Sediments and Benthic Biota of Bass Strait, 1979-1983

Biological and sediment data collected by Museum Victoria in Bass Strait between 1979 and 1983. The dataset includes biological material from diverse taxonomic groups, sediment samples, swath mapping, and underwater video footage. Analysis indicates a highly diverse fauna with small-scale variation, influenced by factors like longitude and depth.

Use Cases

• Modeling benthic community composition based on longitude and depth variables mentioned in the description
• Analyzing the correlation between sediment facies and biological assemblages in a high-energy marine environment
• Mapping benthic habitats using combined biological, sediment, and swath mapping data
• Studying the impact of physical processes and bioerosion on carbonate mud production described in the sediment analysis

Strengths

• Data collection spanned four years (1979-1983) across multiple surveys.
• Includes multiple data modalities: biological specimens, sediment samples, swath mapping, and underwater video.
• Analysis covers a range of taxonomic groups and physical variables like depth and longitude.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• The description notes a poor overall correlation between faunal composition and measured physical factors.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, incorporating data from Museum Victoria, Geoscience Australia, and the Australian Hydrographic Office.

Collection Method

Field surveys involving biological sampling, sediment sampling, swath mapping, and video collection.

Time Range

1979 to 1983

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-16 18:13:45.306436; freshness should be verified

Geography

Bass Strait, Australia