The Bioregional Profile identifies a number of ecological features that are of conservation value because of the role they play in the environment of the South-west Marine Region. Key ecological features meet one or more of the following criteria:
a species, group of species, or a community with a regionally important ecological role (e.g. a predator, prey that affects a large biomass or number of other marine species);
a species, group of species, or a community that is nationally or regionally important for biodiversity;
an area or habitat that is nationally or regionally important for:
a) enhanced or high productivity (such as predictable upwellings - an upwelling occurs when cold nutrient-rich waters from the bottom of the ocean rise to the surface);
b) aggregations of marine life (such as feeding, resting, breeding or nursery areas);
c) biodiversity and endemism (species which only occur in a specific area); or
a unique seafloor feature, with known or presumed ecological properties of regional significance.
Key ecological features have been identified by the Australian Government on the basis of advice from scientists about the ecological processes and characteristics of the area. A workshop held in Perth in September 2006 also contributed to this scientific advice and helped to underpin the identification of key ecological features.
Sixteen KEFs have been identified in the South-west Marine Region:
Commonwealth marine environment surrounding the Houtman Abrolhos Islands
Perth Canyon and adjacent shelf break, and other west coast canyons
Commonwealth marine environment within and adjacent to the west coast inshore lagoons
Commonwealth marine environment within and adjacent to Geographe Bay
Cape Mentelle upwelling
Naturaliste Plateau
Diamantina Fracture Zone
Albany Canyons group and adjacent shelf break
Commonwealth marine environment surrounding the Recherche Archipelago
Ancient coastline at 90-120 m depth
Kangaroo Island Pool, canyons and adjacent shelf break, and Eyre Peninsula upwellings.
Meso-scale eddies (points).
Western demersal slope and associated fish communities.
Western rock lobster.
Benthic invertebrate communities of the eastern Great Australian Bight. No spatial representation available.
Small pelagic fish of the South-west Marine Region. No spatial representation available.
In order to create a spatial representation of KEFs for the South-west Marine Region, some interpretation of the information was required. DoE has made every effort to use the best available spatial information, and best judgement on how to spatially represent the features based on the scientific advice provided. This does not preclude others from making their own interpretation of available information.
