Australia’s Marine Park network (AMPs) is undergoing a statutory 10‑year review of management plan effectiveness, requiring robust, defensible evidence on ecosystem condition, representativeness and change. A key challenge for this review is the limited spatial resolution and uneven confidence of existing benthic ecosystem products across marine parks. Seafloor geomorphology provides a critical but under‑utilised foundation for addressing this challenge.
Seafloor geomorphic features, including reefs, canyons, seamounts and plains, shape the distribution, functioning and vulnerability of benthic ecosystems. When mapped consistently and at appropriate spatial scales, geomorphology offers a stable framework for interpreting biological patterns, refining ecosystem models and identifying areas of high natural value. Assessment across all AMPs shows that nationally consistent bathymetry compilations enable comprehensive mapping of large‑scale geomorphic features, while targeted high-resolution data support finer‑scale mapping in priority locations.
This presentation demonstrates how seabed geomorphology products can directly support ongoing park management and the 10‑year review by: (1) improving confidence in the Natural Values Ecosystems model by refining existing and identifying previously unresolved features; (2) informing habitat modelling and representativeness analyses; and (3) providing a consistent framework that links science, management and policy objectives, including biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation and zoning decisions.