Sandy beaches on the north and west coasts of Tasmania, and on Flinders and King Islands were sample between October 1996 and August 1997. At each of 102 sites the strandline fauna was sampled using pitfall traps set overnight during the low tide period. A number of physical and biotic characteristics of each beach were also measured.

Rock Platforms on Tasmania's east coast, Flinders Island, and the north coast as far west as Port Sorell, were surveyed between December 1995 and September 1996. At each of 51 sites two transects were sampled using quadrats. All animals and plants were counted, or in the case of sessile species, their cover was estimated.

Beach-nesting shorebird and small terns GPS data from Tasmania's coastal areas. Surveys undertaken September to March every summer with primary effort directed towards sandy beaches. Shorebird species mapped comprise Hooded Plover Thinornis rubricollis, Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus, Australian Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris and Sooty Oystercatcher Haematopus fulignosus. These data sets are in the public domain via the NVA and LIST. In addition, nests and colonies of Fairy Tern Sternula nereis and Little Tern Sternula albifrons are also mapped. These data sets are not in the public domain.

The North Eastern Tasmania marine habitat layer1: 25,000 depicts marine habitats from Swan Island [148° 20', -40° 40'] to St Helens Point [148° 20', -41° 20']. The habitat types depicted in the dataset include rocky reef, sand, hard sand and seagrass. The data was collected from November 2003 to October 2004 by marine researchers at the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute. The use of underwater camera equipment, echo sounder data, side scan sonar and a Differential GPS unit allowed for the extensive area to be surveyed. The dataset is intended to be used to fulfil coastal management objectives according to The Living Marine Resources Act 1995.

The occurence and distribution of zooplankton species off the east coast of Tasmania was investigated between 1971 and 1973. Samples were collected at stations distributed along three transects extending seaward. Temperature and salinity data was collected at the same time.

Seagrass beds are a dominant marine ecosystem of Tayaritja (the Furneaux Group of Islands) in the north-eastern waters off Tasmania. Historical coarse mapping has indicated extensive beds of Posidonia, Amphibolis, Heterozostera, and Zostera species, potentially comprising some of the largest and deepest seagrass extents found in temperate Australian waters. However, limited data on the distribution and ecological value of these seagrass habitats represents a significant knowledge gap in understanding Australia's wetland natural assets. This project mapped the extent, ecological composition, population structure, and blue carbon value of seagrass beds around Tayaritja, in partnership with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre. The study area focused on the coastal waters surrounding Flinders Island in the western Furneaux Group, with mapping extending from the high tide line to the depth limit of reliable optical detection (approximately 30 m), based on analysis of field data and satellite imagery capabilities in the region. This record specifically describes the benthic mapping component of the study. See https://doi.org/10.25959/WRXK-KV06 for imagery annotation data from the field validation campaigns. A combination of close-range remote sensing methods was used to map the extent and ecological values of seagrass beds. The approach developed through this study contributed to the creation of the NESP Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Seagrass Mapping using Optical Remote Sensing (https://sustainabledevelopmentreform.github.io/nesp-sop-seagrass-mapping).. High-resolution satellite imagery from Sentinel-2 (10 m) sensors, combined with bathymetric LiDAR data and oceanographic variables, was used to map baseline seagrass extent and composition. A field campaign deployed a Benthic Observation Survey System (BOSS) and unBaited Remote Underwater stereo-Video system (stereo-uBRUV) at approximately 400 locations to validate remote sensing outputs. From these data, maps were produced showing the extent and coverage of seagrass, sand, and macroalgae, and where possible, seagrass species composition, subject to water depth and clarity constraints. See the "Lineage" section of this record for full methodology. Three key types of mapping products were developed: ---Occurrence probability maps--- Continuous probability surfaces (0-100%), modelled from presence/absence data, indicating the likelihood of habitat presence at each pixel for: • Seagrass (all morphologies; > 5% cover observed in underwater field imagery) • Macroalgae species/assemblages • Sand ---Habitat percentage cover maps--- Quantitative estimates of percent cover for each habitat category: • Seagrass (all morphologies) • Macroalgae species/assemblages • Sand ---Derived products--- • Baseline binary presence/extent maps derived from optimised probability thresholds: ○ Seagrass: sgprob > 0.5 & sgprob > macroprob & sandcover < 0.9 ○ Macroalgae: macroprob > 0.5 & macroprob > sgprob & sandcover < 0.9 ○ Sand: sandprob > 0.5 & sandcover < 0.2 • Predicted seagrass species composition of binary extent map. • Fractional cover visualisation: combining cover percentages of multiple habitats into a single composite product • Composite habitat maps: combining binary habitat extents and delineating mixed habitat classes These complementary products serve different purposes: probability maps provide confidence measures, extent maps delineate habitat boundaries, percent cover maps support quantitative analysis of habitat density patterns, and composite habitat maps represent the diversity of mixed habitat classes. Together, they provide a comprehensive understanding of seagrass and associated habitat distribution across the study area.

