Seabed Biodiversity Mapping

While the coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) are well studied, less is known about the biodiversity of the seabed.

AIMS has been involved in a collaborative project to map sea floor habitats and their associated marine life across the length and breadth of the Marine Park. Scientists from the Great Barrier Reef Seabed Biodiversity Project have collected samples at approximately 1,500 sites in the GBR Marine Park.

The aim of the project was to

• map the distribution, abundance and biomass of seabed communities;

• determine the richness and uniqueness of seabed communities;

• identify rare and/or threatened species, habitats and/or communities; and

• assess risk factors for bycatch species.

Non-extractive sampling methods, such as towed and baited remote underwater videos, were used at most sites. To gather more detailed information about the plants and animals living on the seabed, a small sled and a scientific trawl were used to collect samples at sites with appropriate zoning.

The project has added much more detail to bioregional maps of the GBR Marine Park. It provides a snapshot of the seabed flora and fauna and a baseline against which to monitor changes in abundance, diversity and/or ecological function. The information collected has been used to help managers conserve important habitats and rare biodiversity, and to ensure that fisheries within the Park are ecologically sustainable activities.

March 18, 2008