The Seamap Australia spatial data layer is a nationally synthesised data product of seafloor marine habitat data. Australian continental shelf benthic habitat layers in GIS format were collected from various stakeholders around the country. Through compiling all of these data sets, we established a controlled vocabulary, reviewed by ANDS and external independent assessors, to produce a national classification of marine habitats. This national marine habitat classification scheme complements work undertaken by the National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Marine Biodiversity Hub (Theme D). The Seamap Australia product is of national importance and highlights the diversity of benthic habitats around our marine estate. This is the first edition of a seafloor marine habitat data layer that seamlessly brings together data from each of Australia’s state and territory marine habitat databases. Seamap Australia is a constantly evolving product as we continuously improve our skills in standardising, collating and sharing marine spatial data. This record describes a static version of the Seamap Australia national data layer as of 28/11/2018. The most current version of the data is available from the Seamap Australia website [http://seamapaustralia.org/map]. We envisage that the 'live' product will be constantly developed and updated as future surveys continue to improve our knowledge of our vast marine estate.

This project has been designed to provide the Western Australian Government and its agencies with improved understanding of the coastal marine environment so that its decision making with regard to development in this zone is environmentally credible and sustainable. The project will deliver this result by the following sequence of research. First, existing data will be appraised in light of a simple system model for inshore coastal waters. This rudimentary understanding will be used to design environmental surveys for three representative coastal systems (chosen in consultation with WA departments and agencies). Whereupon, baseline data will be obtained on biodiversity, biogeochemical processes and environmental quality in these waterways. With this information, the research will then move on to consider the affects of selected stressors (localised sources and diffuse inputs) on the above ecological characteristics, and the potential for irreversible alteration. Where necessary, focussed investigations in the field or laboratory will be used to resolve key mechanisms and also the scale of response. Important outcomes for the project will be the development of validated environmental indicators for the use of coastal managers, and also other resources for them to better understand the complex interactions and inter-relations in coastal marine ecosystems (e.g. via conceptual models). This project will also work with other SRFME projects to improve capacity for prediction and scenario testing in environmental decision making via models and other tools.

This record is derived from DEC Marine Policy Branch Endnote library and spatially referenced SIER Database.

Field surveys to investigate the status of mangroves impacted by oil spills, were undertaken between December 1996 and April 1997. Nine sites were investigated, based initially on information supplied by the APPEA Research Working Group and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. The site locations surveyed include: Torres Strait, Queensland; Cape Flattery, Queensland; Yorkeys Knob, near Cairns, Queensland; Botany Bay, Sydney, New South Wales; Parramatta River, Sydney, New South Wales; Spencer Gulf, South Australia; Cape Lambert, Western Australia; Johns Creek, Point Samson, Western Australia; Withnell Bay, Western Australia. These sites included most of the sites around the Australian coastine where mangroves had been affected by oil spills between 1970 and 1996.For each site measurements were made of tree and seedling condition, sediments were sampled for hydrocarbon analyses, an incident report was compiled using a standard format and information was collected on any prior studies conducted at each site (see Data Quality for further details). This research was a component of the project "Fate and effects of oil and dispersed oil on mangrove ecosystems in Australia" and was undertaken to provide a assessment of the longer term impacts of oil spills on mangrove habitat. The objectives of these surveys were:1) to assess damage to mangrove habitat, particularly deforestation, if any;2) to describe the status, recovery and recruitment of trees following the spill;3) to determine the current status of hydrocarbons in the sediments, and4) to systematically document the findings in standardised case study reports All sites, but one, were visited by the research team. The site near Port Pirie in Spencer Gulf was inaccessible at the time of the survey, and the team relied on data collected for the South Australian Department of Environment and Land Management.

