This dataset summarises benthic surveys in Marra Sea Country, including the Limmen Marine Park (Commonwealth) and Limmen Bight Marine Park (Northern Territory) into 4 GIS shapefiles. (1) A point (site) shapefile describes (a) seagrass presence/absence, (b) seagrass species composition, (c) algae cover and (d) benthic macro-invertebrate cover at n=2018 sites surveyed by small vessel and helicopter. (2) A point (site) shapefile describes deep-water (a) seagrass presence/absence, (b) seagrass species composition, (c) algae cover and (d) benthic macro-invertebrate cover at 54 sites surveyed by benthic towed camera and sled net. (3) The meadow shapefile describes attributes of 69 seagrass meadows. (4) The interpolation shapefile describes variation in seagrass biomass across the seagrass meadows. The full report is: Collier C.J., Carter A., Shepherd L., van de Wetering C., Coles R., Evans S., Barrett D., Willan R.C., Groom R. (2022) Benthic habitats of Marra Sea Country - Gulf of Carpentaria. Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Marra land and sea country includes coastal waters in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria in the Northern Territory (NT). The Limmen Marine Park (Commonwealth Government) and the Limmen Bight Marine Park (NT Government) are in Marra country. The co-management aspirations identified within the two Marine Park Plans of Management and the Marra Healthy Country Plan include a need to improve information on habitats and key species because they have not been previously mapped. Methods: The sampling methods used to study, describe and monitor seagrass meadows were developed by the TropWATER Seagrass Group and tailored to the location and habitat surveyed; these are described in detail in the relevant publications (https://research.jcu.edu.au/tropwater). Geographic Information System (GIS) All survey data were entered into a Geographic Information System (GIS) developed for Torres Strait using ArcGIS 10.8. Rectified colour satellite imagery of Limmen Bight (Source: Allen Coral Atlas and ESRI), field notes and aerial photographs taken from the helicopter during surveys were used to identify geographical features, such as reef tops, channels and deep-water drop-offs, to assist in determining seagrass meadow boundaries. Four GIS layers were created to describe spatial features of the region: a site layer, seagrass meadow layer, and seagrass biomass interpolation layer. Seagrass site layers Two layers were produced because of additional columns/details on benthic invertebrates that are included in the deep-water shapefile. These layers contains information on data collected at assessment sites and includes: 1. Temporal survey details – Survey date; 2. Spatial position - Latitude/longitude; 3. Survey location; 4. Seagrass information including presence/absence of seagrass, above-ground biomass (total and for each species), percent cover of seagrass at each site and whether individual species were present/absent at a site; 5. Benthic macro-invertebrate information including the percent cover of hard coral, soft coral, sponges and other benthic macro invertebrates (e.g. ascidian, clam) at a site; 6. Algae information including percent cover of algae at a site and percent contribution of algae functional groups to algae cover at a site; 7. Open substrate – the percent cover of the site that had no flora or habitat forming benthic invertebrates present; 8. Dominant sediment type - Sediment type based on grain size visual assessment or deck descriptions. 9. Survey method and vessel 10. Relevant comments and presence/absence of megafauna and animals of interest (sea cucumber, dugong, turtle, dolphin, evidence of dugong feeding trails); 11. Data custodians. Seagrass meadow layer Seagrass presence/absence site data, mapping sites, field notes, and satellite imagery were used to construct meadow boundaries in ArcGIS®. The meadow (polygon) layer provides summary information for all sites within each seagrass meadow, including: 1.

Benthic data were aggregated from multiple sources to create a baywide record of seabed material in the Chesapeake Bay. Habitat polygons are classified with an adaptation of the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) Substrate Component (SC). Source data were collected during the interval 1842-2014. Because of potential temporal changes in bottom conditions and deficiencies in survey methodology, benthic habitat characterizations may be in error in some areas. These are, however, the best data currently available. This is a subset of an original dataset which may be found here: http://ftp.ncbo.cgclientx.com/ecoscience/Chesapeake_Bay_Coastal_and_Marine_Ecological_Classification_Standard_CMECS/Metadata/MD_Bay_Bottom_Survey/. This dataset contains only acoustic (SONAR) surveyed data for Maryland and Maryland Bay Bottom Survey data. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office makes no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the use or appropriateness of Spatial Data, and there are no warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use. The information contained in Spatial Data is from publicly available sources, but no representation is made as to the accuracy or completeness of Spatial Data. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office shall not be subject to liability for human error, error due to software conversion, defect, or failure of machines, or any material used in the connection with the machines, including tapes, disks, CD-ROM's or DVD-ROM's and energy. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office shall not be liable for any lost profits, consequential damages, or claims against the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office by third parties. The liability of the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office for damage regardless of the form of the action shall not exceed any distribution fees that may have been paid in obtaining Spatial Data.

