North West Shelf Joint Environmental Management Study:InVitro Inputs - Modelled benthic habitat

The benthic habitats represented in the MSE include continental shelf seabed habitats, coastal seagrass meadows and mangrove forests. A metapopulation model was used. Due to availability of historical data, models were most fully developed for the continental shelf seabed habitats. Parameter values for the remaining habitat types were derived from available NWS data and scientific literature. Historical extent data was augmented by personal communication through workshops and interviews with residents, divers and scientists with long term NWS experience. Each of the habitat types was modelled using the benthic agent model structure.