Timor Sea Fish and Benthic Survey with 87 Individuals and 13 Species

87 individual marine organisms from 13 species of fish, sharks, rays, and sea snakes were observed at Timor Sea Shoals using baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS) from May 27 to June 2, 2002. The dataset includes approximately 3500 reference images and records habitat classification, species identity with CAABCODES, arrival time, behavior, maturity, and relative abundance (MaxN). It was collected by the Australian Ocean Data Network for marine ecological analysis.

Use Cases

• Analyze species distribution and relative abundance (MaxN) across different benthic habitat classifications.
• Model the time elapsed before maximum abundance (MaxN) or feeding behavior occurs based on species and maturity data.
• Classify fish behavior into 8 categories, including feeding on bait, using recorded arrival times and species identity.
• Link species observations with CAABCODES to standardize taxonomic identification across marine datasets.

Strengths

• Includes detailed behavioral and maturity data for 87 observed individuals across 13 species.
• Provides approximately 3500 reference images from BRUVS deployments for visual validation.
• Records temporal data including time of arrival and time elapsed before key events like MaxN.

Limitations

• Small sample size of 87 individuals limits statistical power for broad ecological inferences.
• Data is temporally limited to a single week in 2002, offering only a snapshot of conditions.
• Primary data format is a custom Microsoft Access interface, which may require specific software for analysis.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS) deployed at Timor Sea Shoals.

Time Range

2002-05-27 to 2002-06-02

Freshness

Data is from 2002; metadata was last updated in March 2026.

Geography

Timor Sea Shoals