From Australian Oceans Data Network
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Geographic variation in distributions and abundance of coral reef fishes

Created 24/06/2025

Updated 24/06/2025

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This study documents large scale geographic variations in the distribution and abundance of coral reef fishes on outer reef slopes (surface to 13m depth). Transects were conducted by 45 minute scuba swims recording the abundance (log 5 abundance) of species of pomacentrids, chaetodontids, acanthurids, scarids and selected species of labrids, siganids and caesionids (cf Williams 1982). Data were recorded at eight latitudes across the breadth of the Great Barrier Reef (transects perpendicular to shore and approximately centred on 11.5S (Far North), 14.7S (Lizard Is), 16.7S (Cairns), 18.5S (Townsville),19.7S (Whitsundays), 21.5S ( Pompeys), 22.0S (Swains), 23.5S (Capricorn-Bunkers) plus four reefs in the Coral Sea at 13.9S (Osprey), 15.5S (Bougainville), 16.5S (Holmes) and 17.8S (Flinders Reefs). Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs (Tasman Sea), and Scott and Seringapatam Reefs and Rowley Shoals (northern WA). Similar data were also collected in at Vanuatu (13.0S to 21.0S) and in French Polynesia (Moorea, Mataiva). Observations were obtained in different areas between January 1980 and December 1988 with the exception of the West Australian reefs (1993). This study describes the observations of patterns and processes in distribution and abundance of fishes within reefs, between zones and among species. The structure of fish communities across the continental shelf and the distribution of reef fishes in a wide range of spatial scales and across regional areas.

Files and APIs

Additional Info

Field Value
Title Geographic variation in distributions and abundance of coral reef fishes
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/ba7e9b85-2c84-4a03-8097-dfc387af913e
Contact Point
Australian Ocean Data Network
reception@aims.gov.au
Reference Period 03/09/2021
Geospatial Coverage
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
{
  "coordinates": [
    122.083333,
    -13.666667
  ],
  "type": "Point"
}
Data Portal Australian Oceans Data Network

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Australian Oceans Data Network "Geographic variation in distributions and abundance of coral reef fishes". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://catalogue.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/geographic-variation-in-distributions-and-abundance-of-coral-reef-fishes