Western Torres Strait Seagrass Survey with Species and Biomass Data

Torres Strait's Western Cluster contains 542 surveyed sites detailing seagrass presence, species composition, algae cover, and benthic macro-invertebrate cover from December 2020. The dataset, compiled by TropWATER at James Cook University, provides interpolated biomass maps and meadow community descriptions. It serves as a baseline for dugong and turtle management plans by the TSRA and Australian governments.

Use Cases

• Map seagrass meadow distribution and health based on GIS shapefiles of surveyed sites.
• Model biomass variation across the survey area based on interpolation data.
• Assess habitat quality for dugongs and turtles based on seagrass species composition and cover metrics.
• Monitor changes in benthic macro-invertebrate communities based on recorded percent cover data.

Strengths

• Covers 542 distinct survey sites with GPS coordinates.
• Includes three specialized GIS layers: sites, meadows, and biomass interpolation.
• Employs a calibrated visual biomass estimation technique with observer-specific regression models.

Limitations

• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data may reflect geographic and temporal bias inherent to the single survey in December 2020.

Provenance

Source

TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University.

Collection Method

Helicopter and boat-based surveys using visual estimates, GPS recording, and calibrated biomass ranking.

Time Range

December 2020

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-16 18:18:43.276457; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Western Cluster, Torres Strait, Australia