Providing marine algal taxonomic expertise to coastal ecosystem and biodiversity in Western Australia, a core CSIRO work priority area, and preparation of an interactive key to the seagrass epiphytes

Benthic plants (algae and seagrasses) are a dominant component of most inshore marine ecosystems in Western Australia, and several CSIRO projects presently underway incorporate macroalgal surveys to establish baseline community structure. One of SRFME’s core research projects, Coastal Ecosystem and Biodiversity in Western Australia has as a primary objective the ‘provision of representative baseline assessments’. It is imperative that these surveys be based on reliable and consistent taxonomic information if they are to provide meaningful habitat and community characterizations. This project uses the taxonomic expertise of John Huisman to ensure consistent and accurate identifications of the macroalgae. In addition to the benefits to CSIRO core research, this project will contribute to ‘FloraBase’, a CALM endeavour to document information regarding Western Australia’s plant life. This information is web-based and, in part, made available to the public