From Australian Oceans Data Network
JSON format icon JSON RDF format icon RDF ISO19115-3 XML

A preliminary assessment of fish and coral communities on reefs in Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia

Created 23/06/2025

Updated 23/06/2025

JSON format icon JSON RDF format icon RDF ISO19115-3 XML

Ningaloo Marine Park extends southward from North West Cape along 230 km of coastline. In most places, the seaward margin of the reef is generally less than 3 km from the shoreline, with a sandy lagoon between the reef edge and the shoreline.During this first AIMS survey of fish and coral communities within the Ningaloo Reef system, 26 sites were visited. Systematic surveys of coral and fish community structure were carried out at five locations along the length of the Ningaloo Reef (separated by 10s of km). Within each region, surveys were made at two sites on both the outer reef slope and within the shallow lagoon. In response to a request from the Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), surveys were also carried out at six sites within the Ningaloo Dugong Sanctuary. There was scant biological information available regarding coral and fish populations within the Ningaloo Marine Park. Veron (1993) recorded 214 species of corals in Ningaloo Reef. Hutchins (1994) recorded 482 fish species, making it the most diverse mainland reef habitat along the Australian coast. The first quantitative assessments of coral and fish populations were carried out in the late 1980s (Ayling and Ayling, 1987).Prior to the AIMS surveys, no baseline ecological data had been collected on benthic and fish communities within the Ningaloo Dugong sanctuary zone. Fish were surveyed using actual counts on 20 minute timed transects (three transects per site). Video surveys were carried out on 20 metre transects (5 transects per site). The starting point for fish and video transects were the same, but observers moved in different directions from that point.Lists were made of fish and coral species observed at each site and specimens of coral and algae were taken for taxonomic reference collections.

Files and APIs

Additional Info

Field Value
Title A preliminary assessment of fish and coral communities on reefs in Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/14924f75-7527-42fe-a280-67d1ee9ef349
Contact Point
Australian Ocean Data Network
reception@aims.gov.au
Reference Period 26/02/2020
Geospatial Coverage
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
{
  "coordinates": [
    [
      [
        113.6,
        -23.2
      ],
      [
        114.1,
        -23.2
      ],
      [
        114.1,
        -21.8
      ],
      [
        113.6,
        -21.8
      ],
      [
        113.6,
        -23.2
      ]
    ]
  ],
  "type": "Polygon"
}
Data Portal Australian Oceans Data Network

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Australian Oceans Data Network "A preliminary assessment of fish and coral communities on reefs in Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://catalogue.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/a-preliminary-assessment-of-fish-and-coral-communities-on-reefs-in-ningaloo-marine-park-western1