Coral Larval Dispersal Simulations on Australia's North West Shelf, 2004-2009

A biophysical modeling dataset simulating larval dispersal for the coral species Acropora millepora across 3430 reefs on Australia's North West Shelf from 2004 to 2009. The data was generated by Parks Australia using a 1 km resolution 3D ocean circulation model and a particle tracking model to study connectivity during autumn mass spawning events. Results include estimates of larval settlement, self-seeding rates, and source-sink dynamics aggregated across 47 subregions.

Use Cases

• Modeling coral population connectivity based on simulated larval dispersal pathways.
• Identifying source and sink regions for coral larvae to inform conservation planning.
• Analyzing the impact of seasonal and intraseasonal wind variations on larval transport.
• Assessing the effectiveness of existing marine parks in protecting key larval retention areas.

Strengths

• Simulations cover a 6-year period (2004-2009), capturing interannual variability.
• High-resolution (1 km) 3D ocean model provides detailed spatial data.
• Analysis aggregates results from 3430 individual reefs into 47 subregions.
• Includes specific metrics like a mean self-seeding rate of 22% across subregions.

Limitations

• Row count and specific column definitions are unknown, requiring inspection after download.
• Data is based on a model simulation; accuracy depends on model assumptions and parameterization.
• Freshness should be verified; last metadata update was 2026-07-15.

Provenance

Source

Parks Australia, referencing a source publication.

Collection Method

Generated via a 3-dimensional hydrostatic primitive equations ocean model and a particle tracking model.

Time Range

2004-2009

Freshness

Last updated 2026-07-15 02:51:33.711189; freshness should be verified

Geography

North West Shelf of Australia, encompassing 3430 coral reefs.