A study mapping infaunal assemblages across the Lord Howe Island shelf using high-resolution multibeam sonar and sediment grabs. The research identified three geomorphic zones—drowned lagoon, relict reef, and outer shelf—as strong predictors of community structure. The dataset was published by the Australian Ocean Data Network and last updated on 2026-04-10.
Use Cases
- Modeling infaunal community structure based on geomorphic zone classifications mentioned in the description.
- Predicting species abundance and trophic structure using sediment composition and seafloor topography variables.
- Analyzing the role of biogeographic isolation and physical disturbance on species assemblages.
- Assessing habitat suitability for endemic versus transient disperser species across different shelf environments.
Strengths
- Integrated high-resolution multibeam sonar mapping with fine-scale biological sampling.
- Analysis covers three distinct geomorphic zones across the shelf extent.
- Explicitly links seabed habitat mapping to ecological function and spatial prediction.
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 bias inherent to a single remote island study.
Provenance
- Source
- Australian Ocean Data Network
- Collection Method
- Seabed mapping via multibeam sonar and biological sampling via Smith-McIntyre grab.
- Time Range
- null
- Freshness
- Last updated 2026-04-10 17:47:08.389835; freshness should be verified.
- Geography
- Lord Howe Island shelf