The National Reef Monitoring Network dataset collections are now available on the AODN Portal.
The National Reef Monitoring Network brings together shallow reef surveys conducted around Australia (and globally) into a centralised database. This is the largest diver-collected marine biodiversity dataset in the world, combining data from the global Reef Life Survey (RLS) program (13 years), and long-term Australian Temperate Reef Collaboration (ATRC) and Parks Victoria datasets (up to 30 years) into one interoperable and open resource covering almost 4,000 sites across 54 countries and territories.
The IMOS National Reef Monitoring Network sub-Facility collates, cleans, stores and makes this data rapidly available via the AODN Portal.
The data provided by the National Reef Monitoring Network contributes to establishing and supporting national marine baselines, state of the environment reporting and assisting with the management of Commonwealth and State marine reserves. The data are also heavily used by researchers around the world, and for student projects in Australia and abroad.
The National Reef Monitoring Network sub-Facility and AODN have created a set of data management tools to:
- ingest survey data and associated metadata;
- perform metadata and data validation on ingest;
- manage reference data, and;
- distribute the survey data and associated metadata.
How to access the data via the AODN Portal:
There are now seven dataset collections making the data publicly available on the AODN Portal, including:
Global fish abundance and biomass This dataset contains records of bony fishes and elasmobranchs collected by RLS and ATRC divers and partners along 50m transects on shallow rocky and coral reefs using standard methods.
Global mobile macroinvertebrate abundance This dataset contains records of mobile macroinvertebrates collected by RLS and ATRC divers and partners along 50m transects on shallow rocky and coral reefs using standard methods.
Global cryptobenthic fish abundance This dataset contains records of cryptobenthic fishes collected by Reef Life Survey (RLS) and Australian Reef Collaboration Network (ATRC) divers and partners along 50m transects on shallow rocky and coral reefs using standard methods.
Benthic cover data (in situ surveys) This dataset contains data on the cover of macroalgae and sessile invertebrates scored in underwater quadrats at ATRC sites.
Global off-transect species observations This dataset contains unstandardised occurrence records of bony fishes and elasmobranchs. They include any sightings of species by RLS and ATRC divers.
Site Information This dataset shows the locations of RLS and ATRC sites on shallow rocky and coral reefs, worldwide.
Survey metadata This dataset provides the metadata associated with individual 50 m transects surveyed by RLS and ATRC divers and partners.