This record describes a single aggregated dataset of the geomorphic habitat environment (facies) for Australia's 7 states and territories: New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Queensland, Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia. The classification system contains 12 easily identifiable and representative environments: Barrier/back-barrier, Bedrock, Central Basin, Channel, Coral, Flood- and Ebb-tide Delta, Fluvial (bay-head) Delta, Intertidal Flats, Mangrove, Rocky Reef, Saltmarsh/Saltflat, Tidal Sand Banks (and Unassigned). These types represent habitats found across all coastal systems in Australia. For the New South Wales region, 134 coastal waterways are described. Most of the estuaries of New South Wales are under intense land use pressure with approximately 80% of the State's population living near an estuary (NSW Dept of Land and Water Conservation) For the Victorian region, 54 coastal waterways are described. Most of the 54 coastal waterways have a "Modified" environmental condition (as opposed to "Near Pristine"), according to the National Land and Water Resources Audit definition. For the Tasmanian region, 88 coastal waterways are described. The majority of near pristine estuaries in Tasmania are located in the south and west of the State and on Cape Barren Island, according to the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment. For the Queensland region, 213 coastal waterways are described. Southern and central Great Barrier Reef lagoon coasts have a broad spectrum of river, tide and wave- dominated estuaries. For the Northern Territory region, 63 coastal waterways are described. Estuaries on the northern Arnhem Land, Gulf of Carpentaria coasts are predominantly tide-dominated estuaries, which vary greatly in size and floodplain characteristics. For the South Australia region, 36 coastal waterways are described. Most of the 36 coastal waterways have a "Modified" environmental condition (as opposed to "Near Pristine"), according to the National Land and Water Resources Audit definition. For the Western Australia region, 103 coastal waterways are described. Western Australia has a diverse range of Estuaries due to different climates. Ranging from mostly "near pristine" and tide influenced estuaries in the north to "near pristine" wave dominated estuaries in the southwest region.

This record describes a single aggregated dataset of the geomorphic habitat environment (facies) for Australia's 7 states and territories: New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Queensland, Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia. The classification system contains 12 easily identifiable and representative environments: Barrier/back-barrier, Bedrock, Central Basin, Channel, Coral, Flood- and Ebb-tide Delta, Fluvial (bay-head) Delta, Intertidal Flats, Mangrove, Rocky Reef, Saltmarsh/Saltflat, Tidal Sand Banks (and Unassigned). These types represent habitats found across all coastal systems in Australia. For the New South Wales region, 134 coastal waterways are described. Most of the estuaries of New South Wales are under intense land use pressure with approximately 80% of the State's population living near an estuary (NSW Dept of Land and Water Conservation) For the Victorian region, 54 coastal waterways are described. Most of the 54 coastal waterways have a "Modified" environmental condition (as opposed to "Near Pristine"), according to the National Land and Water Resources Audit definition. For the Tasmanian region, 88 coastal waterways are described. The majority of near pristine estuaries in Tasmania are located in the south and west of the State and on Cape Barren Island, according to the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment. For the Queensland region, 213 coastal waterways are described. Southern and central Great Barrier Reef lagoon coasts have a broad spectrum of river, tide and wave- dominated estuaries. For the Northern Territory region, 63 coastal waterways are described. Estuaries on the northern Arnhem Land, Gulf of Carpentaria coasts are predominantly tide-dominated estuaries, which vary greatly in size and floodplain characteristics. For the South Australia region, 36 coastal waterways are described. Most of the 36 coastal waterways have a "Modified" environmental condition (as opposed to "Near Pristine"), according to the National Land and Water Resources Audit definition. For the Western Australia region, 103 coastal waterways are described. Western Australia has a diverse range of Estuaries due to different climates. Ranging from mostly "near pristine" and tide influenced estuaries in the north to "near pristine" wave dominated estuaries in the southwest region.

