eAtlas https://northwestatlas.org/rss.xml/162 en Mapping exposure of marine megafauna to anthropogenic threats in the north-west marine region of Australia https://northwestatlas.org/nwa/threat-exposure-megafauna <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> We used data from satellite telemetry tags attached to six species of threatened and migratory marine megafauna across three taxonomic groups (marine turtles, whales and sharks) off the coast of north-western Australia to map their areas of use. We then compiled spatial data from a range of threats and overlayed species and threat maps to assess the level of exposure of the species to threats. In doing so we can identify areas where there is high exposure of species to threats, where risk assessments can be best directed with resulting management actions if needed in order to protect these species. </div> </div> </div> Thu, 15 Jul 2021 08:27:39 +0000 nwatlas 49001 at https://northwestatlas.org How connected are deep and shallow Pearl Oysters in the Eighty Mile Beach area? https://northwestatlas.org/node/49000 <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> We use genetics to estimate how far and wide oyster larvae can disperse to assist in setting biologically relevant spatial boundaries and harvest limits for oysters. </div> </div> </div> Wed, 07 Jul 2021 01:45:15 +0000 nwatlas 49000 at https://northwestatlas.org Distribution and important areas for pygmy blue whales https://northwestatlas.org/nwa/pygmy-blue-whales <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> To assist in recovery of the population, spatial areas of importance to pygmy blue whales, known as Biologically Important Areas (BIA), have been identified by the Australian Government. The AIMS team and collaborators Centre for Whale Research and Curtin University set out to reduce uncertainty in identifying where important foraging areas for this species and their migration pathways and distribution exist, and the extent to which they overlap with anthropogenic activities by deploying satellite tags. </div> </div> </div> Thu, 01 Jul 2021 04:50:01 +0000 nwatlas 48999 at https://northwestatlas.org Money Shoal, Arafura Marine Park, Australia https://northwestatlas.org/nwa/money-shoal <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> The information in this eco-narrative forms an initial characterisation of the physical, oceanographic and biological character of Arafura Marine Park, with a focus on results from a biodiversity and mapping survey undertaken by the NESP Marine Biodiversity Hub in 2020. This survey targeted two areas (see map below): Money Shoal as an example of shallow coral reef habitat, and Pillar Bank as an example of a deeper water mixed seabed environments. This excerpt focuses mainly on Money Shoal. </div> </div> </div> Wed, 17 Mar 2021 00:51:10 +0000 admin 47335 at https://northwestatlas.org Hawksbill and green turtle distribution and important areas https://northwestatlas.org/nwa/nws2s-megafauna <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> Global populations of green (IUCN listing endangered) and hawksbill (IUCN listing critically endangered) turtles are declining due to a range of threats. Australia supports some of the largest rookeries (nesting sites) for these turtles in the Indo-Pacific. Even though they've been much studied, most data that shows where these turtles spend their time around Australia remains unpublished. Here, we set out to quantify and map the important areas that turtles use to help refine these protected areas and assist with turtle conservation management. </div> </div> </div> Thu, 11 Jun 2020 01:27:35 +0000 nwatlas 40602 at https://northwestatlas.org Discovering what lives on the sea floor at 125m depth https://northwestatlas.org/nwa/nws2s-ac125-benthic-towed-video-stills-map <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> Key Ecological Features (KEFs) are parts of the marine ecosystem considered to be of particular importance for either a region's biodiversity or its ecosystem function and integrity. 13 KEFs have been defined for Australia’s North-west Marine Region, including the ‘Ancient Coastline at 125m depth contour’ (AC125). The AC125 is thought to “provide areas of hard substrate and therefore may provide sites for higher diversity and enhanced species richness relative to surrounding areas of predominantly soft sediment.” Little is known about what habitats exist on the sea floor in the AC125. Part of the reason is that the AC125 is very deep, and thus difficult to observe. The North West Shoals to Shore Research Program took underwater photographs and video of the seafloor to better understand each AC125 Area within its local context. </div> </div> </div> Wed, 10 Jun 2020 06:14:37 +0000 nwatlas 40600 at https://northwestatlas.org Are Pearl Oysters found in deep water? https://northwestatlas.org/nwa/nws2s-oysters <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> The Silver Lipped Oyster, Pinctada maxima, forms the basis of a historical fishery in tropical Western Australia, estimated to be worth $A61 million in 2013. This fishery supplies pearl and mother of pearl markets through wild harvest of P. maxima stock, augmented more recently with aquaculture. Studies have shown that populations of P. maxima within the region are highly connected to one another. This raises the question of whether oysters located deeper than those safely visited by divers (beyond 30-40 metres) may help replenish stocks in shallower areas. At present, the extent to which