Register      Login
Marine and Freshwater Research Marine and Freshwater Research Society
Advances in the aquatic sciences
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > MF > MF04306
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 56(7)

Geology–benthos relationships on a temperate rocky bank, eastern Bass Strait, Australia

Robin J. Beaman A C , James J. Daniell B and Peter T. Harris B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 78, Hobart, Tas. 7001, Australia.

B Geoscience Australia, GPO Box 378, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: rbeaman@iig.com.au

Marine and Freshwater Research 56(7) 943-958 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF04306
Submitted: 31 December 2004  Accepted: 2 June 2005   Published: 14 October 2005

Abstract

To better understand the possible relationships between the geology of the seabed and the associated biological communities, a multibeam sonar survey over New Zealand Star Bank in the eastern Bass Strait was conducted. A hierarchical method of benthic habitat mapping was applied to the secondary biotope and biological facies levels at the site (<10 km) scale. Four secondary biotopes and four biological facies have been defined on the basis of geomorphology revealed by the bathymetry model and the results of statistical analysis of the sediment and underwater video transect data over the bank. The major differences that control the distribution of biological communities in the New Zealand Star Bank area appear to be related to variations in substrate. (1) Hard-ground features related to high-relief granite outcrops are associated with diverse and abundant sessile and motile fauna. These faunal communities may be biologically modified to patchy barrens habitat by grazing urchins. (2) Unconsolidated sediment on a flat seabed is associated with sparse small sponges on the inner shelf. On the middle shelf and seaward of bank, the flat and muddy seabed supports a community dominated by infauna. (3) Unconsolidated sediment on a low-relief seabed is associated with an increase in the density and sizes of sponges concentrated on any low-relief feature raised above the surrounding flat seabed.

Extra keywords: ecological zonation, GIS, ocean policy.


Acknowledgments

We thank CMDR John Maschke and the crew of HMAS Melville for their professionalism and assistance in conducting this survey and hosting R.J.B. and J.J.D. for the period of the voyage. We thank H. Gary Greene and two anonymous reviewers for their thorough review and constructive criticism of the manuscript. R.J.B. acknowledges a PhD scholarship through the School of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Tasmania. J.J.D. and P.T.H. publish with the permission of the Chief Executive Officer, Geoscience Australia.


References

AHO (1971). ‘AUS358—Wilsons Promontory to Point Hicks and Flinders Island (Eastern Sheet).’ (Australian Hydrographic Service: Wollongong.)

Allmon, W. D. , Jones, D. S. , Aiello, R. L. , Gowlett-Holmes, K. , and Probert, P. K. (1994). Observations on the biology of Maoricolpus roseus (Quoy and Gaimard) (Prosobranchia: Turritellidae) from New Zealand and Tasmania. The Veliger 37, 267–279.
Andrew N. L. (1999). ‘Under Southern Seas.’ (University of New South Wales Press: Sydney.)

Andrew, N. L. , and O’Neill, A. L. (2000). Large-scale patterns in habitat structure on subtidal rocky reefs in New South Wales. Marine and Freshwater Research 51, 255–263.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Bax N. J., McEnnulty F. R., and Gowlett-Holmes K. L. (2003). Distribution and biology of the introduced gastropod, Maoricolpus roseus (Quoy and Gaimard, 1834) (Caenogastropoda: Turritellidae) in Australia. Technical Report No. 25. CSIRO Marine Research, Centre for Research on Introduced Marine Pests, Hobart.

Butler A., Harris P. T., Lyne V., Heap A., Passlow V., and Smith R. (2001). An interim, draft bioregionalisation for the continental slope and deeper waters of the South-East Marine Region of Australia. Report to the National Oceans Office. CSIRO Marine Research, Geoscience Australia, Hobart.

Clarke, K. R. (1993). Non-parametric multivariate analyses of changes in community structure. Australian Journal of Ecology 18, 117–143.
Clarke K. R., and Warwick R. M. (2001). ‘Change in Marine Communities: An Approach to Statistical Analysis and Interpretation.’ 2nd edn. (PRIMER-E: Plymouth, UK.)

Coleman, N. , Gason, A. S. H. , and Poore, G. C. B. (1997). High species richness in the shallow marine waters of south-east Australia. Marine Ecology Progress Series 154, 17–26.
DEH (2003). Australia’s south-east marine region: a user’s guide to identifying candidate areas for a regional representative system of marine protected areas. Department of the Environment and Heritage. Available online at: http://www.deh.gov.au/coasts/mpa/commonwealth/identifying/index.html, verified August 2005.

DNRE (1999). ‘SJ 55–8: Mallacoota 1:250,000 Geological Map Series.’ (Department of Natural Resources and Environment: Melbourne.)

Edgar G. J. (1997). ‘Australian Marine Life: the Plants and Animals of Temperate Waters.’ (Reed Books: Melbourne.)