This dataset is the Plant Community Type (PCT) mapping for the Crinolyn and Windella Ramsar sites of the Gwydir wetlands based on from the tree demographic and full floristic plot vegetation surveys undertaken by Eco Logical Australia from 12 April to 16 April 2023 under the NSW Department of Planning and Environment Gwydir Reconnecting Watercourse Country Program. Within Crinolyn, three PCTs were recorded, two of which (PCT 40 and 53) occur in two distinct forms and form the dominant vegetation communities within the site. A total of four PCTs were recorded within Windella, one of which (PCT 53) occurs in two distinct forms. Coolabah woodland (PCT 40a and 40b) occupied a considerable extent (33.02 ha combined) of Crinolyn and the presence of dead Coolabah throughout areas of PCT 53a, indicate a greater previous extent of Coolabah woodland within and surrounding the site. The extent of Coolabah woodland (PCT 40b) across Windella is less extensive, consisting mostly of patches featuring one mature tree and surrounding saplings and seedlings. PCT 182, characterised by dense stands of Typha domingensis (Narrow-leaved Cumbungi), dominates the central and southern portions of Windella. Following recent inundation, Narrow-leaved Cumbungi is widespread across the majority of the site, featuring as a measurable component of the remaining three other PCTs. A total of two tree demographic / full floristic plots and four full floristic monitoring plots were established in both the Crinolyn and Windella Ramsar sites. A total of 70 flora species (comprising 50 native and 20 exotic species) were recorded within Crinolyn full floristic plots, whilst a total of 48 flora species (comprising 33 native and 15 exotic species) were recorded within Windella full floristic plots. Condition class schemas developed for flood-dependent PCTs were applied to Crinolyn and Windella full floristic plot data. Condition class results were consistent for PCTs across both Crinolyn and Windella, with PCT 40 plots (PCT 40a and 40b) assessed as either Intermediate/Poor or Intermediate, whilst PCT 53a plots ranged from Intermediate to Good or Excellent/Benchmark and PCT 182 plots were assessed as Intermediate. A total of 45 trees were assessed within the two tree demographic plots (CRIN_3 – PCT 40b and CRIN_6 – PCT 40 a) established and surveyed within Crinolyn Coolabah woodland patches. Despite the two plots occurring in the two different forms of Coolabah woodland (PCT 40a and PCT 40b), major differences in tree condition between the two sites were not apparent. A total of 65 trees were assessed within the two tree demographic plots (WIND_2 and WIND_3 – both PCT 40 b) established and surveyed within Windella Coolabah woodland patches. Both plots recorded consistent results, reflective of the similar structure of the Coolabah woodland patches present within Windella. Landscape features or structures present within and surrounding the Crinolyn and Windella Ramsar sites which may influence inundation and hydrological regimes were noted during the field survey, most evidently drainage channels that have been constructed within both sites. Both drainage channels influence the flow of water across both sites and in doing so, also influence the distribution and composition of vegetation within the sites. Away from site boundaries, and apart from Phyla canescens (Lippia) which was widespread across both sites, weed cover was generally low and no listed weed species for the region were recorded during field surveys (Local Land Services 2017). Crinolyn and Windella Ramsar sites contain vegetation reflective of functioning wetland systems which vary in form and condition across their extent, and in addition to their individual ecological value, are an important part of the wider Gwydir Wetlands. At a broader scale, the separation of the sites from one another and surrounding wetlands is apparent, as is the influence of external factors such as the scale and intensity of

