Lord Howe Island Fish and Benthic Survey with 674 Individuals

Lord Howe Island survey comprises 674 individuals from 56 species of fishes, sharks, rays, and sea snakes observed using 22 baited remote underwater video stations in 2004. Data includes habitat classification, species identity with CAABCODES, arrival time, behavior, maturity, and relative abundance measures like MaxN. The Australian Ocean Data Network provides this dataset, which includes approximately 3500 reference images.

Use Cases

• Analyze species distribution and relative abundance (MaxN) across different benthic habitat classifications.
• Model time elapsed before maximum observed count (MaxN) or feeding behavior occurs based on species and arrival time.
• Study behavioral patterns across 8 categories, including feeding on bait, segmented by species maturity (adult/juvenile).
• Cross-reference fish species observations with CAABCODES for taxonomic verification and database integration.

Strengths

• Documents 674 individual observations from 56 distinct marine species.
• Includes approximately 3500 reference images from the BRUVS projects.
• Captures multiple analytical dimensions per observation: species, behavior, maturity, habitat, and timing.

Limitations

• Sample size is limited to 674 individuals, which may restrict statistical power for rare species analysis.
• Data is from a single survey period in 2004, limiting temporal analysis and current ecological assessments.
• Primary data interface is a custom Microsoft Access tool, which may require specific software for full analysis.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Collected using 22 baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS).

Time Range

2004-02-22 to 2004-03-07

Freshness

Data is from 2004, though metadata was last updated in March 2026.

Geography

Lord Howe Island, Australia