Tropical Shelf Seabed Physical and Geochemical Clusters

Cluster analysis was applied to 124 seabed samples, each described by 74 physical and geochemical variables, to link sediment properties to biodiversity patterns. Geoscience Australia collected this data during seabed mapping surveys in the eastern Bonaparte Gulf in 2009 and 2010. The work provides insights into ecosystem processes influencing benthic habitats on a sediment-starved tropical shelf.

Use Cases

• Classify seabed samples into habitat clusters using 74 variables like grainsize, chlorin indices, and C:N ratios.
• Model infauna community composition (beta-diversity) as a function of geochemical clusters and variables like porewater pH.
• Identify seabed features (e.g., pockmarks, raised features) associated with specific organic matter signatures, such as benthic algal δ13C or low δ15N.
• Analyze cross-shelf transitions in sediment redox status using spatial patterns of authigenic Mn/As enrichments versus authigenic-P enrichment.
• Assess sediment oxygen status and energy levels as drivers of low Shannon-Wiener diversity observed in the data.

Strengths

• Dataset comprises 124 distinct seabed samples with a detailed profile of 74 variables per sample.
• Analysis validated by linking physical/geochemical clusters to independent infauna data, showing better discrimination than geomorphic features.
• Surveys were designed for integrated assessment, covering properties relevant to biodiversity, geohazards, and baseline habitat information.

Limitations

• Sample size is limited to 124 observations, which may constrain statistical power for some multivariate analyses.
• Data is from a single regional survey in 2009/2010, limiting temporal and broader geographic generalizability.
• Specific column names, data formats, and null value handling are not detailed in the available description.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia, collected via the Australian Ocean Data Network.

Collection Method

Seabed mapping surveys involving sample collection and laboratory analysis of physical, chemical, and biological properties.

Time Range

Survey conducted in 2009 and 2010.

Freshness

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Geography

Eastern Bonaparte Gulf, a tropical sediment-starved shelf in Australia.