BRUVS Fish and Benthic Survey of Inshore Shoals, Townsville 2006

1260 individuals from 87 species of fishes, sharks, rays, and sea snakes were observed using 21 baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS) near Townsville, Australia, in October 2006. The dataset includes 338 images and records habitat classification, species identity with CAAB codes, arrival times, behavior, maturity, and relative abundance (MaxN). Data was collected and analyzed by AIMS staff using a custom Microsoft Access interface.

Use Cases

• Modeling species abundance and distribution based on MaxN (maximum number visible) and habitat data.
• Analyzing behavioral patterns, such as feeding on bait, across different species and maturity stages.
• Classifying benthic habitats using recorded topography, sediment, and benthos information.
• Studying temporal patterns of fish arrival and activity at baited stations.

Strengths

• Includes 1260 observed individuals from 87 distinct species.
• Captures 338 images from the survey for visual reference.
• Records multiple behavioral and ecological variables, including 8 behavior categories and maturity status.
• Uses a standardized MaxN metric for quantifying relative abundance.

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 and temporal bias inherent to a single, short-term survey.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, likely originating from the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS).

Collection Method

Collected using 21 baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS).

Time Range

2006-10-28 to 2006-10-30

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-04 23:21:44.627102; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Inshore Shoals near Townsville, Australia.