Oceanic Shoals Commonwealth Marine Reserve - Opportunistic visual surveys of marine megafauna

• Other Authors: Bouchet, Phil (hasPrincipalInvestigator), Bouchet, Phil (owner), Centre for Marine Futures, The University of Western Australia (UWA) (hasAssociationWith), Emma Flukes (pointOfContact), Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), University of Tasmania (UTAS) (hasAssociationWith), Meeuwig, Jessica (hasPrincipalInvestigator)
• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: University of Tasmania, Australia
• Subjects: biota; BIODIVERSITY MONITORING; OPPORTUNISTIC COUNTS; FISH; EARTH SCIENCE; BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION; ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES; SHARKS/RAYS/CHIMAERAS; REPTILES; MARINE ENVIRONMENT MONITORING; OCEANS; RAY-FINNED FISHES; ENDANGERED SPECIES; BIOSPHERE; ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS; SPECIES/POPULATION INTERACTIONS; CETACEANS; MAMMALS; TOOTHED WHALES; Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl. Marine Ichthyology); BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; ECOLOGY; vessel of opportunity on fixed route; Abundance of biota; Biotic taxonomic identification; Bushnell; toothed whales
• Online Access: https://researchdata.edu.au/oceanic-shoals-commonwealth-marine-megafauna/1728852

Maintenance and Update Frequency: asNeeded Statement: Opportunistic scan surveys for air-breathing vertebrates were carried out both within, and in transit between, sampling areas. Whenever possible, radial distances and absolute bearings to sightings were measured using compass-fitted Bushnell 7x50 reticle binoculars, and the animals’ locations inferred from the known height of the viewing platform (top deck of the vessel RV Solander, 7 m above water line), time-stamped computer records of the ship’s GPS coordinates and established trigonometry theory. Group size, group composition (if identifiable), and dominant behaviours were logged for each species. Credit National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Marine Biodiversity Hub Opportunistic visual surveys were conducted in transit to, and within, the Oceanic Shoals Commonwealth Marine Reserve (CMR) in the Timor Sea during September and October 2012 onboard the RV Solander. This resource comprises species lists and estimated counts of marine mammals, sea snakes, seabirds, sea turtles and other large wildlife encountered during the voyage. The Oceanic Shoals Commonwealth Marine Reserve survey was undertaken as an activity within the Australian Government's National Environmental Research Program Marine Biodiversity Hub and was the key component of Research Theme 4 - Regional Biodiversity Discovery to Support Marine Bioregional Plans. Hub partners involved in the survey included the Australian Institute of Marine Science, Geoscience Australia, the University of Western Australia, Museum Victoria and the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. Data acquired during the survey included: multibeam sonar bathymetry and acoustic backscatter; sub-bottom acoustic profiles; physical samples of seabed sediments, infauna and epibenthic biota; towed underwater video and still camera observations of seabed habitats; baited video observations of demersal and pelagic fish, and; oceanographic measurements of the water column from CTD (conductivity, temperature, ...