Intertidal invertebrates in Western Australia
Data files
Feb 26, 2026 version files 108.97 KB
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intertidal_invertebrate_assemblages_wa.csv
63.36 KB
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invertebrate_trait_information.csv
40.62 KB
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README.md
4.99 KB
Abstract
Abstract:
Aims:
Along the west coast of Australia, intertidal rock platforms support high invertebrate diversities that provide vital ecosystem services, yet patterns in diversity are not well understood. Here, we document and examine the invertebrate assemblages on intertidal rock platforms in Western Australia and delineate ecoregions according to assemblage structure.
Location: West coast of Australia
Taxon: Invertebrates
Methods:
We recorded 406 invertebrate species from quadrat and timed search surveys on 39 intertidal limestone platforms that span 16° of latitude. We analysed latitudinal variation in species assemblage composition and multiple components of invertebrate diversity (alpha, gamma and beta diversity) that relate to different spatial scales (local, regional, bioregional) using multivariate analysis of variance and distance-based linear models. Bioregions of similar invertebrate assemblages were delineated using hierarchical cluster analysis with unweighted pair-group methods using arithmetic averaged.
Results:
There was a clear relationship between alpha and gamma diversity, with both increasing towards the equator. Beta diversity was relatively high across all sites, not reporting any significant variation with latitude, highlighting how regional patterns can arise from sites with high local variation. Our results indicate that the intertidal diversity aligns with latitudinal diversity gradient theory, demonstrating how regional scale processes influence patterns in diversity.
Main conclusions:
The composition of species distributions across latitudes indicates that a transition between tropical- and temperate-dominated assemblages occurs between 27°S – 24°S, however further research is required to examine the properties of the transition zone. Distinct groupings of invertebrate assemblages were identified, which delineated the coast into five regions. We established a comprehensive empirical understanding of invertebrate assemblages along the west coast of Australia acts as a valuable baseline to assess future change and aid in future management and conservation efforts.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.r7sqv9sm9
Description of the data and file structure
Intertidal macroinvertebrate species diversity and distribution information along the Western Australian coast from 18S - 34S.
Data collected by visual census surveys of 30 x 1m^2 quadrats and timed searches at 39 different sites across 16 latitudes.
We have submitted our site presence/absence data (The assemblages of each site pooled from quadrat and timed search data (site alpha diversity) (intertidal_invertebrate_assemblages_wa.csv), and invertebrate taxonomy and trait information (invertebrate_trait_information.csv).
Files and variables
intertidal_invertebrate_assemblages_wa.csv
- Taxa: Currently valid scientific name or assigned morphospecies open nomenclature qualifiers (e.g. sp. 1, sp.2, etc.).
- Latitude: Degree of latitude south (°S).
- Region: Region of Western Australia where sampling site was conducted.
- Site (row): Individual sampling site names.
- Site (columns, labelled 1-39): presence (1) or absence (0) of taxa at each site compiled from pooled quadrat and timed search species lists.
- Genus: Currently valid Linnaean genus taxonomic classification or lowest possible classification with confidence. If taxa were not identified to species, the lowest taxonomic level that could be assigned is repeated across all categories.
- Family: Currently valid Linnaean family taxonomic classification or lowest possible classification with confidence.If taxa were not identified to species, the lowest taxonomic level that could be assigned is repeated across all categories.
- Order: Currently valid Linnaean order taxonomic classification or lowest possible classification with confidence.If taxa were not identified to species, the lowest taxonomic level that could be assigned is repeated across all categories.
- Class: Currently valid Linnaean class taxonomic classification or lowest possible classification with confidence.If taxa were not identified to species, the lowest taxonomic level that could be assigned is repeated across all categories.
- Phylum: Currently valid Linnaean phyla taxonomic classification or lowest possible classification with confidence.If taxa were not identified to species, the lowest taxonomic level that could be assigned is repeated across all categories.
invertebrate_trait_information
- Taxa: Currently valid scientific name or assigned morphospecies open nomenclature qualifiers (e.g. sp. 1, sp.2, etc.).
- Genus: Currently valid Linnaean genus taxonomic classification or lowest possible classification with confidence. If taxa were not identified to species, the lowest taxonomic level that could be assigned is repeated across all categories.
- Family: Currently valid Linnaean family taxonomic classification or lowest possible classification with confidence.If taxa were not identified to species, the lowest taxonomic level that could be assigned is repeated across all categories.
- Order: Currently valid Linnaean order taxonomic classification or lowest possible classification with confidence.If taxa were not identified to species, the lowest taxonomic level that could be assigned is repeated across all categories.
- Class: Currently valid Linnaean class taxonomic classification or lowest possible classification with confidence.If taxa were not identified to species, the lowest taxonomic level that could be assigned is repeated across all categories.
- Phylum: Currently valid Linnaean phyla taxonomic classification or lowest possible classification with confidence.If taxa were not identified to species, the lowest taxonomic level that could be assigned is repeated across all categories.
- Assigned distribution affinity: Biogeographic affinity of taxa
- Tropical: Taxa were classified as tropical if their distributions were concentrated within tropical latitudes (typically north of ~24° S) or extended from the tropics southward along the WA coastline.
- Temperate: Species were classified as temperate if their ranges were centred in temperate latitudes (south of ~24° S) or extended from temperate regions northwards along the WA coastline.
- Cosmopolitian: Species with broad distributions spanning multiple biogeographic provinces, including both tropical and temperate regions, were classified as cosmopolitan.
- Unknown: Where distribution information was insufficient for confident assignment, species were listed as unknown.
- Source of distribution information: References provided or N/A for unknown taxa.
Code/software
Data is formatted for use in PRIMER-E software.
Taxonomic information is provided to the right of the data, uploads as an indicator in PRIMER. Factors are listed underneath the data matrix, indication site information - latitude surveyed, region, site.