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Australian Marine Parks
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Australia > South-west > Western Kangaroo Island

Western Kangaroo Island Marine Park

  • Research
  • Natural values
  • Maps
  • Latest maps
  • Scientific papers
Network: South-west
Marine park area: 2,335 kilometres2
Depth range: 15 – 165 metres
Average depth: 110 metres
More info about this marine park

Western Kangaroo Island Marine Park is located off Kangaroo Island, about 230 kilometres south-west of Adelaide and adjacent to the South Australia Kangaroo Island Marine Park. It includes representative examples of habitats and ecosystems of the Spencer Gulf Shelf. Here seasonal winds and ocean currents interact with seafloor features to produce a number of small seasonal upwellings that are important for biological productivity. The area is noted for its diverse seafloor communities, productivity hotspots and aggregations of marine life associated with the seasonal upwellings of nutrient-rich water.

Research

These short articles highlight the findings from ongoing scientific research within the Western Kangaroo Island Marine Park, including exciting new discoveries and ideas for future projects.
Pleurosicya mossambica

Cryptic fishes of Australian Marine Parks

Small and/or camouflaged fish species hidden on or near the reef surface are commonly referred to as ‘cryptic’ or ‘cryptobenthic’ fishes. These species are characteristically difficult to see but are diverse and abundant throughout Australian Marine Parks and may play an important role in supporting the larger predatory fish species protected within park boundaries.
Green moon wrasse in Emily Bay lagoon

Extraordinary diversity of shallow reef habitats in Australian Marine Parks

Parks Australia manage 60 Australian Marine Parks, many of which include shallow reefs. These reef habitats are hugely diverse, and include tropical reefs dominated by hard corals; current-swept offshore bommies covered in sea whips, sea fans and soft corals; temperate rocky reefs with sea urchin barrens or low lying colourful seaweeds; and deeper rocky reefs with sessile invertebrates and large black coral trees.

Natural values

Our marine parks have a number of different values, including natural, cultural, heritage and socio-economic values. The natural values of our marine parks refer to the habitats, species and ecological communities within them, and the processes that support their connectivity, productivity and function. Below are the key datasets that help inform park managers about the natural values that exist within our network of Australian Marine Parks. For more information on other park values refer to the relevant park Management Plans on the Parks Australia website.

Biologically important areas

See where sea lions, sea birds, whales, dolphins and turtles like to breed, forage and nest.

Bioregions

See which areas of Australia's oceans have similar characteristics.
KEF Preview Imange

Key ecological features

See which habitats, features and processes scientists consider particularly important for biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Ramsar Preview Image Ampsatlas

RAMSAR wetlands

See which wetlands of international significance are protected by Australian Marine Parks.

Maps

The information provided by these datasets was integral in the planning and development of our national network of marine parks. Learn in detail about how scientists and marine park planners used these important marine features together to design Australia's network of marine parks, or explore the datasets for the Western Kangaroo Island Marine Park individually through the links below.
Bathomes Preview Imange

Bathomes

See which areas of Marine Parks are of similar depth.
Bathymetry Preview Imange

Bathymetry (250 metre resolution)

Compare how deep the waters are within and between the Australian Marine Parks.
mean primary productivity hotspots

Chlorophyll-a and ocean productivity

See where Australian's oceans are (and aren't) rich in phytoplankton.
Preview Image Geomorph

Geomorphology

Explore the banks, pinnacles, troughs and other features of the seafloor in Australian Marine Parks.
rates of ocean warming

Sea surface temperature

Check out the typical water temperature in Australian Marine Parks.
Species Richness Preview Image Ampsatlas

Species richness

See where species richness is at its highest and lowest across Australian Marine Parks.
WHA Preview Imange Ampsatlas

World heritage areas

See which areas of Australia's marine environments have been World Heritage listed.

Latest maps

Since the initial planning of the Australian Marine Parks Network in 2012, new mapping data has emerged that allows us to see in finer detail the features that exist within our parks. These datasets help marine managers to understand more about what's under the surface, where there are overlaying management or protection regimes, and/or where pressures on the marine environment may be increasing.

Where have ships mapped the seafloor with sonar?

Find out where the seafloor has been mapped with sonar across the Marine Parks.