Benthic data were aggregated from multiple sources to create a baywide record of seabed material in the Chesapeake Bay. Habitat polygons are classified with an adaptation of the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) Substrate Component (SC). Source data were collected during the interval 1842-2014. Because of potential temporal changes in bottom conditions and deficiencies in survey methodology, benthic habitat characterizations may be in error in some areas. These are, however, the best data currently available. This is a subset of an original dataset which may be found here: http://ftp.ncbo.cgclientx.com/ecoscience/Chesapeake_Bay_Coastal_and_Marine_Ecological_Classification_Standard_CMECS/Metadata/MD_Bay_Bottom_Survey/. This dataset contains only acoustic (SONAR) surveyed data for Maryland and Maryland Bay Bottom Survey data. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office makes no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the use or appropriateness of Spatial Data, and there are no warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use. The information contained in Spatial Data is from publicly available sources, but no representation is made as to the accuracy or completeness of Spatial Data. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office shall not be subject to liability for human error, error due to software conversion, defect, or failure of machines, or any material used in the connection with the machines, including tapes, disks, CD-ROM's or DVD-ROM's and energy. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office shall not be liable for any lost profits, consequential damages, or claims against the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office by third parties. The liability of the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office for damage regardless of the form of the action shall not exceed any distribution fees that may have been paid in obtaining Spatial Data.

This product (i.e. an Access database and csv files) contains data (longitude, latitude and physical data) that explains the predicted spatial patterns of benthic habitats for demersal fish and benthic invertebrates in the NMR. Predicted patterns for habitats represent point data on a 0.01 decimal degree grid covering most of the NMR (approximately 400,000 square km).

Data is in support of a survey of benthic communities in across a salinity gradient Pensacola Bay during Summer 2016. Data describe the fauna community composition and corresponding sediment parameters (including sediment grain size and trace metal concentrations). Benthic habitat condition is estimated using benthic index approaches developed for Gulf estuaries (GOM B-IBI and EMAP-E). All taxonomic nomenclature follows the World Register of Marine Species (http://www.marinespecies.org/). Samples were collected using a 232 cm2 surface area box corer, and 0.5-mm mesh sieve. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Nestlerode, J., M. Murrell, J. Hagy, L. Harwell, and J. Lisa. Bioassessment of a Northwest Florida Estuary Using Benthic Macroinvertebrates. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, KS, USA, 16(2): 245-256, (2020).

Data is in support of a survey of benthic communities in across a salinity gradient Pensacola Bay during Summer 2016. Data describe the fauna community composition and corresponding sediment parameters (including sediment grain size and trace metal concentrations). Benthic habitat condition is estimated using benthic index approaches developed for Gulf estuaries (GOM B-IBI and EMAP-E). All taxonomic nomenclature follows the World Register of Marine Species (http://www.marinespecies.org/). Samples were collected using a 232 cm2 surface area box corer, and 0.5-mm mesh sieve. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Nestlerode, J., M. Murrell, J. Hagy, L. Harwell, and J. Lisa. Bioassessment of a Northwest Florida Estuary Using Benthic Macroinvertebrates. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, KS, USA, 16(2): 245-256, (2020).

Data is in support of a survey of benthic communities in across a salinity gradient Pensacola Bay during Summer 2016. Data describe the fauna community composition and corresponding sediment parameters (including sediment grain size and trace metal concentrations). Benthic habitat condition is estimated using benthic index approaches developed for Gulf estuaries (GOM B-IBI and EMAP-E). All taxonomic nomenclature follows the World Register of Marine Species (http://www.marinespecies.org/). Samples were collected using a 232 cm2 surface area box corer, and 0.5-mm mesh sieve. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Nestlerode, J., M. Murrell, J. Hagy, L. Harwell, and J. Lisa. Bioassessment of a Northwest Florida Estuary Using Benthic Macroinvertebrates. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, KS, USA, 16(2): 245-256, (2020).

Point data collected from video drops identifying benthic habitats such as seagrass, macroalgae and reef, collected during field work in 2007 to 2011. Used to support the Benthic Habitat Mapping project undertaken by DENR to map the nearshore benthic habitats of South Australia.

The benthic habitats represented in the MSE include continental shelf seabed habitats, coastal seagrass meadows and mangrove forests. A metapopulation model was used. Due to availability of historical data, models were most fully developed for the continental shelf seabed habitats. Parameter values for the remaining habitat types were derived from available NWS data and scientific literature. Historical extent data was augmented by personal communication through workshops and interviews with residents, divers and scientists with long term NWS experience. Each of the habitat types was modelled using the benthic agent model structure.

This data was collected to improve our knowledge and understanding of the marine environment in the upper reaches of East and Middle Arms (Darwin Harbour), to assist planning and sustainable development for the new township. Data provide polygon data that map the benthic habitats (12 physical and biological categories) in the upper reaches of the harbour using remote-sensed and survey data. This dataset is being continually updated and is current as of 03/03/2016.