2561 individual polychaetes were collected from 266 sediment samples in the Oceanic Shoals Australian Marine Park between 2009 and 2012. The dataset, published by Geoscience Australia, represents 368 species and 43 families, including new species and genera. It provides baseline biodiversity and ecological data for small macrofauna, with analysis of community structure, environmental relationships, and functional groups.
Use Cases
- Analyze polychaete community structure variation based on survey data from 2009-2012
- Model relationships between species assemblages and environmental variables or geomorphology
- Compare ecological patterns at different taxonomic resolutions (species vs. family) and functional groups (feeding, habitat, mobility)
- Establish biodiversity baselines for small macrofauna to inform marine protected area monitoring
Strengths
- 2561 individual specimens collected from 266 samples, providing a substantial biological inventory
- 368 species and 43 families identified, including new species, genera, and family records for Australia
- Data collected from four dedicated marine surveys over a defined period (2009-2012) in a specific marine park
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/temporal bias inherent to data_gov_au
Provenance
- Source
- Geoscience Australia Data
- Collection Method
- Sediment samples were elutriated (500 μm) to separate macrofauna from four marine surveys to the Oceanic Shoals AMP.
- Time Range
- 2009-2012
- Freshness
- Last updated 2026-03-25 19:17:09.896425; freshness should be verified
- Geography
- Oceanic Shoals Australian Marine Park, northern Australia