From June 2009, for two years Snapper (Chrysophrys auratus) and Silver Trevally (Pseudocaranx georgianius) stomachs were sampled for their contents to create food webs. An understanding of the dietary composition of these two species is crucial for developing a food web involving the main demersal fish species found along the coast of south-western Australia. The production of ecosystem models using these food webs will facilitate the development of effective management strategies to sustain these species within the context of EBFM. Currently, there is little known of the dietary composition of these two species. Knowledge of these diets during each life cycle stage and each season will provide, in conjunction with data for other demersal fish species, an understanding of how food resources are partitioned among and within the different species and life stages. By including these data with large existing data sets for approximately 40 other demersal fish species from the lower south west coast, a holistic food web can be constructed. Such a food web will be the first of its kind in Western Australia and will provide an invaluable tool in fisheries management and evaluation. Samples were collected seasonally over two years from inshore waters ranging from Kalbarri to Esperance.

There were four key objectives for WAMSI Node 4.2.2a: (1) determination of indicator regions; (2) development of monitoring strategies; (3) Implement a long term monitoring program (LTMP); and (4) provision of an assessment of expanding the LTMP to other areas. Indicator regions were confirmed as the Abrolhos Islands, Rottnest Island, and the Cape Naturaliste region. A synthesis of historical data sets for primary producers, sessile and mobile invertebrates and finfish were collected from the indicators region and an extensive review of potential indicators for finfish was also conducted (available for download from this metadata record). A program to monitor the health and biodiversity of subtidal reefs was established in April 2010 and April 2011. An Automated Underwater Vehicle (AUV) was deployed at the Abrolhos Islands, Jurien Bay and Rottnest Island to capture valuable information on the cover and abundance of benthic invertebrates and macroalgae. Replicate grids (25 x 25 m area of seabed) were surveyed. Exact co-ordinates are given below.

The principal goal of this research was to investigate the most efficient, cost-effective and meaningful way of describing the structure and biodiversity of seabed habitats along the coastline of WA. This study used existing data obtained from three regions (Ningaloo, Abrolhos and Capes) to compare techniques including comparing diver vs camera-based techniques for fish. The first study compared the assemblage composition, relative abundance and size of fishes sampled using baited video and diver swum transects at the Houtman Abrolhos Islands and Ningaloo. At both locations stereo BRUV recorded many more targeted fishes than stereo DOV and in greater relative abundance (e.g. Lethrinus nebulosus, Plectropomus leopardus). Many non-targeted species were also attracted to bait (e.g. Coris auricularis) and were recorded in greater abundances on stereo BRUV than stereo DOV. Stereo DOV transects recorded a greater abundance of some small-bodied Pomacentridae, Labridae and Scaridae species than did stereo BRUV, particularly at Ningaloo. This study demonstrates that choice of stereo-video sampling technique for surveys of reef fish can have a large impact on the structure of fish assemblages surveyed. A link to the paper "Assessing reef fish assemblage structure: how do different stereo-video techniques compare?" by Dianne L. Watson, Euan S. Harvey, Ben M. Fitzpatrick, Timothy J. Langlois and George Shedrawi is given in a URL below (see online resource) and provides further details The second study compares baited video stations with diver swum transects across three biogeographic regions, where both methods use stereo-video techniques to provide accurate estimates of individual fish length and define the sample unit area (Langlois et al. submitted). Cost-benefit analyses showed that baited stereo-video methods were generally more cost-efficient than diver operated stereo-video transects for detecting change in the fish assemblage. The study suggests that baited stereo-video stations are, in general, a better method for monitoring fish communities than diver operated stereo-video transects. A link to the paper "Cost efficient sampling of fish assemblages: comparison of baited video stations and diver video transects" by T.J. Langlois, E. S. Harvey, B. Fitzpatrick, J. J. Meeuwig, G. Shedrawi, and D. L. Watson is given in a URL below (see online resource) and provides further details. **Langlois, T. J., E. S. Harvey, B. Fitzpatrick, J. J. Meeuwig, G. Shedrawi, and D. L. Watson. 2010. Cost efficient sampling of fish assemblages: comparison of baited video stations and diver video transects. Aquatic Biology 9:155-168. **Watson, D. L., E. S. Harvey, B. Fitzpatrick, T. J. Langlois, and G. Shedrawi. 2010. Assessing reef fish assemblage structure: how do different stereo-video techniques compare? Marine Biology 157:1237-1250.