Edgar G. J. (2001). ‘Australian Marine Habitats in Temperate Waters.’ (Reed New Holland: Sydney.)

Exon, N. , and Hill, P. (1999). Seabed mapping using multibeam swath-mapping systems: an essential technology for mapping Australia’s margins. AGSO Journal of Australian Geology & Geophysics 17, 1–16.
Ferland M. A., and Roy P. S. (1997). Southeastern Australia: a sea-level dependent, cool-water carbonate margin. In ‘Cool-water Carbonates’. (Eds N. P. James and J. D. A. Clarke.) (SEPM Society for Sedimentary Geology: Tulsa, OK.)

Ferns L. W., and Hough D. (2002). High resolution marine habitat mapping of the Bunurong Coast (Victoria) – including the Bunurong Marine and Coastal Park. Parks, Flora and Fauna Division, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Melbourne.

Fleming, K. , Johnston, P. , Zwartz, D. , Yokoyama, Y. , Lambeck, K. , and Chappell, J. (1998). Refining the eustatic sea-level curve since the Last Glacial Maximum using far- and intermediate-field sites. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 163, 327–342.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Harris P. T., Baker E. K., and Cole A. R. (1991). Physical sedimentology of the Australian continental shelf – with emphasis on Late Quaternary deposits in major shipping channels, port approaches and choke points. Report No. 51. Ocean Sciences Institute, Sydney.

Harris P. T., Pattiaratchi C. B., Collins M. B., and Dalrymple R. W. (1995). What is bedload parting? In ‘Tidal Signatures in Modern and Ancient Sediments’. (Eds B. W. Flemming and A. Bartholoma.) pp. 3–18. (International Association of Sedimentologists: Durham, UK.)

Harris P. T., Radke B., Smith A., Glen K., Rollet N., Exon N. F., and Passlow V. (2000). Marine geological data collected during Southern Surveyor Voyage 01/00: eastern Bass Strait and Great Australian Bight. Record 2000/43. Geoscience Australia, Canberra.

Harris, P. T. , Heap, A. D. , Wassenberg, T. , and Passlow, V. (2004). Submerged coral reefs in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia. Marine Geology 207, 185–191.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | IMCRA (1998). Interim marine and coastal regionalisation for Australia: an ecosystem-based classification for marine and coastal environments, Version 3.3. Environment Australia, Commonwealth Department of Environment, Canberra.

Jones, H. A. , and Davies, P. J. (1983). Superficial sediments of the Tasmanian continental shelf and part of Bass Strait. BMR Bulletin 218,
NOO (2002). Ecosystems – nature’s diversity – the South-east Regional Marine Plan. National Oceans Office (NOO), Hobart.

NOO (2004). South-east Regional Marine Plan, implementing Australia’s Oceans Policy in the south-east marine region. National Oceans Office (NOO), Hobart.

Passlow V., O’Hara T., Daniell J., and Beaman R. J. (2004). Sediments and benthic biota of Bass Strait: an approach to benthic habitat mapping. Record 2004/23. Geoscience Australia, Canberra.

Pillans, B. , Chappell, J. , and Naish, T. R. (1998). A review of the Milankovitch climate beat: template for Plio-Pleistocene sea-level changes and sequence stratigraphy. Sedimentary Geology 122, 5–21.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | RAN (2002). New Zealand Star Bank. Royal Australian Navy Summary Report of Survey HI 339G: HMAS MELVILLE Cruise, October 2001. Australian Hydrographic Office, Wollongong.

Roff, J. C. , Taylor, M. E. , and Laughren, J. (2003). Geophysical approaches to the classification, delineation and monitoring of marine habitats and their communities. Aquatic Conservation. Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 13, 77–90.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Stride A. H. (1982). ‘Offshore Tidal Sands – Processes and Deposits.’ (Chapman and Hall: London.)

Underwood, A. J. , Kingsford, M. J. , and Andrew, N. L. (1991). Patterns in shallow subtidal marine assemblages along the coast of New South Wales. Australian Journal of Ecology 6, 231–249.


Vanderklift, M. A. , and Kendrick, G. A. (2004). Variation in abundances of herbivorous invertebrates in temperate subtidal rocky reef habitats. Marine and Freshwater Research 55, 93–103.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Williams, A. , and Bax, N. J. (2001). Delineating fish-habitat associations for spatially based management: an example from the south-eastern Australian continental shelf. Marine and Freshwater Research 52, 513–536.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Yokoyama, Y. , Lambeck, K. , De Deckker, P. , Johnston, P. , and Fifield, L. K. (2000). Timing of the Last Glacial Maximum from observed sea-level minima. Nature 406, 713–716.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

Young, J. W. , Bradford, R. , Lamb, T. D. , Clementson, L. A. , Kloser, R. , and Galea, H. (2001). Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) aggregations along the shelf break off south-eastern Australia: links between inshore and offshore processes. Marine and Freshwater Research 52, 463–474.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |