Leschenault Estuary Seagrass Surveys 2009-2023

Leschenault Estuary Seagrass Survey contains point data on seagrass distribution and cover from 2009 to 2023. The dataset records species distribution, percentage cover categories, epiphytic cover, and macroalgae cover at surveyed sites.

Use Cases

• Analyze temporal trends in seagrass percentage cover categories across survey years from 2009 to 2023.
• Model relationships between epiphytic cover levels and seagrass species distribution.
• Assess macroalgae cover percentage categories to study competitive interactions with seagrass.
• Map spatial distribution of seagrass presence/absence derived from point observations.

Strengths

• Provides 15 years of temporal coverage from 2009 to 2023.
• Includes multiple measured features: seagrass percentage cover categories, epiphytic cover levels, and macroalgae cover categories.
• Data collection incorporated multiple methods, including boat surveys, kayak access, and drone imagery.

Limitations

• Physical water profiles, secchi depth, and photosynthetically active radiation data were only collected at approximately one-third of sites and from 2018 onwards.
• Sample data and specific row/column counts are unavailable, limiting assessment of dataset scale and structure.

Provenance

Source

Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (Western Australia)

Collection Method

Field surveys conducted via boat and kayak, supplemented by drone imagery for inaccessible locations.

Time Range

2009 to 2023

Geography

Leschenault Estuary, Western Australia