Masig Island Seagrass Survey with 125 Sites and Biomass Interpolation, September 2022

125 survey sites document seagrass presence, species composition, and biomass for Masig Island in the Torres Strait from September 2022. The dataset, produced by TropWATER at James Cook University, comprises three GIS shapefiles detailing sites, meadow boundaries, and biomass interpolation. A full report, 'Torres Strait Seagrass Report Card 2023', documents the methods and findings.

Use Cases

• Mapping seagrass meadow boundaries based on field notes, satellite imagery, and aerial photographs.
• Modeling spatial variation in seagrass biomass using the interpolation layer.
• Analyzing species composition and percent cover across 125 surveyed sites.
• Studying benthic habitat by correlating seagrass data with macro-invertebrate and algae cover.
• Assessing habitat use by megafauna like dugongs based on recorded presence/absence and feeding trails.

Strengths

• Includes 125 spatially referenced survey sites with detailed ecological measurements.
• Derived from multiple data sources including satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and field surveys.
• Structured into three complementary GIS layers (sites, meadows, interpolation) for spatial analysis.

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 and temporal bias inherent to a single island survey in September 2022.

Provenance

Source

TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, and Torres Strait Regional Authority Land and Sea Rangers.

Collection Method

Intertidal benthic surveys tailored to the location, with data processed in ArcGIS 10.8 using rectified satellite imagery and field notes.

Time Range

September 2022

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-17 13:25:26.404061; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Masig Island, Torres Strait, Australia