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Research Voyages

MAPPING SEABED HABITATS OFF wEST AUSTRALIA SS07/05 Jul 05

[Introduction] [The Voyage] [The Voyagers] [Ship to shore]

Introduction

The aim of the Voyage is to characterise seabed (benthic) ecosystems, on the continental shelf and slope, at water depths of 100 to 1500 metres. The survey will be conducted between Albany and Dampier off the coast of Western Australia from onboard the Southern Surveyor.

Seabed habitats in this region have not been mapped, and their invertebrate fauna (including crustaceans, corals, echinoderms, sponges and molluscs) is largely unknown.

Acoustic (multibeam sonar) and photographic (high resolution digital video-based methods) will be used to map and film seabed habitats.

A suite of sleds and grabs will also be used to collect animals and seabed samples, for physical verification. However, the physical collection will be primarily focussed upon the later, section two, of the survey.

Updated: 29/03/07