NESP MaC 4.25: Maugean Skate Abundance and Habitat Maps for Macquarie Harbour

Maugean skate has one of the most restricted distributions of any extant elasmobranch, found only in two harbours in western Tasmania. This project produced Close Kin Mark Recapture population estimates and hindcast/forecast habitat suitability maps for the endangered Maugean skate in Macquarie Harbour. Outputs include high-quality DNA sequences, spatial maps from 2017-18 and future scenarios, and a final report.

Use Cases

• Estimate historical spawning stock abundance based on Close Kin Mark Recapture (CKMR) analysis mentioned in the description
• Model critical habitat distribution based on telemetry data, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and depth variables
• Generate hindcast and forecast habitat suitability maps for different water-quality management scenarios
• Inform spatial and temporal sampling strategies for future monitoring based on identified critical habitat areas

Strengths

• Focuses on a specific endangered population with an estimated size of ~3,000 individuals in Macquarie Harbour
• Integrates multiple data types: genetic sequencing for CKMR, telemetry data, and biophysical harbour models
• Provides temporal perspective with maps for a 2017-18 hindcast period and forecast scenarios

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Close Kin Mark Recapture (CKMR) using next-generation sequencing and habitat selection modelling combining telemetry data with biophysical models.

Time Range

Includes a hindcast period for 2017-18 and forecast scenarios.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-07-13 20:20:54.780502; freshness should be verified

Geography

Macquarie Harbour and Bathurst Harbour in western Tasmania, Australia.