Herbivory is a key ecological process that sustains food webs, and can regulate the biomass of primary producers in an ecosystem. It has long been hypothesized that rates of herbivory are greatest in the tropics, although strong evidence to support this is limited. The aim of this project was to identify the key species of herbivores, to identify the grazing rates of key herbivores, and in conjunction with project WAMSI 2 KMRP Project 2.2.4 (benthic primary productivity) provide estimates of the proportion of production that is consumed by herbivores. The research on herbivory was focused on the islands and coast of the Bardi Jawi Indigenous Protected Area in the Kimberley (Western Australia), encompassing Jalan (Tallon Island) and Iwany (Sunday Island). Focus of the herbivory study was on one type of habitat (seagrass meadows), and the diet of two species of herbivores (golden-lined rabbitfish and green turtle). Four surveys were conducted between October 2014 and April 2016. At these locations the following measurements or collections were made (not all measurements were made during each survey): (1) Rates of herbivory (three surveys). These data are presented in the report for WAMSI KMRP 2.2.4, here the focus is on assessing rates of herbivory as a proportion of primary production; (2) Collections of golden-lined rabbitfish (Siganus lineatus); and (3) Blood samples from green turtles (Chelonia mydas). Ten green turtles were tagged with satellite tags: 4 in April 2015, and 6 in April 2016. This data record only pertains to data held by CSIRO. For access to all other data generated by collaborative research partners of the KMRP 1.1.2 project refer to the additional metadata field.

The eAtlas delivers its mapping products via two Web Mapping Services, a legacy server (from 2008-2011) and a newer primary server (2011+) to which all new content is added. This record describes the primary WMS. This service delivers map layers associated with the eAtlas project (https://eatlas.org.au), which contains map layers of environmental research focusing on the Great Barrier Reef and its neighbouring coast, the Wet Tropics rainforests and Torres Strait. It also includes lots of reference datasets that provide context for the research data. These reference datasets are sourced mostly from state and federal agencies. In addition to this a number of reference basemaps and associated layers are developed as part of the eAtlas and these are made available through this service. This services also delivers map layers associated with the Torres Strait eAtlas. This web map service is predominantly set up and maintained for delivery of visualisations through the eAtlas mapping portal (https://maps.eatlas.org.au) and the Australian Ocean Data Network (AODN) portal (http://portal.aodn.org.au). Other portals are free to use this service with attribution, provided you inform us with an email so we can let you know of any changes to the service. This WMS is implemented using GeoServer version 2.13 software hosted on a Amazon Web Services (AWS) server. Associated with each WMS layer is a corresponding cached tiled service which is much faster then the WMS. Please use the cached version when possible. The layers that are available can be discovered by inspecting the GetCapabilities document generated by the GeoServer. This XML document lists all the layers, their descriptions and available rendering styles. Most WMS clients should be able to read this document allowing easy access to all the layers from this service. For ArcMap use the following steps to add this service: 1. "Add Data" then choose GIS Servers from the "Look in" drop down. 2. Click "Add WMS Server" then set the URL to "https://maps.eatlas.org.au/maps/wms?" Note: this service has over 1500 layers and so retrieving the capabilities documents can take a while. This services is operated by the Australian Institute of Marine Science and co-funded by the National Environmental Research Program Tropical Ecosystems hub.

From June 2009, for two years Snapper (Chrysophrys auratus) and Silver Trevally (Pseudocaranx georgianius) stomachs were sampled for their contents to create food webs. An understanding of the dietary composition of these two species is crucial for developing a food web involving the main demersal fish species found along the coast of south-western Australia. The production of ecosystem models using these food webs will facilitate the development of effective management strategies to sustain these species within the context of EBFM. Currently, there is little known of the dietary composition of these two species. Knowledge of these diets during each life cycle stage and each season will provide, in conjunction with data for other demersal fish species, an understanding of how food resources are partitioned among and within the different species and life stages. By including these data with large existing data sets for approximately 40 other demersal fish species from the lower south west coast, a holistic food web can be constructed. Such a food web will be the first of its kind in Western Australia and will provide an invaluable tool in fisheries management and evaluation. Samples were collected seasonally over two years from inshore waters ranging from Kalbarri to Esperance.

WAMSI Node 4.1 focussed on: 1) developing a means (mechanisms and processes) of integrating Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM) into “mainstream” fisheries management, including the WA Government’s Integrated Fisheries Management (IFM) initiative, and; 2) to source, identify and integrate appropriate supporting research. Ultimately, this project will provide stakeholders, including the broader WA community, with a much improved understanding of what EBFM means and how it could be achieved in WA. The key outcome will be the development of a risk assessment system that encompasses each of the ecological, social and economic aspects of fisheries management. The West Coast Bioregion was used as a case study, with a report to be available for download.

This study produced qualitative models that assembled stakeholder perceptions of various assets and issues within the Peel Harvey estuarine system including water quality, wading birds, blue swimmer crabs and governance. The models were developed through workshops with a wide variety of stakeholders, including community groups, government agencies, researchers, managers and non-government organisations, and discussions with individuals or small groups following the workshops. Each model was used to assess the current situation and the drivers of change that were negatively impacting the focal asset. Potential management strategies were then identified and the ‘best case management strategy’, where both model stability and asset management were improved, was incorporated in a ‘future’ model. Common themes that arose throughout this process were the need to improve water quality throughout the estuary and nearby rivers by reducing nutrient input from various sources, and the need to alter current governance structures to allow effective environmental management.