Scientific papers

The following publications contain information relevant to the Western Kangaroo Island marine park and adjacent waters. Click on the links to access to the publications.
  • Sinclair, E. A, Anthony, J. M, Greer, D, Ruiz-Montoya, L, Evans, S. M, Krauss, S. L and Kendrick, G. A. (2016). Genetic signatures of Bassian glacial refugia and contemporary connectivity in a marine foundation species.
  • Briceno, F, Linnane, A. J, Quiroz, J. C, Gardner, C and Pecl, G. T. (2015). Predation Risk within Fishing Gear and Implications for South Australian Rock Lobster Fisheries.
  • Gill, P. C., Pirzl, R., Morrice, M. G. and Lawton, K. (2015). Cetacean diversity of the continental shelf and slope off southern Australia.
  • Hammer, M. P, Hoese, D. F and Bertozzi, T. (2015). A new species of Near-shore Marine Goby (Pisces: Gobiidae: Nesogobius) from Kangaroo Island, Australia.
  • Laurent, C.M. (2015). Stochastic analysis of deep sea oil spill trajectories in the Great Australian Bight.
  • Segawa, T and Kemper, C. (2015). Cetacean strandings in South Australia (1881-2008).
  • Shaughnessy, P.D , Goldsworthy, S.D, Hamer, D.J, Page, B and McIntosh, R.R. (2014). Records of vagrant fur seals (family Otariidae) in South Australia.
  • Ward, T.M, Ivey, A.R and Carroll, J.D. (2014). Spawning biomass of sardine, Sardinops sagax, in waters off South Australia in 2014.
  • Kemper, C. M, Middleton, J. F and van Ruth, P. D. (2013). Association between pygmy right whales (Caperea marginata) and areas of high marine productivity off Australia and New Zealand.
  • Lowther, A. D, Harcourt, R. G, Page, B and Goldsworthy, S. D. (2013). Steady as he goes: at-sea movement of adult male Australian sea lions in a dynamic marine environment.
  • Baylis, A. M, Page, B, McKenzie, J and Goldsworthy, S. D. (2012). Individual foraging site fidelity in lactating New Zealand fur seals: Continental shelf vs. oceanic habitats.
  • Braccini, M, Van Rijn, J and Frick, L. (2012). High post-capture survival for sharks, rays and chimaeras discarded in the main shark fishery of Australia?.
  • Bryars, S, Rogers, P, Huveneers, C, Payne, N, Smith, I and McDonald, B. (2012). Small home range in southern Australia's largest resident reef fish, the western blue groper (Achoerodus gouldii): implications for adequacy of no-take marine protected areas.
  • Lowther, A. D, Harcourt, R. G, Goldsworthy, S. D and Stow, A. (2012). Population structure of adult female Australian sea lions is driven by fine-scale foraging site fidelity.
  • McIntosh, R. R, Goldsworthy, S. D, Shaughnessy, P. D, Kennedy, C. W and Burch, P. (2012). Estimating pup production in a mammal with an extended and aseasonal breeding season, the Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea).
  • Gibbs, S. E, Harcourt, R. G and Kemper, C. M. (2011). Niche differentiation of bottlenose dolphin species in South Australia revealed by stable isotopes and stomach contents.
  • Gill, P. C, Morrice, M. G, Page, B, Pirzl, R, Levings, A. H and Coyne, M. (2011). Blue whale habitat selection and within-season distribution in a regional upwelling system off southern Australia.
  • Shaughnessy, P. D, Goldsworthy, S. D, Hamer, D. J, Page, B and McIntosh, R. R. (2011). Australian sea lions Neophoca cinerea at colonies in South Australia: distribution and abundance, 2004 to 2008.
  • Government, Australian (2007). The South-west Marine Bioregional Plan: Bioregional Profile.
  • Middleton, J. F and Bye, J. A. (2007). A review of the shelf-slope circulation along Australia's southern shelves: Cape Leeuwin to Portland.
  • Middleton, J. F, Arthur, C, Van Ruth, P, Ward, T. M, McClean, J. L, Maltrud, M. E, Gill, P, Levings, A and Middleton, S. (2007). El Nino effects and upwelling off South Australia.
  • Ward, T. M, McLeay, L. J, Dimmlich, W. F, Rogers, P. J, McClatchie, S. A. M, Matthews, R, KAMpf, J and Van, R. (2006). Pelagic ecology of a northern boundary current system: effects of upwelling on the production and distribution of sardine (Sardinops sagax), anchovy (Engraulis australis) and southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) in the Great Australian Bight.
  • Bruce, B. D. (1992). Preliminary observations on the biology of the white shark, Carcharodon carcharias in south Australian waters.
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