P. maxima occurs at these depths (>40 metres) within the region near Eighty Mile Beach is poorly known. </div> </div> </div> Tue, 09 Jun 2020 08:21:33 +0000 nwatlas 40599 at https://northwestatlas.org How many different species of fish are found around the Ancient Coastline (125m) KEF? https://northwestatlas.org/nwa/nws2s-ac125-fish-richness-map <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> The North West Shoals to Shore Research Program investigated seabed habitats and their biodiversity to inform management and sustainable development of the region. Little is known about the fish found on and around the AC125. Part of the reason is that the AC125 is very deep, and thus difficult to observe. One question to ask about a habitat is how many different species of fish are found there - this is called fish species 'richness'. We explored this question for 5 study areas spread along the vast AC125 (see map below, read the full paper here). </div> </div> </div> Tue, 09 Jun 2020 07:16:58 +0000 nwatlas 40598 at https://northwestatlas.org Finding fish on the Ancient Coastline KEF (125 m) with underwater video https://northwestatlas.org/nwa/nws2s-ac125-bruvs <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> Little is known about what fish species call the AC125 home. Part of the reason is that the AC125 is very deep, and thus difficult to observe. To fill this gap, we conducted fish relative abundance and diversity surveys across five study Areas of the AC125 using Baited Remote Underwater Video Stations (BRUVS). BRUVS were deployed on and off the AC125 at a minimum distance of 500 m between each unit. A total of 204 BRUVS deployments were conducted at depths between 62.1 m and 181.4 m across each study Area from the RV Solander. </div> </div> </div> Thu, 04 Jun 2020 06:21:13 +0000 nwatlas 40597 at https://northwestatlas.org Sponge functional growth forms as a means for classifying sponges without taxonomy https://northwestatlas.org/node/33141 <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>Sponge taxonomy is difficult and challenging, it requires adequate laboratory facilities, experience and time, which are often not available. Moreover, not all habitats can be physically sampled (e.g. protected areas, deep sea), and for monitoring purposes video work is usually the preferred method. However, sponges cannot reliably be identified from imagery lacking samples, and therefore we recommend using growth forms as a quick classification. If the growth forms are described by clearly focusing on their function, they will represent environmental conditions, e.g.</p></div> </div> </div> Fri, 23 Nov 2018 10:04:06 +0000 nwatlas 33141 at https://northwestatlas.org What do we know about the Glomar Shoal Key Ecological Feature? https://northwestatlas.org/nwa/glomar-rankin/glomar-qual-model <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> Learn more about the Glomar Shoals KEF, based on new knowledge of its benthic and pelagic environments that researchers within the NESP Marine Biodiversity Hub used to develop a preliminary model of the KEF's ecosystem components and processes. </div> </div> </div> Fri, 13 Apr 2018 02:20:14 +0000 nwatlas 27546 at https://northwestatlas.org Updated synthesis: What do we know about the North West Banks and Shoals of the Timor Sea? https://northwestatlas.org/nwa/pttep/synthesis2 <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> Explore how Barracouta East, Goeree and Vulcan shoals have changed over time. </div> </div> </div> Mon, 12 Mar 2018 08:35:06 +0000 nwatlas 27519 at https://northwestatlas.org Chlorophyll-a and ocean productivity https://northwestatlas.org/node/27500 <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>Much of life on earth ultimately depends on the capture of light from the sun and its translation into energy via <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photosynthesis">photosynthesis</a>. This process is called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_production">primary production</a>, and is performed by special pigments such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorophyll">chlorophyll</a> that exist in living plants.</p></div> </div> </div> Thu, 21 Dec 2017 11:53:45 +0000 nwatlas 27500 at https://northwestatlas.org Sea Surface Temperature (SST) https://northwestatlas.org/node/27499 <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>Understanding sea surface temperature and how it varies across the globe over time is incredibly important. The oceans cover 71 percent of the earth's surface. Ocean temperatures have a huge influence on global weather patterns, and play a major role in shaping the structure and function of marine ecosystems. Ocean temperatures help control what species of plants, animals and microbes can live in a given location, and can alter important animal behaviours such as migration and breeding.</p></div> </div> </div> Thu, 21 Dec 2017 11:31:54 +0000 nwatlas 27499 at https://northwestatlas.org Biologically Important Areas (BIAs) https://northwestatlas.org/node/27496 <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <style type="text/css"> <!--/*--><![CDATA[/* ><!--*/ table.bia-table th, table.bia-table td { padding: 0.5em 1em; border: 1px solid #000000; } table.bia-table th { vertical-align: top; text-align: center; min-width: 100px; } table.bia-table td { vertical-align: middle; text-align: left; background-color: #EEEEEE; } /*--><!]]>*/ </style></div> </div> </div> Tue, 12 Dec 2017 05:59:29 +0000 nwatlas 27496 at https://northwestatlas.org