Polychaete Species Inventory from Northern Australian Oceanic Shoals

2561 individual polychaetes were collected from 266 sediment samples in the Oceanic Shoals Australian Marine Park between 2009 and 2012. The inventory identifies 368 species and 43 families, including new species and family records for Australia. This dataset was published by researchers from the Australian Ocean Data Network in 2019.

Use Cases

• Analyze variation in polychaete species assemblages across the four survey events using sample metadata.
• Model relationships between polychaete functional groups (feeding, habitat, mobility) and environmental or geomorphological variables.
• Compare community structure patterns at species versus family taxonomic resolution to inform monitoring program design.
• Identify distinct polychaete assemblages associated with plains versus banks geomorphological features.
• Establish baseline biodiversity metrics for the northern Australian shelf to support marine management strategies.

Strengths

• Inventory of 2561 individual specimens provides a substantial sample for community analysis.
• Covers 368 identified species and 43 families, offering high taxonomic resolution.
• Data collected from 266 distinct sediment samples across four separate surveys.

Limitations

• Sample size is limited to a single marine park region, restricting geographic generalizability.
• Temporal coverage is confined to a 4-year period (2009-2012), limiting analysis of long-term trends.
• Direct column names and data structure are not provided in the source description.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, derived from published research in Marine and Freshwater Research.

Collection Method

Sediment samples were elutriated (500 μm mesh) to separate macrofauna during four marine surveys.

Time Range

2009 to 2012

Freshness

null

Geography

Oceanic Shoals Australian Marine Park, northern Australian shelf.