BRUVS Fish and Benthic Survey of Rowley Shoals and Scott Reef, June 2003

2156 individuals from 102 species of fishes, sharks, rays, and sea snakes were observed using 24 baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS) around Rowley Shoals and Scott Reef, Western Australia. The dataset includes 232 images and records habitat classification, species identity with CAAB codes, arrival times, behavior, maturity, and relative abundance (MaxN). A custom interface for reading and analysis was developed by AIMS staff using Microsoft Access.

Use Cases

• Modeling species abundance and distribution based on MaxN (maximum number visible at one time) and habitat classification data.
• Analyzing behavioral patterns, such as feeding on bait, based on the 8 recorded behavior categories.
• Classifying benthic habitat types from the recorded topography, sediments, and benthos descriptions.
• Studying temporal patterns of fish arrival and activity based on recorded time of arrival and time elapsed before events.

Strengths

• Includes 2156 individual observations across 102 species, providing a substantial sample for analysis.
• Captures multiple data dimensions per observation, including species identity, behavior, maturity, habitat, and temporal metrics.
• Supported by a reference library of approximately 3500 of the best images from related BRUVS projects.

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 the specific survey location and period.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Survey using 24 baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS).

Time Range

2003-06-01 to 2003-06-15

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-22 08:32:12.416621; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Rowley Shoals and Scott Reef, Western Australia