Hard Coral Biogeography in Western Australia for Dredging Impact Studies

A study examining the biogeographic range of hard corals in Western Australia to guide laboratory experiments on dredging impacts. The data is based on a collection compiled over 60 years from the Western Australian Museum and other taxonomic surveys, with recent updates including molecular phylogenetic studies. The dataset compares species distributions with the central Great Barrier Reef for experimental relevance.

Use Cases

• Modeling coral species distribution for environmental impact assessments based on biogeographic range data.
• Selecting representative coral species for laboratory sediment exposure experiments based on presence/absence records.
• Comparing coral assemblages between Western Australia and the Great Barrier Reef for cross-regional studies.
• Correlating coral species presence with environmental factors like water quality and wave energy as suggested by prior studies.

Strengths

• Data compilation spans over 60 years, incorporating multiple sources including museum collections and dedicated expeditions.
• References multiple specific taxonomic studies from locations like Ashmore Reef, the Montebello Islands, and the Dampier Archipelago.
• Includes comparison data from the central Great Barrier Reef, providing a broader biogeographic context.

Limitations

• Data primarily consists of presence/absence records, with abundance data noted as limited.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

Parks Australia, referencing source publications and the Western Australian Museum collection.

Collection Method

Compiled from museum specimen records, opportunistic sampling, and dedicated multi-year faunal surveys by various institutions.

Time Range

Collection compiled over the last 60 years, with specific studies referenced from 1987 to 2014.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-07-16 23:12:22.224358; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Northwest Western Australia, including the Pilbara coast, Dampier Archipelago, Barrow Island, and the Kimberley region, with comparisons to the central Great Barrier Reef.