Benthic habitat mapping

The Coastal CRC's research centres on the development of optimal methods, such as sampling designs, survey tools, statistical approaches, and maps for innovative ecological analysis that address the basic science and management needs in Australia's marine environment.

Benthic habitat mapping - an overview giving in broad terms the benthic habitat mapping process which falls under the following three main stages:

Habitat characterisation
Habitat classification
Habitat Mapping

Why make habitat maps to open the link to why evaluating and monitoring marine ecosystem health depends on our ability to map underwater habitats and understand the linkages among invertebrate and faunal interactions and habitats so as to ensure protection of habitats important to each part of marine organism life cycles.

Mapping for management
Mapping for ecological analysis

How to describe habitats to link to descriptions of the technical techniques used to develope classification schemes for different habitats observed in the acoustic and video surveys.

Biological characteristics
Physical seabed characteristics
Example of benthic habitats

Types of data used to link to descriptions of the biological sampling, remote sensing imagery and modelling products used to develope classification schemes for different habitats observed in the acoustic and video surveys.

Species modelling

Benthic habitat mapping flow chart