Seabed Physical and Geochemical Variables from the Eastern Bonaparte Gulf

Geoscience Australia collected 124 seabed samples with 74 physical and geochemical variables in the eastern Bonaparte Gulf during 2009/2010. The dataset links sediment properties like organic matter reactivity and grain size to biodiversity patterns and geohazards. Clustering analysis of these variables was used to discriminate infauna communities and understand ecosystem processes influencing the seabed.

Use Cases

• Classifying seabed habitats based on clusters of physical and geochemical variables.
• Modeling relationships between sediment properties (e.g., grain size, organic matter) and infauna biodiversity.
• Identifying potential geohazards and sensitive benthic environments for conservation planning.
• Investigating cross-shelf biogeochemical transitions, such as authigenic element enrichments.

Strengths

• Dataset integrates 74 distinct physical and geochemical variables per sample.
• Analysis is grounded in 124 seabed samples collected during a dedicated survey.
• Data links directly to infauna assessments, providing a biological validation layer.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data freshness should be verified; the underlying survey was conducted in 2009/2010.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia / Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Seabed mapping surveys involving sample collection and laboratory analysis.

Time Range

2009-2010

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-05 07:29:22.059679; freshness should be verified

Geography

Eastern Bonaparte Gulf, Australia