The physiochemical and biogeochemical properties of mangrove forests in different macrotidal coastal settings were measured. The forests were: a dense Aegiceras corniculatum forest in a ria embayment of Strickland Bay (SB1); a mature Rhizophora stylosa forest in a ria delta of the Kammergoorh River (SB2); an immature Avicennia marina stand on the steep banks of Mary Island North, off the mouth of the Fitzroy River (KS3); and a mature Avicennia marina forest at a creek mouth in Roebuck Bay, a bay with sediments dominated by carbonate deposits (BR4).Rectangular plots were marked out in each forest and plot size was determined by the area occupied by 100 trees: 48.6 m² at SB1, 324.0 m² at SB2, 600.0 m² at KS3, and 399.6 m² at BR4. Above ground biomass was estimated using previously established allometric relationships for Rhizophora stylosa and Avicennia marina. The allometric equations derived for Avicennia marina were also used for Aegiceras corniculatum, for which allometric relationships were not known. Net primary production (mmol C/m²/day) was estimated using the light interception method. Below ground fine root biomass was estimated from 3 replicate cores (1 m long x 6 cm internal diameter) in each plot. Cores were subdivided at 2 cm intervals to 40 cm and 5 cm intervals to 1 m. Roots were washed and frozen until analysis, when live and dead roots were separated using the colloidal silica method. Sediment samples were collected from the forest floor within each plot. Duplicate samples for grain size and water content were taken every 10 cm to a depth of 50 cm using 50 cc syringes with the needle ends cut off. Temperature, redox potential, and pH were measured at 2 cm intervals from duplicate cores (1 m long x 6 cm internal diameter). Samples for interstitial water were taken using the same corer. Porewater samples were obtained by cutting cores under a N2 atmosphere and squeezing sediment cakes (cut at 2 cm intervals) in a Teflon porewater apparatus. Samples were analyzed for SO4 Cl, Fe, Mn, NH4, NO2 + NO3, PO4, DOC, and Total CO2. Separate samples were analyzed for CH4. The same squeezed cakes and live and dead roots were dried, ground, and analyzed for total organic carbon (TOC), total carbon (TC), and total nitrogen (TN). TOC was measured on a Beckman TOC Analyzer, and TC and TN on a Perkin Elmer 2400 CHNS/O Series II Analyzer.Rates of iron and manganese reduction were estimated, using a core incubation method, from two sets of duplicate cores (20 cm long x 7 cm internal diameter), which were subdivided into 4 cm long sections in a N2 saturated box. Rates of sulfate reduction were measured on triplicate 2.7 cm diameter cores taken from each plot using the core injection technique. Gas (O2, CO2, CH4) and solute (Total CO2, DOC, Mn, Fe, HS-, Ca, SiOH, PO4, DOP, DON, NH4, NO2 + NO3) fluxes were measured via the glass chambers placed in replicate box core (0.027 m²) samples taken from each plot. The samples were immediately incubated on board ship in a shaded water bath maintained at ambient seawater temperature. Water used in all experiments was taken from the mangrove waterways closest to each site.Gas exchange across the air-sediment interface was measured in clear and opaque chambers to estimate benthic respiration and gross primary production during air-exposed periods (12 hours/day). Benthic respiration from submerged sediments was estimated from the total CO2 flux. An estimate of daily benthic respiration (total carbon oxidation, TCOX) at each station, taking into account the effect on sediment of roughly one-half day exposure to air and one-half day submergence, was derived by averaging the CO2 (exposed condition) and total CO2 (submerged condition) flux rates. Field studies were undertaken to determine the influence on sediment biogeochemistry of various ages and types of mangroves, located in different coastal settings (ria, riverine delta and a carbonate dominated bay) in a high energy environment.

Mangroves are a globally important ecosystem subject to significant anthropogenic and climate impacts. Tidally submerged forests and those that occur in arid and semi-arid regions are particularly susceptible to sea level rise or are growing at the margins of their their ecophysiological limits. The spatial extent of these types of mangroves over broad scales are typically poorly documented as their structural and environmental characteristics make them difficult to detect using remote sensing models. This study utilised the entire Landsat 8 satellite collection between January 2014 and June 2021. A new cloud-based time-series method was used that accounts for tidal variance in detecting mangrove areas that are periodically inundated and have historically been difficult to detect with traditional remote sensing methods. A habitat area model was derived for remote North-western Australia and detected an additional 32% (76,048 hectares) of mangroves that were previously undocumented. The accuracy of the model was assessed within the distinct geomorphic zones of the region through visual validation from high-resolution imagery. See accompanying report for full methodology: Hickey, S.M.; Radford, B. Turning the Tide on Mapping Marginal Mangroves with Multi-Dimensional Space–Time Remote Sensing. Remote Sens. 2022, 14, x. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14143365