cover layers derived from the survey. Data was collected and published by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.

Use Cases

• Map seagrass species distribution and percentage cover categories (0-100%) across the estuary for habitat assessment.
• Analyze the relationship between recorded canopy height (in 10 cm intervals) and epiphytic cover (low/medium/high) classifications.
• Model seagrass presence/absence using the derived polygon extent layer for conservation planning.
• Correlate seagrass cover with macroalgae distribution and cover categories from concurrent survey records.

Strengths

• Data collected via standardized underwater observation methods (drop camera/viewing cone) in March-April 2021.
• Includes derived polygon layers for seagrass extent and percentage cover, enhancing analytical options.
• Covers multiple ecological variables: species, cover, canopy height, epiphytic cover, and macroalgae.

Limitations

• Sample data and row/column counts are unavailable, limiting assessment of dataset scale and structure.
• Physical water profiles, photosynthetically active radiation, and secchi depth were only recorded at approximately one-third of the sites.
• Data is a single temporal snapshot from 2021, lacking time-series for trend analysis.

Provenance

Source

Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, Geospatial and Data Services Manager.

Collection Method

Underwater drop camera observations and/or observations through a viewing cone.

Time Range

March and April 2021.

Freshness

Last updated in March 2026, though the underlying survey data is from 2021.

Geography

Peel-Harvey Estuary, Western Australia.