From Australian Oceans Data Network
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Oceanic Shoals / Wessel Island sponge biodiversity data

Created 24/06/2025

Updated 28/09/2025

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Between 2009-2012, Geoscience Australia conducted three surveys to Joseph Bonaparte Gulf and the Timor Sea on the R.V. Solander, in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Science and the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. The study areas overlapped the Oceanic Shoals Commonwealth Marine Reserve and the carbonate banks and terraces within it. The surveys were conducted as part of the Australian Government's Energy Security Program (2007-2011) and the National Environment Research Program (2011-2015). On the surveys, a benthic sled was deployed to collect biological samples from the seafloor. Samples were sorted onboard according to phylum, photographed and then sent to taxonomists for species-level identifications. This dataset provides a list of all identified sponge species. The associated image catalogue of collected sponges can be accessed here: https://metadata.imas.utas.edu.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search#/metadata/1216e0f4-099c-49f6-96f7-ed3eadc0cd15

Files and APIs

Additional Info

Field Value
Title Oceanic Shoals / Wessel Island sponge biodiversity data
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/31b4a977-9369-4fcf-962a-05bc004c9df8
Contact Point
Australian Ocean Data Network
David.Peel@csiro.au
Reference Period 01/01/2009 - 01/01/2012
Geospatial Coverage
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
{
  "coordinates": [
    [
      [
        124.11804199220002,
        -14.846756458283
      ],
      [
        131.87438964845,
        -14.846756458283
      ],
      [
        131.87438964845,
        -9.6831822395326
      ],
      [
        124.11804199220002,
        -9.6831822395326
      ],
      [
        124.11804199220002,
        -14.846756458283
      ]
    ]
  ],
  "type": "Polygon"
}
Data Portal Australian Oceans Data Network

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Australian Oceans Data Network "Oceanic Shoals / Wessel Island sponge biodiversity data". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://catalogue.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/oceanic-shoals-wessel-island-sponge-biodiversity-data