Princess Royal Harbour Seagrass Survey Points 2021

263 observation points record seagrass distribution and cover in Princess Royal Harbour from January and March 2021. The dataset, created by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, includes species presence, percentage cover classes, meadow type, and epiphytic and macroalgae cover.

Use Cases

• Map the distribution of seagrass species like Posidonia australis and Halophila sp. across 263 survey points.
• Analyze seagrass percentage cover classes (e.g., <15%, 15-45%) against recorded meadow type (continuous or patchy).
• Correlate epiphytic cover ratings (none to very high) with macroalgae cover categories at each observation site.
• Model seagrass presence/absence using physical water profile and secchi depth data from a subset of sites.

Strengths

• Contains 263 spatially explicit observation points for detailed site-level analysis.
• Records six distinct seagrass species and five standardized percentage cover classes.
• Includes multiple ecological variables: meadow type, epiphytic cover, and macroalgae cover.

Limitations

• Physical water profile data (e.g., secchi depth) is only available for approximately one-third of the sites.
• Data is limited to two survey months (January and March 2021), not a continuous time series.
• The dataset is part of a larger collection; joining with extent and cover polygon layers may be required for full analysis.

Provenance

Source

Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, Geospatial and Data Services Manager.

Collection Method

Field surveys conducted from boat and kayak, recording species, cover, and environmental variables at predefined points.

Time Range

January and March 2021.

Freshness

Data reflects 2021 conditions; metadata was last updated in March 2026.

Geography

Princess Royal Harbour estuary, Western Australia.