The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area was surveyed at 1,429 sites from 10ºS to 25ºS. Observations of seagrass presence, species, and biomass were interpolated using statistical models, suggesting 40,000 km² of the seabed has a probability of seagrass presence. This dataset, part of the Reef Atlas project, provides gridded probability maps for four main Halophila species.
Use Cases
- Modeling seagrass habitat suitability based on depth and sediment variables mentioned in the description
- Analyzing spatial patterns of Halophila species distributions across the Great Barrier Reef
- Assessing the correlation between environmental factors like depth and the probability of seagrass occurrence
Strengths
- Covers 1,429 survey sites spanning a 15-degree latitudinal range from 10ºS to 25ºS
- Includes data on four main seagrass species (Halophila ovalis, H. spinulosa, H. decipiens, H. tricostata) with recorded biomass
- Statistical modeling suggests coverage of 40,000 km² of seabed with probability data
Limitations
- Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
- Data collection occurred in 1994-1995; freshness should be verified for contemporary applications
Provenance
- Source
- Australian Ocean Data Network, sourced from QDPI-F and AIMS (MTSRF-1-1-5)
- Collection Method
- Surveyed using a camera and dredge towed for 4-6 minutes per site; data interpolated using Generalized Additive Models with a Quasibinomial fit.
- Time Range
- 1994 - 1995
- Freshness
- Last updated 2026-07-10 20:26:18.829870; freshness should be verified
- Geography
- Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, adjacent to the Queensland coast, from inshore out to the reef edge up to 120nm from the coast.