NESP MaC Project 5.13 - A trophic-ecology based tool to assess and manage HAB impacts on m

NESP Marine and Coastal Hub project 5.13 developed a trophic-ecology framework to assess subtidal reef condition in South Australia following the 2025 harmful algal bloom. The project integrates biodiversity data from Reef Life Survey and the Australian Temperate Reef Collaboration with stereo-BRUV surveys and long-term monitoring to model ecosystem recovery and vulnerability. Outputs include spatial prediction maps and an interactive web-based decision-support dashboard, with a final technical report published in 2026.

Use Cases

• Modeling relationships between reef condition and environmental drivers based on the described trophic integrity framework.
• Creating spatial vulnerability maps for future disturbance events based on the integration of biodiversity and environmental data.
• Testing management scenarios such as spatial protection or fishing closures using the interactive decision-support dashboard.
• Assessing the impact of the 2025 marine heatwave on reef recovery trajectories based on the project's quantitative models.

Strengths

• Integrates multiple established biodiversity datasets, including Reef Life Survey and Australian Temperate Reef Collaboration data.
• Outputs include concrete deliverables: quantitative models, spatial prediction maps, an interactive dashboard, and a technical report.
• Project is designed to support specific management actions like spatial protection and habitat restoration.

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

NESP Marine and Coastal Hub (Flinders University, SA Department for Environment and Water, SA EPA)

Collection Method

Integration of existing biodiversity surveys (Reef Life Survey, ATRC) with new stereo-BRUV surveys and long-term monitoring data.

Time Range

Focuses on impacts from the 2025 harmful algal bloom and marine heatwave.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-05 06:17:43.676733; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Subtidal reefs across South Australia's marine estate.