Ecosystem-based, integrated, regional marine planning depends
on identifying planning units that are natural regions and can
be meaningfully defined by lines on maps. These need to be identified
and interpreted on a number of spatial scales for different
planning and management purposes because marine ecosystems and
human activities operate at multiple scales. Relevant scales
include those relating to major faunal distributions (provinces
and depth zones of the continental shelf and slope (typically
1000s km in size); intermediate-sized features with 'special'
biodiversity associations such as submarine canyons and seamounts
(typically 100s of km in size); and several finer scales (m
to km) at which human use and impacts occur. The broad latitude
and depth-stratification of our survey data (inner and outer
shelf, upper and mid-slope in three Provinces) will contribute
to understanding biological distributions, biogeography and
faunal origins at the broadest scales, while sampling targeted
at specific features such as the Ningaloo continental slope,
Perth Canyon and Albany seamounts will provide the first data
at finer scales within priority areas for marine resource managers.
Outputs will include high-resolution multibeam acoustic maps
(bathymetry, texture, slope and backscatter) 'ground-truthed'
with high resolution, georeferenced photography and physical
samples of seabed (sediment and rock types). Biological inventories
will cover animals living on the seabed (the 'epifauna') collected
by sled, and animals living in the surface sediments (the' infauna')
collected with a grab and box corer.
Genetic "Barcoding" program
The extensive collection of invertebrate fauna on the second
voyage will provide the material to extend the WfO Barcode of
Life program from fish to other marine animals. Specimens collected
on this survey will be analysed (in conjunction with museum
taxonomists) to define the biogeography of selected invertebrate
phyla. The genetic structure of species and populations will
be used to ask fundamental questions on how biodiversity is
structured in Australia's outershelf and slope waters, will
be used to develop testable hypotheses on how it is maintained,
and thus start to define the scales of spatial management necessary
to conserve biodiversity.
Hydrochemistry/phytoplankton data
The survey will provide a valuable in-situ dataset of bio-optical
parameters to the WfO Remote Sensing project (Theme 1, Stream
2). The in situ measurements will be used to validate the satellite-based
estimates of the same parameters made at a large spatial scale.
This will contribute to developing and refining algorithms to
deliver accurate satellite estimates of water column properties
such as chlorophyll A/ phytoplankton biomass for the waters
off Western Australia.
Specific outputs and their delivery into WfO Theme 4 projects
include:
| Project output or data product |
WfO T4 projects |
|
Characterization of deep continental shelf and continental
slope benthic ecosystems, including candidate sites for
biodiversity conservation such as Ningaloo, the Perth
Canyon and Albany Seamounts |
2.2, 3.3
+ cluster projects |
|
Interpreted maps of seabed habitats (high resolution,
multi-scale swath maps with high resolution photographic
'ground-truth' data) that include a network of scientific
reference sites |
1.3, 2.2, 3.3+ clusters |
|
Genetic samples from key faunal groups (sponges, soft
corals, echinoderms) for CO1 gene analysis ("Bar-coding") |
1.2 |
|
Information on the evolution and biogeography of Australia's
deep benthic fauna |
2.2 |
The voyage design, participants and schedule
Sampling design
Latitudinal sampling will be at ~1 degree intervals along the
400 m depth horizon, with cross-depth transects (100 to 1000
m) in the 3 biogeographic provinces. Key features including
the Ningaloo continental slope, Perth Canyon and Albany seamounts
will be sampled at several locations in depths from 100 to 1500
m depth. Water column samples will be used to describe the phytoplankton
distribution in relation to primary water masses. Fluorescence
data will be collected to validate ocean colour measurements
at the sea surface, and multi-frequency acoustic data will be
collected through the water column to describe the ocean's 'deep
scattering layers'.
Participants
The project team from CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research
(CMAR) will be joined by researchers from Geoscience Australia
and several of Australia's museums including Museum Victoria,
Western Australian Museum, and Australian Museum Sydney. There
will also be input from international taxonomic experts. The
Project leaders Drs Alan Williams, Rudy Kloser and Nic Bax are
from CMAR in Hobart.
Schedule
Survey 1: Depart Dampier 21 July 2005, Arrive Fremantle 17
August 2005
Survey 2: Depart Fremantle 17 Nov 2005, Arrive Dampier 14 Dec
2005
Sponsors
Wealth from Oceans Flagship; CMAR; National Oceans Office;
Marine National Facility
Project details
See the Voyage
plan.