Shellfish Reef Locations in Australia: Historical Distribution and Current Status

A study evaluates the status of shellfish reef ecosystems in Australia, including historical distribution and loss. The research identifies eight reef-building species and documents a dramatic decline from the mid-1800s to early 1900s, with only a small fraction of historically known reefs remaining. Data was made publicly available with a manuscript publication by the end of 2018 via the Australian Ocean Data Network.

Use Cases

• Mapping historical and current shellfish reef locations based on the described survey.
• Analyzing trends in reef loss and species decline over time based on the historical timeline provided.
• Prioritizing conservation and restoration sites based on identified current reef status and research priorities.
• Studying the impact of introduced species like Crasostrea gigas on reef extent based on the description.

Strengths

• Focuses on eight identified reef-building shellfish species across tropical, subtropical, and temperate Australia.
• Provides specific counts for historical vs. current reefs, such as 118+ historical Ostrea angasi locations vs. one remaining large reef.
• Documents a clear historical timeline of decline from the mid-1800s to early 1900s.

Limitations

• Data on five of the eight reef-building species is described as limited, preventing a detailed assessment of their current status.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Knowledge of the extent, physical characteristics, biodiversity and ecosystem services of natural reefs is described as extremely limited.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Research evaluation for the NESP MB B4 project, likely involving literature review and field surveys.

Time Range

Historical coverage from the mid-1800s to present, with data publication circa 2018.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-05 03:21:07.490290; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Australia (intertidal and subtidal areas across tropical, subtropical, and temperate zones)