A short-term sampling programme in Princess Royal Harbour aimed to compare the mobile macrofauna of a shallow eutrophic seagrass habitat (Posidonia australis) with an adjacent sand habitat. In addition, the mobile macrofauna of an apparently oligotrophic seagrass habitat (Posidonia sinuosa) in King George Sound with an adjacent sand habitat. Species diversity and abundance of fish, macro-crustaceans and molluscs among habitats were also investigated. This sampling was carried out on series of nights between 15th and 25th January 1988.

Seagrass beds are a dominant marine ecosystem of Tayaritja (the Furneaux Group of Islands) in the north-eastern waters off Tasmania. Historical coarse mapping has indicated extensive beds of Posidonia, Amphibolis, Heterozostera, and Zostera species, potentially comprising some of the largest and deepest seagrass extents found in temperate Australian waters. However, limited data on the distribution and ecological value of these seagrass habitats represents a significant knowledge gap in understanding Australia's wetland natural assets. This project mapped the extent, ecological composition, population structure, and blue carbon value of seagrass beds around Tayaritja, in partnership with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre. The study area focused on the coastal waters surrounding Flinders Island in the western Furneaux Group, with mapping extending from the high tide line to the depth limit of reliable optical detection (approximately 30 m), based on analysis of field data and satellite imagery capabilities in the region. This record specifically describes the benthic mapping component of the study. See https://doi.org/10.25959/WRXK-KV06 for imagery annotation data from the field validation campaigns. A combination of close-range remote sensing methods was used to map the extent and ecological values of seagrass beds. The approach developed through this study contributed to the creation of the NESP Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Seagrass Mapping using Optical Remote Sensing (https://sustainabledevelopmentreform.github.io/nesp-sop-seagrass-mapping).. High-resolution satellite imagery from Sentinel-2 (10 m) sensors, combined with bathymetric LiDAR data and oceanographic variables, was used to map baseline seagrass extent and composition. A field campaign deployed a Benthic Observation Survey System (BOSS) and unBaited Remote Underwater stereo-Video system (stereo-uBRUV) at approximately 400 locations to validate remote sensing outputs. From these data, maps were produced showing the extent and coverage of seagrass, sand, and macroalgae, and where possible, seagrass species composition, subject to water depth and clarity constraints. See the "Lineage" section of this record for full methodology. Three key types of mapping products were developed: ---Occurrence probability maps--- Continuous probability surfaces (0-100%), modelled from presence/absence data, indicating the likelihood of habitat presence at each pixel for: • Seagrass (all morphologies; > 5% cover observed in underwater field imagery) • Macroalgae species/assemblages • Sand ---Habitat percentage cover maps--- Quantitative estimates of percent cover for each habitat category: • Seagrass (all morphologies) • Macroalgae species/assemblages • Sand ---Derived products--- • Baseline binary presence/extent maps derived from optimised probability thresholds: ○ Seagrass: sgprob > 0.5 & sgprob > macroprob & sandcover < 0.9 ○ Macroalgae: macroprob > 0.5 & macroprob > sgprob & sandcover < 0.9 ○ Sand: sandprob > 0.5 & sandcover < 0.2 • Predicted seagrass species composition of binary extent map. • Fractional cover visualisation: combining cover percentages of multiple habitats into a single composite product • Composite habitat maps: combining binary habitat extents and delineating mixed habitat classes These complementary products serve different purposes: probability maps provide confidence measures, extent maps delineate habitat boundaries, percent cover maps support quantitative analysis of habitat density patterns, and composite habitat maps represent the diversity of mixed habitat classes. Together, they provide a comprehensive understanding of seagrass and associated habitat distribution across the study area.

The five species of seagrass occuring around the coast of Tasmania were located on a presence-absence basis. Sampling included the recording of species, depth, density, substratum and presence of algal epiphytes. Available aerial photography from three time periods (circa 1950, circa 1970 and circa 1990) was used to digitally map selected beds into a GIS using ARC/INFO. Sample site attributes were added to the database and patterns of change and distribution were analysed and mapped. An area of approx. 220 square kilometres was mapped leading to an estimate of between 400 and 500 square kilometres of seagrass occurring in Tasmania. Decline has occurred, particularly close to areas of human population and activity. The report proposes mechanisms for the management and protection of Tasmania's seagrass communities, and nominates representative areas for possible reserve status. Reference: Rees, CG 1994 Tasmanian Seagrass Communities, Masters Thesis, Centre for Environmental Studies, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania. Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania.