CSIRO OCEANS & ATMOSPHERE FLAGSHIP Marine biodiversity and ecosystem function in the King George River region of northwestern Australia Edited by John Keesing Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) With contributions from Peter Speare (Australian Institute of Marine Science) Monika Bryce, Jane Fromont, Ana Hara, Andrew Hosie, Lisa Kirkendale, Loisette Marsh, Glenn Moore, Sue Morrison, Zoe Richards, Corey Whisson (Western Australian Museum) Tim O’Hara, Mark O’Loughlin, Kate Naughton (Museum Victoria) Douglas Bearham, James McLaughlin, John Keesing, Zoe Snedden, Joanna Strzelecki (CSIRO) John Huisman (Western Australian Herbarium) Dongyan Liu (Chinese Academy of Sciences) Final Report to the Total Corporate Foundation 21 December 2014 Important disclaimer CSIRO advises that the information contained in this publication comprises general statements based on scientific research. The reader is advised and needs to be aware that such information may be incomplete or unable to be used in any specific situation. No reliance or actions must therefore be made on that information without seeking prior expert professional, scientific and technical advice. To the extent permitted by law, CSIRO (including its employees and consultants) excludes all liability to any person for any consequences, including but not limited to all losses, damages, costs, expenses and any other compensation, arising directly or indirectly from using this publication (in part or in whole) and any information or material contained in it. To cite this report Cite this report as follows: Keesing, J.K. (2014) Marine biodiversity and ecosystem function in the King George River region of northwestern Australia. Report to the Total Corporate Foundation. 145 pages. CSIRO, Australia. Individual chapters may be cited as follows: Strzelecki, J., McLaughlin, J., Keesing, J. and Liu, D. (2014) Chapter 4. Biogeochemical and biological oceanographic characterisation. Pages 58 - 92 in Keesing, J.K. (ed.) Marine biodiversity and ecosystem function in the King George River region of north-western Australia. Report to the Total Corporate Foundation. 145 pages. CSIRO, Australia. Acknowledgments This Project was made possible through the financial support of the Total Corporate Foundation, Paris, France, and we are grateful to the Foundation and its staff, especially Laure Fournier for her help and encouragement during the early phase of the project. CSIRO’s Oceans and Atmosphere National Research Flagship also made a significant investment into the project. We thank the master and crew of the RV Solander for their assistance and the Australian Institute of Marine Science for making the vessel available for the research and for contributing to its costs. We also thank Pierre Bouvais (Edith Cowan University) for assistance in the field, Ashley Miskelly who identified some of the echinoids and Russell Teede (Landgate), Chris Brouwer (University of Western Australia), Peter Hughes and Nick Mortimer (CSIRO) for help with imagery, sample analyses and data analyses. ii Table of Contents Summary …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1 Chapter 1. Background to the study…………………………………………………………………………………………… 3 Chapter 2. Benthic habitat types of the King George River region ……………………………………………... 11 Chapter 3. Biodiversity Assessment ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 27 Chapter 4. Biogeochemical and biological oceanographic characterisation ………………………………… 58 Chapter 5. Species community structure, diversity and species-habitat associations …………………. 93 Chapter 6. Food web analyses ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 131 References …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 142 ii Summary This is the first project funded by the Total Foundation in Australia and this partnership with CSIRO and its research partners has resulted in the first exploration of biodiversity and biological/ecological assessment of one of the most remote wilderness areas of Australia. The main objective is to survey and record the marine and estuarine habitats and biodiversity of the King George River Region of north-western Australia. The field expedition for the project was undertaken aboard the RV Solander from 3 to 13 June 2013 and achieved the most comprehensive and intensive study ever undertaken in the remote north-eastern Kimberley region of Australia. A combined total of 146 stations, transects and gear deployments were sampled or made, from up river to the base of the twin waterfalls out to 15 km offshore into the Timor Sea to a water depth of 70 m and across a range of habitat types including water column, mangrove, shallow muddy benthos, rocky shores, coral reefs and deepwater sedimentary and filter feeder communities. The distribution of each of these habitat types is described in detail in the report. Sampling equipment deployed included sediment cores, CTD (salinity, temperature, depth) profiler and Niskin (water sampling) bottles, bongo net, benthic sleds, traps, drop camera, tow video cameras and hand collections by reef walking and snorkel diving. A total of 1374 animal and plant lots were collected comprising about 3500 specimens. A total of 796 species were recorded and a number new species and likely new species from a number of the taxonomic groups have been identified, principally the crustaceans and the echinoderms. Four new species of echinoderms have already been described as new species in the scientific literature as a result of this study. In addition to this numerous new records for Australia and Western Australia have been established meaning that in total this study has made a very significant contribution to the knowledge of biodiversity of the regions. Of the 796 species we sampled, 559 species were taken in sleds. Our species accumulation curve analyses suggest true species richness may have been more than double this. Undersampling of biodiversity is likely due to sampling just a small area of the total region and undersampling of hard bottom substrates, which although making up a small proportion of the overall study area in comparuson to soft sediment habitats, are generally more biodiverse. Analysis of species abundance data indicated that the invertebrate assemblages were significantly different among different positions, different depths and between hard and soft substrate. Species assemblages from stations in shallow waters (5 m or less) were clearly different from assemblages from deeper waters 5-20 m stations which in turn were more similar to stations >20m and species assemblages on stations on hard substrate were dominated by filter feeders such as crinoids, soft coral and sponges while soft bottom habitats were characterised by crustaceans and molluscs. Habitats that were under-sampled in our study were the coral reefs around Lesueur Island. This occurred for two reasons, our sampling was limited to snorkelling rather than SCUBA diving which is more efficient and enables a greater depth range of habitats to be sampled and poor (very windy)weather which meant we were unable to sample the windward reef crest and lagoon and created turbid conditions elsewhere where we were able to sample. Future sampling in the region should target the reefs around Lesueur Island with greater intensity and through the use of SCUBA. Our study also made a comprehensive analysis of water column biogeochemical and biophysical data (temperature, salinity, phytoplankton, nutrients) and sediment characteristics (grain size, chlorophyll and organic matter content) were examined and related to location along a gradient from upper-river out through the estuary and offshore to Lesueur Island and beyond. Upper river sediments were coarser than those in the estuary, bay and out to sea and water chemistry showed patterns expected for this region in the dry season. Silicate and phosphate was highest in the upper reaches were the freshwater influence is greatest while nitrate was highest offshore. All sites sampled were significantly nitrogen limited when compared to the Redfield ratio reflecting the oligotrophic condition in the dry season. Being able to sample the variation in water chemistry between the dry season and wet season was not possible but would be highly desirable to enabling both a seasonal contrast and to determine the extent of influence of the transport of nutrients transported out of the estuary by the wet season river flows. Total mean depth integrated chlorophyll a was 0.81 mg m-3 with a large fraction biomass of 0.19 mg m-3 and small fraction of 0.63 mg m-3. On average the small fraction was 78% of total chlorophyll a. There was significantly less phytoplankton offshore (0.66 mg m-3) than in King George River (1.13 mg m-3) and in Koolama Bay (1.05 mg 1 m-3). Small phytoplankton dominated in all stations comprising on average 82% of total chlorophyll. Mean zooplankton biomass in the study was 0.05 g m-3 which is comparable to biomass collected from other studies in the north-west of Australia. Size fractionated biomass showed that 355 and 1000 µm zooplankton dominate in all stations and large (3000 µm) and medium sized (250 µm) zooplankton are least abundant. Small copepods were quite important in all stations. Zooplankton biomass was significantly positively correlated with fucoxanthin which is a pigment proxy for diatom abundance which represents an important food source. The study also examined food webs in the region focussing on filter feeders (oysters and zooplankton) as consumers. We expected to find evidence of offshore filter feeders consuming more marine derived carbon sources (phytoplankton) and those up river more dependent on terrestrial carbon sources (mangrove and land based plants). Our results suggest that there is some influence of the onshore – offshore gradient in the carbon source of the diet of oysters however during the dry season there is a lack of strong contrast in environmental conditions across this gradient which may be concealing patterns which might otherwise be obvious with sampling in both wet and dry seasons. Sampling in the wet season will be needed to resolve this issue. Promotion of the Project The project was promoted in real time during the field expedition through the use of a web page and internet blog. Photographs, videos and commentary for each day of the voyage were provided on the blog which was in turn promoted via twitter. A television interview was conducted with the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) which was broadcast on their television and online news services, for example: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-01/several-new-species-found-around-remote-wa-coast/4927222 http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2013-09-01/several-new-species-found-around-remotewa-coast/1184137 http://www.environskimberley.org.au/2013/09/several-new-species-found-around-remote-wa-coast/ http://usa.news.net/article/460452/several-new-species-found-around-remote-wa-coast& https://www.facebook.com/abcnews.au/posts/10152217333579988 The project website has maintained the blog and includes a diary of each day, a photographic record, videos and interviews conducted on board the vessel. This will remain as long term record of the project along with an online copy of this report. Links to the web site: 1. Video page: http://www.csiro.au/Organisation-Structure/Flagships/Wealth-from-Oceans-Flagship/ORCA/King-GeorgeRiver/Video-clips-from-the-voyage.aspx 2. Trip diary: http://www.csiro.au/Organisation-Structure/Flagships/Wealth-from-Oceans-Flagship/ORCA/King-GeorgeRiver/Voyage-diary.aspx 3. Image galleries: http://www.csiro.au/en/Organisation-Structure/Flagships/Wealth-from-Oceans-Flagship/ORCA/King-GeorgeRiver/ImageGallery.aspx We hope some of this material can be used on the Total Foundation web page, or linked to from there. As new species are described from this study we will take the opportunity to promote the project and the Total Foundation again. 2 Chapter 1 Background to the study John Keesing CSIRO Introduction The north-eastern part of the Kimberley region of north-western Australia is one of the world’s remaining wilderness areas. Sparsely populated by indigenous communities and small tourist operations, access to the region is largely limited to boat and small aircraft. The broader Kimberley region of north-western Australia comprises about 10% of the Australian coastline spanning 6.5 degrees of latitude (13.5oS to 20oS). Despite the size of the region, the biodiversity of the Kimberley region has been poorly studied. Forming an improved understanding of the biodiversity, habitat distribution and ecosystem function is urgently required as this area is beginning to open up for greater tourism and oil and gas prospectivity and production. Two Marine Parks are planned for the region despite negligible knowledge about habitats and biodiversity distribution. As a result, Total Foundation partnered with CSIRO and other collaborating partners to explore the marine biodiversity of an unexplored part of the north-eastern Australian wilderness. The region selected for the project; the King George River, met the following criteria: 1. Absence of previous detailed studies or surveys of the area 2. Area with has the full range of coastal habitat types – beach, rocky shores, offshore island, coral reef, mangrove, tidal estuary 3. likely to be significantly influenced by the seasonal monsoon rainfall cycle 4. Likely to benefit from new knowledge of biodiversity and ecosystem process because of tourism use or other human interest in the area 5. In the general region of Total E&P’s operations in Australia Despite the growing popularity of the King George River Falls as a tourist attraction, this section of coastline remains largely unsurveyed except for a cursory visit by the Western Australian Museum to the upper reaches of the King George River in 1991 (Morgan 1992). The King George River region includes a full range of typical habitats; river, sandy beaches, rocky shores, mangroves and an island 8km offshore (Lesueur Islet 1.5 km long x 0.6 km wide) which is surrounded by coral reef. The importance of the area as a tourist destination, its proximity to aquaculture and hydrocarbon lease areas, the variety of marine and coastal habitats and the previously unsurveyed nature of the area make it interesting both scientifically as well as from a conservation management point of view. 3 Study objectives The objectives of the project were to: 1. Survey the intertidal and subtidal marine biodiversity of each of the key habitat types in the region Biodiversity surveys of each of the key intertidal and subtidal habitat types were undertaken with principal focus on marine plants and marine invertebrates. Key taxonomic and functional groups of primary producers (e.g. corals, algae and seagrass), filter feeders (e.g. sponges, octocorals), mobile benthic invertebrates (e.g. echinoderms, molluscs and crustaceans) were the main groups targeted, although fish were also collected. The surveys were undertaken using benthic sleds, traps and a variety of hand collection methods to produce a full species list highlighting the number of new species, new records for Australia, and new records for Western Australia. This work is described in Chapter 3. 2. Describe the intertidal and subtidal habitats of the region and their floral and faunal associations The results of the surveys undertaken along with aerial photographic images have been used to categorise the habitats of the region and to describe the key species assemblages which occur in these habitats. This work is described in Chapters 2 and 5. 3. Characterise the biogeochemical properties of the water column and sediment environments in the region Understanding the biological oceanography and biogeochemical attributes of the area is important to understanding ecosystem function. Measurements were made using CTD, Niskin bottles and bongo net to obtain vertical profiles of the following seawater parameters: temperature, salinity, light attenuation, fluorescence, nutrients (silica, nitrate/nitrate, ammonia and phosphate), phytoplankton (chlorophyll) and zooplankton abundance. A sediment core was also taken at each station. This work is described in Chapter 4. 4. Infer aspects of ecological function of the coastal region from foodweb analyses using stable isotope analyses With the region subject to a seasonal monsoon weather pattern it is likely that much of the way the ecosystem functions and the interrelationships between species are largely influenced by seasonal extremes of freshwater outflows and terrigenous organic material. In the absence of conducting both wet and dry season expeditions, we expected that this would be revealed by examining ecological dependencies of consumers and primary producers across a gradient from upper-river to offshore. Thus we undertook a preliminary analysis of the structure of food webs in the area using oysters and zooplankton as consumers to determine the importance of the productivity and organic matter originating from the riverine environment to coastal and offshore food webs using stable isotopes of 13C and 15N. These biochemical attributes can be used to determine both the food web structure (trophic level and primary source of carbon for each animal) and the primary source of nitrogen (terrestrial, marine or anthropogenic) for marine plants. 4 Study region and summaryy of sampling samp undertaken A series of figures below illustrate rate both the area of operations and the location n of samp sampling undertaken. Figures 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 show the gene general and specific locality of the study site. Figure 1.1 North western region on of Australia Aust – inset see Figure 1.2 Figure 1.2 Eastern Kimberley region of north-western Australia showing region of interest. inter – Inset enlargement of study area, seee Figure 1.3 5 Figure 1.3 Enlargement of area of interest for study. The white box shows the intended extent of the study area to be surveyed and mapped. The extent of the area sampled can be seen in Figures 1.4 to 1.7 with sampling stations marked of the georeferenced maps and aerial photographs. A summary of the stations sampled is given in Table 1.1 and the subsequent section of the report describes type of sampling undertaken by each type of gear and instruments and the number of samples taken or data collected. Figure 1.4. Overall study site and location of sites sampled between 3 and 13 June 2013 6 Figure 1.5 (top and bottom). Close up of estuary study sites sampled between 3 and 13 June 2013. Blue circles are small epibenthic sleds, pinks dropcorers are where sediment was sampled and yellow CTD markers are where water column measurements were taken. Shore based sampling sites are shown as white circles. 7 Figure 1.6 (top and bottom). Close up of Koolama Bay study sites sampled between 3 and 13 June 2013. Large epibenthic sled stations are shown as pink squares, blue circles are where small epibenthic sleds were taken, pink dropcorers are where sediment was sampled and yellow CTD markers are where water column measurements were taken. CTD stations north of CTD368 were also sampled for zooplankton using a Bongo net. Tow video tracks are shown in black. Shore based sampling sites are shown as white circles. 8 Figure 1.7 Close up of Lesueur Island and sites sampled between 3 and 13 June 2013. Snorkelling sample sites are shown as green hexagons, large epibenthic sled stations are shown as pink squares, blue circles are where small epibenthic sleds were taken and yellow CTD markers are where water column measurements and Bongo net tows were taken. Tow video tracks are shown in black and drop camera images locations are shown as red pins. Shore based sampling sites are shown as white circles. Sampling gear deployments Sampling was undertaken from aboard the RV Solander (Figure 1.8) and from two small tenders. The field expedition for the project was undertaken from 3 to 13 June 2013 and achieved the most comprehensive and intensive study ever undertaken in the remote north-eastern Kimberley region of Australia. A total of 146 stations, transects and gear deployments were sampled (Table 1.1) from up river to the base of the twin waterfalls out to 15 km offshore into the Timor Sea to a water depth of 70 m water depth and across a range of habitat types including water column, mangrove, shallow muddy benthos, rocky shores, coral reefs and deepwater sedimentary and filter feeder communities. Sampling equipment deployed included sediment cores, CTD (salinity, temperature, depth) profiler and Niskin (water sampling) bottles, bongo net, benthic sleds, traps, drop camera, tow video cameras and hand collections by reef walking and snorkel diving. 9 Figure 1.8 Research Vessel Solander used to undertake the fieldwork No. of stations / transects No. of sample lots No. of photographs* / observations** / specimens*** 4420*&** 1371* 1689*** 1157*** 10*** 215*** 493*** Gear deployed Tow video 15 Drop Camera 20 Large Sled 18 870 Small Sled 23 198 Trap 2 8 Snorkel Dives 7 167 Beach/Reef/Mangrove walks 14 131 CTD and water samples 23 Drop Core 12 Bongo Net 12 Total 146 Table 1.1 Summary of stations and transects sampled and gear deployments made. 10 Chapter 2 Benthic habitat types of the King George River region John Keesing1 and Peter Speare2 1 CSIRO 2AIMS Introduction The King George River region has a wide range of habitat types. Intertidal habitats included estuarine mangrove and mud, sandy beach and rocky shore and coral rubble beach and emergent coral reef flats. Subtidal habitats included estuarine and offshore soft sediment, filter feeder habitats on hard or consolidated bottom and coral and macroalgal reefs. The distribution of extent of each habitat type will influence the types of species assemblages and biodiversity that occurs in the area and the objective of this component of the study was to determine the distribution of different habitat types. Materials and Methods A combination of remote sensing (aerial photographs) and direct survey (tow cameras, drop cameras and benthic sled) were used to determine habitat types. Aerial photographs High resolution aerial photographs of the region were obtained from Landgate, the Western Australian government’s geospatial information services agency. Tow video camera The tow camera is a video camera towed along behind the boat providing a record of the types of habitats on the sea bed and the proportion of coverage over different types of biota. It allows a large area to be covered much more than can be sampled by the sled. A total of 15 video tows covering almost 9 km were made and a total of 3776 data point observations were made (Table 2.1)The tow camera also takes snap shots of the seabed allowing additional information on the species of animals and plants in each habitat (Fig. 2.1). A total of 644 usable images were taken (Table 2.2). Fig 2.1 Tow body used to tow video camera from the vessel. The winch with orange cable can be seen to the right. 11 OBSFILE No. Obs. Distance(m) Resolution(m) Tow Video 1 426 1180 2.8 Tow Video 2 450 1061 2.4 Tow Video 3 230 505 2.2 Tow Video 4 234 504 2.2 Tow Video 5 229 503 2.2 Tow Video 6 221 483 2.2 Tow Video 7 195 516 2.6 Tow Video 8 203 525 2.6 Tow Video 9 208 510 2.5 Tow Video 10 307 736 2.4 Tow Video 11 437 1033 2.4 Tow Video 12 25 61 2.4 Tow Video 13 161 346 2.1 Tow Video 14 77 169 2.2 Tow Video 15 373 862 2.3 Totals 3776 8994 Table 2.1. Details of tow video deployments including distance overed and no of observations of sea bed and fauna recorded OBSFILE No. Still Images Tow Video 1 112 Tow Video 2 14 Tow Video 3 49 Tow Video 4 36 Tow Video 5 34 Tow Video 6 28 Tow Video 10 80 Tow Video 11 85 Tow Video 12 6 Tow Video 13 71 Tow Video 14 31 Tow Video 15 98 Total 644 Table 2.2. Details of tow video digital still images taken from the tow video. Drop Camera The drop camera (Fig. 2.2) provides a photograph of a fixed area of the sea bed and is raised and lowered many times over the course of a transect enabling the type of bottom cover to be determined. The drop camera was mainly used around Lesueur Island to characterise the reef flat and lagoon and a total of 1371 usable images were obtained from 20 transects around Lesueur Island (Chapter 1, Table 1.1). 12 Figure 2.2. Drop camera showing steel tripod frame and camera mounted above. The rope is used to lower it to the seabed. Photographs are taken automatically every 5 seconds. Sampling locations Sampling locations for tow video and drop camera are shown in figures 2.3 and 2.4 Figure 2.3. Location of video camera tows around Lesueur Island (black tracks) and location of georeferenced images from drop camera drops. 13 Figure 2.4 location of video camera tows in and around Koolama Bay (black tracks). Results and Discussion Offshore marine habitats Benthic habitats off the offshore area of King George River and Lesueur Island were of two basic types; soft bottom muddy habitat (Fig.2.5) and filter feeder communities on hard or broken substrate (Fig 2.6). In some places both habitats would occur in patches in the same area (e.g. Video Tow 1, see Fig 2.7). Figure 2.5. Left: Example of mud bottom habitat type - catch from the large sled before sorting. Right: mud habitat as it appears in tow video still image. 14 Figure 2.6. Left: Example of biota ota from filter feeder community habitat type – sled catch catc from the large sled before sorting. Right: still image age from tow t video of filter feeder community habitat abitat typ type showing sea whip, gorgonian and crinoids. Soft bottom habitats were the most abundant ab feature in the region. Inshore these ese were wer primarily mud habitats with little obvious biohabitat habitat (Fig 2.8). Offshore mud habitats also occurred urred although alt often these supported filter feeder communities unities of o sponges, gorgonians and other octocorals rals (Fig. 2.7). Closer to Lesueur Island hard substrate occurred on both the northern and southern sides es of the island and where this hard substrate occurred denser enser and an richer filter feeder communities were recorded recorde (Fig 2.7). Figure 2.7. Substrate type and d benthic habitat around Lesueur Island. Pie charts arts show percentage cover of each type along the video transects sects. Details of positions, depths and percentage age cover are given in Tables 2.3 and 2.4. 15 Figure 2.8 Substrate type and benthic habitat type in and around Koolama Bay.. Pie charts char show percentage cover of each type along the video ideo transects. tran Figure 2.7. Substrate type and benthic enthic habitat hab around Lesueur Island. Pie charts show w percen percentage cover of each type along the video transect transects. Details of positions, depths and percentage age cove cover are given in Tables 2.3 and 2.4. Site Towvid1 Mid-tow Longitude 127.2662 Mid-tow tow Latitude Sand Coarse (%) Mud (%) Rock (%) -13.8305 13.8305 Depth (m) 15.6 18.1 15.5 24.9 41.5 3.6 81.8 14.7 0 Sand (%) Towvid2 127.2627 -13.8329 13.8329 20.5 Towvid3 127.3096 -13.9136 13.9136 15.4 100 0 0 0 Towvid4 127.2989 -13.9148 13.9148 16.1 100 0 0 0 Towvid5 127.3023 -13.9210 13.9210 12.8 100 0 0 0 Towvid6 127.3070 -13.9231 13.9231 11.6 100 0 0 0 Towvid7 127.3293 -13.9033 13.9033 33.7 100 0 0 0 Towvid8 127.3352 -13.9012 13.9012 31.0 100 0 0 0 Towvid9 127.3427 -13.9007 13.9007 100 0 0 0 Towvid10 127.2454 -13.7903 13.7903 39.5 52.6 100 0 0 0 100 0 0 0 Towvid11 127.2781 -13.7910 13.7910 54.9 Towvid12 127.2715 -13.8077 13.8077 31.1 0 100 0 0 Towvid13 127.2570 -13.8144 13.8144 32.5 100 0 0 0 Towvid14 127.2735 -13.8070 13.8070 0 100 0 0 Towvid15 127.2617 -13.8320 13.8320 31.2 15.8 0 24.9 55.2 19.8 Table 2.3 Percentage cover of each sub substrate type along each tow video transect 16 Benthic community type % cover Site Mid-tow Longitude Mid-tow Latitude Filter Feeders Medium Filter Feeders Sparse Gorgonian Dense Gorgonian Medium Gorgonian Sparse No Benthos Towvid1 127.2662 -13.8305 0 0 37.1 29.6 31.9 1.4 Towvid2 127.2627 -13.8329 0 0 58.0 26.7 14.9 0.4 Towvid3 127.3096 -13.9136 0 0 0 0 0 100 Towvid4 127.2989 -13.9148 0 0 0 0 0 100 Towvid5 127.3023 -13.9210 0 0 0 0 0 100 Towvid6 127.3070 -13.9231 0 0 0 0 Towvid7 127.3293 -13.9033 0 0 0 0 Towvid8 127.3352 -13.9012 0 13.3 0 0 Towvid9 127.3427 -13.9007 0 96.2 0 0 Towvid10 127.2454 -13.7903 0 63.8 0 0 Towvid11 127.2781 -13.7910 30.4 69.3 0 0 Towvid12 127.2715 -13.8077 96.0 0 0 0 Towvid13 127.2570 -13.8144 0 0 0 0 Towvid14 127.2735 -13.8070 98.7 0 0 0 Towvid15 127.2617 -13.8320 84.2 8.0 0 0 Table 2.4 Percentage cover of each benthic habitat type along each tow video transect 0 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 86.7 3.8 36.2 0.2 4.0 100 1.3 7.8 Lesueur Island habitats Lesueur Island (Fig 2.9) is a low, vegetated island surrounded by a fringing coral reef. The beach which surrounds the island is comprised solely of broken coral rubble (Fig. 2.10). At various places the beach is punctuated by rocky outcrops which form part of the supra and intertidal fringing reef (Fig. 2.11). Subtidally the reef supports a diverse coral fauna and algal flora (Fig. 2.12). Much of the reef is covered in coral rubble and turfing algae and macroalgae especially Sargassum, Halimeda, Padina and Caulerpa. Coral cover in some patches is very high, with some images from the drop camera revealing total coverage of branching or tabulate Acropora (e.g. Fig 2.12). Figure 2.9. Lesueur Island showing centrally vegetated area, surrounded by coral rubble beach and the extensive intertidal and subtidal reef flat which extends north, east and south from the island. The island is 1.46 km long and 620 m wide at its widest point. Measurements do not include the beach width. 17 Figure 2.10. Shoreline and beach of Lesueur Island on southern side showing coral rubble beach. Top right image is intertidal rubble bank off south eastern side of island. Fig 2.11. Exposed intertidal reef on south side of Lesueur Island (site KGR374) 18 Figure 2.12. Examples of subtidal coral reef flat habitats from Drop Camera images. Top row shows branching and tabulate corals, mostly Acropora, middle row shows dead coral rubble which covers much of the reef and the lower panels show macroalgae including Caulerpa, Halimeda and Sargassum all abundant on the reef. 19 Koolama Bay habitats Within Koolama Bay (Fig. 2.13) the subtidal benthos was muddy (e.g. Fig 2.5) and becoming sandier inshore where sandy beach habitats (Fig. 2.14) and rocky shore habitats (Fig. 2.15) occur. Both within the bay proper and in the small bay (Fig. 2.13) just to the west of Koolama Bay, small creeks run in an along shore direction behind the beach (Fig. 2.16). During the dry season at least, these are largely lagoon features. Figure 2.13 Koolama Bay showing rocky shores on the western and north-eastern side and the sandy beach fronting an extensive mangrove creek system in the south-east. Scale bar is 400 m. Figure 2.14. Sandy beach habitats along the coast in and around Koolama Bay. 20 Figure 2.15. Rocky shore habitat showing scientists collecting oysters. Figure 2.16. Western part of Koolama Bay where there is a small creek behind the beach running parallel to the shoreline. Estuarine King George River habitats The mouth of the King George River (Fig. 2.17 upper panel) transitions from the sandy beaches of Koolama Bay to riverine mangrove habitats. These too are surprisingly sandy rather than the heavy muddy mangrove habitats found elsewhere in the Kimberley. Just inside the mouth of the river a large mangrove creek leads off to the east (Fig. 2.17 upper panel). Small beds of the seagrass Halophila decipiens occur in this area (Fig 2.18). As the river bends some 4.5 km up stream (Fig 2.17 lower panel) there are extensive stands of mangroves. Here the river is at its 21 widest, about 800m. The mangroves along the river are principally Avicenia and Rhizophora (Fig 2.19). The river is walled with towering red-orange sandstone cliffs (Fig. 2.20) on each side and along the length of the river there is rocky habitat of either sheer cliff or rocks that have accumulated at the base of the cliff (Fig. 2.21). Figure 2.17. Mouth and lower estuary of King George River. Scale bar is 100 m in top panel and 300m in bottom panel. 22 Figure 2.18. Low relief shore habitat near the mouth of the King George River. It is in this area that the sea grass Halophila decipiens (Right) occurred in small amounts. Figure 2.19. King George River Mangrove habitats showing Rhizophora prop roots (top left) and Avicenia pneumatophores protruding from the typical muddy sand habitat (bottom right). 23 Figure 2.20. Red-orange sandstone cliffs along the King George River Figure 2.21 Rocky intertidal habitat along the King George River. The King George River branches to the east, at about 4.5 km from the mouth (Fig. 2.22), for a further 2km where there are further mangrove stands and a waterfall. The main section of the river turns west and then south (Fig 2.22), again mangrove stands have developed at each bend in the river. The last significant mangrove stand occurs at about 10 km from the mouth (Fig 2.22 lower panel). Just past this point the river is at its narrowest below falls section (about 120 m wide) and from there it is about 2.7 km to the majestic twin falls (Fig 2.23). 24 Figure 2.22. Middle reaches of King George River. Scale bar is 300 m in both upper and lower panels. 25 Fig 2.23. Upper reaches of the King George River below the twin falls. Scale bar is 100 m. Figure 2.24. Upper reaches of the King George River and the twin falls. The western falls are shown in the lower left panel and the eastern falls in the lower right panel. 26 Chapter 3 Biodiversity Assessment John Keesing1, Douglas Bearham1, Monika Bryce2, Jane Fromont2, Ana Hara2, Andrew Hosie2, John Huisman3, Lisa Kirkendale2, Loisette Marsh2, Glenn Moore2, Sue Morrison2, Kate Naughton4, Tim O’Hara4, Mark O’Loughlin4, Zoe Richards2, Zoe Snedden1, Joanna Strzelecki1 and Corey Whisson2 1 CSIRO, 2Western Australian Museum, 3Western Australian Herbarium, 4Museum Victoria Introduction The Kimberley region of north-western Australia stretches more than 1300 km from the southern limit of the Eighty Mile Beach to the Northern Territory border spanning 6.5 degrees of latitude (13.5oS to 20oS). This is more than 10% of the Australian continental coastline, but the regions marine habitats and biodiversity have been sparsely and incompletely studied. Studies of the coastal marine flora and fauna of the region have been largely limited to a number of expeditions by the Western Australian Museum and others (Wilson 1981, Morgan 1992, Wells et al. 1995, Walker 1997) and the study of Keesing et al. (2011). With the exception of some surveys which targeted offshore reefs and islands (e.g. Berry 1993), these studies attempted to cover large sections of the coast and as a result have not provided comprehensive or detailed assessments of any of the parts of the coast studied. Of those parts of the Kimberley that have been studied, the far eastern Kimberley has received the least attention. The only survey in this regions was made by the Western Australian Museum in 1991 (Morgan 1992) and this included a brief visit to the upper reaches of the King George River, one station at the mouth of the King George River and another on Lesueur Island. The broader King George River region includes a large range of habitats. Seaward of the 80 m high twin waterfalls are a river, sandy beaches, rocky shores and mangroves, and 8km offshore is Lesueur Island surrounded by coral reef and a range of soft bottom and hard substrate benthic habitats. This component of the study sought to sample all these habitat types using a variety of methods in order to make a comprehensive assessment of the major groups of marine and estuarine plants and invertebrates of the region. Materials and Methods Sampling Sites In total we sampled 146 sites extending from the base of the King George River Falls to Lesueur Island and offshore to 70m water depth (Figs 3.1 – 3.5). Sampling was carried out across a large range of habitat types (Table 3.1) using different methods and gear types described below (see also Table3.2). 27 Location King George River (upper reaches) King George River (middle reaches) Benthic Habitat type Mangrove, rocky shore, muddy or sandy river bank Mangrove, rocky shore, muddy or sandy river bank Depths 0-1 m 0-1 m 0-8 m King George River (lower reaches) Mangrove, rocky shore, soft sediment benthos 0-2 m Inner Koolama Bay Outer Koolama Bay Offshore between Koolama Bay and Lesueur Island soft sediment benthos rocky shore, soft sediment benthos 0-15 m Collecting methods / Gear type Beach and bank walks Beach and bank walks Beach and Reef walks, small epibenthic sled, traps small epibenthic sled, traps Reef walks, small epibenthic sled 17-47 m Soft sediment benthos, filter Large epibenthic feeder dominated benthos sled Coral Reef, rocky shore, coral 0-3 m Snorkelling, Beach Lesueur Island rubble beach and Reef walks Offshore of Lesueur Filter feeder dominated 54-73 m Large epibenthic Island benthos sled Table 3.1. Summary of locations, habitat types and sampling methods and gear used. Figure 3.1 Study area showing all biodiversity sampling sites 28 Figure 3.2 Close up biodiversity sampling sites around Lesueur Island Figure 3.3 Koolama Bay showing biodiversity sampling sites 29 Figure 3.4 Lower reaches of river showing biodiversity sampling sites Figure 3.5 Middle and upper reaches of river showing biodiversity sampling sites Sampling methods Sampling methods varied depending on the location, depth and habitat type and took into account safety hazards, so for example snorkelling in the riverine and estuarine sites was not considered safe due to the crocodile hazard. A description of the methods used is given below. 30 Benthic Sled Three types of benthic sleds were deployed; two large sleds from the RV Solander in deeper water (Fig 3.6) one of which was best suited to soft sediment habitats (CSIRO Sled) and the other to filter feeder habitats (AIMS Sled), and a small sled which could be operated by two people from the tender in shallow water (Fig. 3.7). The CSIRO sled is the same as that used by Keesing et al. (2011) and measured 1.5 m in width with a cod end made from nylon mesh measuring 25 mm between knots. The way the net is hung means it can retain samples of 12 mm or larger. However with the knots pulled tight and the nature of sled operations retaining large amounts of unconsolidated substrate including sand rubble and mud, many very small specimens are also retained among the substrate brought up in the net. The AIMS sled is the same as that used by Colquhoun and Heyward (2007) and measured 1.5 m with a cod end made with 47 mm mesh effectively retaining 24 mm samples, however again as above the sled retains many smaller animals. The sleds were deployed from the stern of the vessel and towed along the seabed for varying but measured distances and then retrieved to the vessel where the contents were sorted for live animals and plants (dead mollusc material was also retained). Specimens were sorted to species where possible, weighed and labelled as species lots and then either frozen or preserved in 100% ethanol. Large specimens such as some sponges where subsampled. As many species as possible were photographed before preservation. Figure 3.6. Large CSIRO (left) and AIMS (right) sled being deployed from the RV Solander. Right picture from Colquhoun and Heyward 2007 Figure 3.7. Small sled / trawl net as deployed from the tender 31 Traps Funnel traps made of nylon mesh (25mm between knots) Mesh traps (Fig 3.8) measuring 100cm in diameter were baited with pilchard fish and deployed over night, connected by rope to a surface float. Figure 3.8. Mesh traps set to capture crabs and fish Beach and Rocky shore sampling Exposed intertidal and supratidal areas were accessed by tender and samples collected by hand including by turning rocks and using hammer and chisel to remove oysters. Subtidal sampling by snorkelling Snorkelling surveys were made on the subtidal section of the reef flat around Lesueur Island and samples were collected by hand or by hammer and chisel. Results and Discussion Extent of sampling, new species discovered and new records for Australia and Western Australia We collected more than 3500 specimens in 1374 lots of animals and plants for a total of 796 species (Table 3.2). Where possible all marine plants, echinoderms, molluscs, crustaceans, cnidarians and sponges were identified to species or at least to species level operational taxonomic units for some lesser known groups such as some octocorals. Other taxa were not identified. Specimens were identified by expert taxonomists at the Western Australian Museum, the Western Australian Herbarium and Museum Victoria and voucher specimens are lodged and registered at the Western Australian Museum and the Western Australian Herbarium. The taxonomic scheme presented here is based on WORMS as of August 2014 (http://www.marinespecies.org/index.php). 32 No. of sample Gear deployed lots No. of specimens Large Sled 18 870 1689 Small Sled 23 198 1157 Trap 2 8 10 Snorkel Dives 7 167 215 Beach/Reef/Mangrove walks 14 131 493 Total 146 1374 3564 Table 3.2. Summary of stations and transects sampled and gear deployments made. No. of stations The study has made a major contribution to the knowledge of the marine invertebrate fauna from Western Australia and northern Australia more generally. For most species collected this study marked the most northerly record for the species in Western Australia. There were at least 10 new species discovered (Table 3.3) of which four have been named. The new species comprised five crustaceans and up to seven echinoderms. In addition to these, there were 11 new records for Australia and 18 new records for Western Australia. Taxa New species / probable new species New records for Australia New records for Western Australia Marine algae None None None Sponges Not determined None Favites acuticollis (Ortmann 1889) None? None None? Phyllophorus (Urodemella) holothuroides Ludwig, 1875 Thyone pedata Semper, 1867 None Echinoderms Not determined Actinocucumis solanderi O'Loughlin 2014, Globosita elnazae O'Loughlin 2014, Massinium bonapartum O'Loughlin 2014, Massinium keesingi O'Loughlin 2014 Probable 3 undescribed species of Peronella Molluscs Not determined None Crustaceans Acasta sp. nov., Amphibalanus sp. nov., Eucasta sp. nov., Manningia sp. nov., Paranaxia sp. nov. Aliaporcellana telestophilus, Hiphyra elegans, Enoplolambrus carenatus, Leptopisa australis, Minyaspis cf. reducens, Oxynaspis pacifica, Stimdromia angulata, Upogebia savignyi None Allogalathea longimana, Alpheus acutocarinatus, Arcania echinata, Cloridina moluccensis, Ebalia lambriformis, Eucrate sexdentata, Hyastenus cf. subinermis, Ixa pulcherrima, Jonas leuteanus, Lissoporcellana streptochiroides, Lutogemma sandybrucei, Nursia sinuata, Lauriea punctata, Paranursia abbreviatta, Portunus wilsoni, Rhinolambrus spinifer, Tiarina mooloolah, Xenocarcinus tuberculatus Fishes Not determined None None Cnidarians (hard corals) Cnidarians (soft corals) Table 3.3. Summary of new species, new records for Australia and new records for Western Australia collected in this study. 33 Algae and seagrasses – John Huisman, Western Australian Herbarium Thirty-two species of marine flora were collected, comprising 11 green algae, 10 brown algae, 9 red algae, and 2 seagrasses (Table 3.4). All specimens were mounted on herbarium sheets and will be lodged with the Western Australian Herbarium as permanent vouchers. Assessing the biogeographic relationships of this relatively small collection is difficult given that very little is known about the regional flora, but based on an as yet unpublished manuscript (Huisman, in prep.) and floristic accounts for other tropical Australian locations (e.g. Kraft 2007, 2009; Huisman et al. 2009), the species collected were typical components of the north-western Australian and (more broadly) the Indo-Pacific floras. Several species are as yet unrecorded in the literature for the NW region (e.g. Halimeda heteromorpha), but are represented in the Western Australian Herbarium in Perth. On a finer scale, no algal or seagrass specimens from the King George River locality are present in the WA Herbarium (Huisman & Sampey, submitted), thus all of the present collections represent new records. As is true for most locations, the genus Sargassum presents the greatest taxonomic difficulty, as many of the known species are poorly defined and species of the genus are notoriously variable in form. An as-yet unpublished study of the north western Australian Sargassum (Dixon et al., in prep.) has shown that while some species are distinguishable morphologically (although only with fertile specimens), several others require DNA sequence analyses. This has not been undertaken with the present collections. Common and widespread elements of the tropical Australian marine flora represented in the collection include the green algae Boergesenia forbesii, Caulerpa lamourouxii, Ulva flexuosa and Ulva paradoxa; the brown algae Dictyota ciliolata, Feldmannia indica and Padina australis; the red algae Acanthophora spicifera and Tolypiocladia glomerulata; and the seagrass Halophila decipiens. GENUS and SPECIES PHYLUM CLASS ORDER FAMILY Halophila decipiens Magnoliophyta Liliopsida Hydrocharitales Hydrocharitaceae Halophila cf. minor Magnoliophyta Liliopsida Hydrocharitales Hydrocharitaceae Caulerpa chemnitzia Chlorophyta Bryopsidophyceae Bryopsidales Caulerpaceae Caulerpa lentillifera Chlorophyta Bryopsidophyceae Bryopsidales Caulerpaceae Caulerpa lamourouxii Chlorophyta Bryopsidophyceae Bryopsidales Caulerpaceae Halimeda heteromorpha Chlorophyta Bryopsidophyceae Bryopsidales Halimedaceae Halimeda sp. Chlorophyta Bryopsidophyceae Bryopsidales Halimedaceae Halimeda xishaense Chlorophyta Bryopsidophyceae Bryopsidales Halimedaceae Cladophora vagabunda Chlorophyta Cladophoraceae Cladophorales Cladophoraceae Boergesenia forbesii Chlorophyta Cladophoraceae Cladophorales Siphonocladaceae Ulva flexuosa Chlorophyta Ulvophyceae Ulvales Ulvaceae Ulva paradoxa Chlorophyta Ulvophyceae Ulvales Ulvaceae Ulva ralfsii Chlorophyta Ulvophyceae Ulvales Ulvaceae Canistrocarpus crispata Heterokontophyta Phaeophaceae Dictyotales Dictyotaceae Dicytota ciliolata Heterokontophyta Phaeophaceae Dictyotales Dictyotaceae Padina australis Heterokontophyta Phaeophaceae Dictyotales Dictyotaceae Feldmannia indica Heterokontophyta Phaeophaceae Ectocarpales Acinetosporaceae Sargassum aquifolium Heterokontophyta Phaeophaceae Fucales Sargassaceae Sargassum cf. carpophyllum Heterokontophyta Phaeophaceae Fucales Sargassaceae Sargassum polycystum Heterokontophyta Phaeophaceae Fucales Sargassaceae Sargassum sp. 1 Heterokontophyta Phaeophaceae Fucales Sargassaceae Sargassum sp. 2 Heterokontophyta Phaeophaceae Fucales Sargassaceae Sirophysalis trinodis Heterokontophyta Phaeophaceae Fucales Sargassaceae Acanthophora spicifera Rhodophyta Floridophyceae Ceramiales Rhodomelaceae 34 Ceramium sp. Rhodophyta Floridophyceae Ceramiales Rhodomelaceae Laurencia sp. Rhodophyta Floridophyceae Ceramiales Rhodomelaceae Tolypiocladia glomerulata Rhodophyta Floridophyceae Ceramiales Rhodomelaceae Jania adhaerens Rhodophyta Floridophyceae Corallinales Corallinaceae Corynomorpha prismatica Rhodophyta Floridophyceae Gigartinales Corynomorphaceae Hypnea spinella Rhodophyta Floridophyceae Gigartinales Hypneaceae Galaxaura rugosa Rhodophyta Floridophyceae Nemaliales Galaxauraceae Gelidiopsis intricata Rhodophyta Floridophyceae Rhodomeniales Lomentariaceae Table 3.4. Species list for marine seagrass and macro algae collected from the King George River region. Sponges - Jane Fromont, Western Australian Museum A total of 108 sponge specimens were examined for further identification. Of these, 73 species of Demospongiae from seven orders were identified, as well as one species of Calcarea and one Homosclerophorida. Just over three quarters of the 75 species (57) were not given a species name but were discrete species and were given a species number, e.g. Cinachyrella sp. 1. Due to the inability to resolve whether these species were described in historic literature or new species, we cannot presently determine if they are isolated to the Kimberley region or more widespread. Of the 18 species that could be allocated a species name, all have previously been reported from Western Australia and the Northern Territory. These species are known to occur in tropical Australia and are widespread Indo-Pacific. This suggests that the King George River fauna is typical of the region. Fromont and Sampey (in press) found 342 species of sponges throughout the Kimberley from a compilation study of historic expedition results, with many more species not included due to insufficient information. Another recent study (Przeslawski et al. 2014) in the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, found 283 species, but more extensive sampling, and in deeper depths, was undertaken in this study compared to the King George River survey. North Western Australia is known to have a high diversity of sponges. Hooper et al (2002) considered the Northwest Shelf of Western Australia to be one of three sponge biodiversity hotspots in Australia, containing greater than 600 species. Bergquist and Kelly-Borges (1995) found more species of the IndoPacific family Ianthellidae in the Dampierian province (mid-west to north-west Australia), with two apparently endemic species, than anywhere else in the Indo-Pacific. However, the sponge fauna of the coastal Kimberley region has been poorly studied and needs a significant amount of research to analyse the biogeography of the sponge fauna. The collection of 75 species does not reflect the large sponge biodiversity anticipated for the Kimberley coastal region. This will in part be a consequence of some of the sampling being in habitats where sponges occur in low numbers such as in mangroves, beaches and soft sediments. Possibly some smaller species were not detected by the collectors. GENUS SPECIES CLASS Calacarea sp.1 Calacarea Disyringa sp.1 Demospongiae ORDER Astrophorida FAMILY Anchorinidae Disyringa cf. dissimilis Demospongiae Astrophorida Anchorinidae Rhabdastrella cf. globostellata Demospongiae Astrophorida Anchorinidae Tethyopsis sp.1 Demospongiae Astrophorida Anchorinidae Geodia sp.1 Demospongiae Astrophorida Geodiidae Geodia sp.2 Demospongiae Astrophorida Geodiidae 35 Geodia sp.3 Demospongiae Astrophorida Geodiidae Astrophorid sp.1 Demospongiae Astrophorida Dendroceratid sp.1 Demospongiae Dendroceratida Ircinia sp. KGR1 Demospongiae Dictyoceratida Ircinidae Ircinia sp. KGR2 Demospongiae Dictyoceratida Ircinidae Ircinia sp. 1 Demospongiae Dictyoceratida Ircinidae Jaspis sp.1 Demospongiae Dictyoceratida Ircinidae Sarcotragus sp.1 Demospongiae Dictyoceratida Ircinidae Sarcotragus sp.2 Demospongiae Dictyoceratida Ircinidae Hippospongia cf. sp SS2 Demospongiae Dictyoceratida Spongiidae Spongia sp. KGR1 Demospongiae Dictyoceratida Spongiidae Fasciospongia? sp.1 Hyrtios erecta Demospongiae Demospongiae Dictyoceratida Dictyoceratida Thorectidae Thorectidae Luffariella? sp.1 Demospongiae Dictyoceratida Thorectidae Phyllospongia papyracea Demospongiae Thorectandra sp.1 Demospongiae Dictyoceratida Dictyoceratida Thorectidae Thorectidae Spheciospongia vagabunda Demospongiae Hadromerida Clionaidae Polymastia sp1 Demospongiae Hadromerida Polymastiidae Aaptos sp1 Demospongiae Hadromerida Suberitidae Axinella cf. aruensis type II Demospongiae Halichondrida Axinellidae Axinella sp.1 Demospongiae Halichondrida Axinellidae Reniochalina stalagmitis Demospongiae Halichondrida Axinellidae Amorphinopsis sp.1 Demospongiae Halichondrida Halichondriidae Amorphinopsis sp.2 Demospongiae Halichondrida Halichondriidae Halichondria cf. phakelloides Demospongiae Halichondrida Halichondriidae Hymeniacidon sp.1 Demospongiae Halichondrida Halichondriidae Hymeniacidon sp.2 Demospongiae Halichondrida Halichondriidae Halichondrid sp.1 Demospongiae Halichondrida Callyspongia sp.1 Demospongiae Haplosclerida Callyspongiidae Callyspongia sp.2 Demospongiae Haplosclerida Callyspongiidae Chondropsis sp.1 Demospongiae Haplosclerida Callyspongiidae Cladocroce? sp.1 Haliclona sp.1 Demospongiae Demospongiae Haplosclerida Haplosclerida Chalinidae Chalinidae Haliclona sp.2 Demospongiae Haplosclerida Chalinidae Gelliodes sp.1 Demospongiae Haplosclerida Niphatidae Gelliodes sp.2 Demospongiae Haplosclerida Niphatidae Gelliodes sp.3 Demospongiae Haplosclerida Niphatidae Petrosia sp.1 Demospongiae Haplosclerida Petrosiidae Petrosia sp.2 Demospongiae Haplosclerida Petrosiidae Xestospongia testudinaria Demospongiae Haplosclerida Petrosiidae Oceanapia ramsayi Demospongiae Haplosclerida Phloeodictyidae Oceanapia sp.1 Demospongiae Haplosclerida Phloeodictyidae Oceanapia sp.2 Demospongiae Haplosclerida Phloeodictyidae Oceanapia sp.3 Demospongiae Haplosclerida Phloeodictyidae Siphonodictyon sp. SS9 Demospongiae Haplosclerida Phloeodictyidae Coelosphaera sp. KGR1 Demospongiae Poecilosclerida Coelsphaeridae Coelosphaera sp.3? Demospongiae Poecilosclerida Coelsphaeridae Coelosphaera sp. SS3 Demospongiae Poecilosclerida Coelsphaeridae 36 Clathria (Thalysias) reinwardti Demospongiae Poecilosclerida Microcionidae Clathria (Thalysiios) sp.1 Demospongiae Poecilosclerida Microcionidae Echinodictyum cancellatum Demospongiae Poecilosclerida Raspailiidae Echinodictyum mesenterinum Demospongiae Poecilosclerida Raspailiidae Ectyoplasia tabula Demospongiae Poecilosclerida Raspailiidae Raspailiidae Trikentrion flabelliformis Demospongiae Poecilosclerida Poecilosclerid sp.1 Demospongiae Poecilosclerida Cinachyra sp. KGR1 Demospongiae Spirophorida Tetillidae Cinachyrella cf. australiensis Demospongiae Spirophorida Tetillidae Cinachyrella sp.1 Demospongiae Spirophorida Tetillidae Tetilla sp.1 Demospongiae Spirophorida Tetillidae Ianthella basta Demospongiae Verongida Ianthellidae Ianthella flabelliformis Demospongiae Verongida Ianthellidae Ianthellidae Ianthella sp.1 Demospongiae Verongida Verongid sp.1 Demospongiae Verongida Verongid sp.2 Demospongiae Verongida Plakortis sp.1 Homoscleromorpha Homoscleromorpha Plakinidae Table 3.5. Species list for marine sponges collected from the King George River region. Cnidaria (hard corals) - Zoe Richards, Western Australian Museum Sixty-one hard coral samples were collected comprising three subclasses (Hexacorallia, Octocorallia, Hydroidlina); three orders (Scleractinia, Helioporacea, Anthoathecata) and 12 families (Acroporidae, Caryophyllidae, Dendrophylliidae, Euphylliidae, Flabellidae, Helioporidae, Merulinidae, Milleporidae, Pocilloporidae, Poritidae, Psammocoridae, Scleractinia incertae sedis). From the samples 40 taxonomic units were identified and 37 of those were identified to species (See Table 3.6). Five Acropora spp were recorded; 2 Alveopora spp; 3 Caryophyllia spp; 1 Euphyllia sp, 1 Favites sp; 1 Coelastrea sp (formerlly known as Goniastrea); 2 Goniopora spp; 1 Heliopora sp; 1 Heteropsammia sp; 2 Hydnophora sp; 1 Leptastrea sp; 2 Millepora spp; 1 Montipora sp; 1 Placotrochus sp; 2 Platygyra sp; 2 Porites spp; 1 Psammocora sp; 2 Seriatopora spp; 1 Stylophora sp; 4 Truncatoflabellum spp; > 3 Tubastraea spp; and 1 Turbinaria sp. Azooxanthellate scleractinian colonies were the most abundant among the collection (n = 25 colonies). Caryophyllia, Truncatoflabellum and Tubastraea were particularly well represented. Placotrochus and Heteropsammia were also recorded. 25 reef-building scleractinian coral species were recorded and 17 of these were represented by only one colony. The majority of the species recorded are known from Western Australia (Veron and Marsh, 1988; Cairns 1998) or known from the Kimberley (Richards et al., in press; Cairns, 1998) however there is one notable exception, Favites acuticollis which has not previously been recorded in Australia. Up until now this species was known only from SE Asia and Japan (Veron 2000). While the majority of species recorded reach a wide Indo-Pacific distribution, two of the azooxanthellate species (Plactocrochus laevius and Truncatoflabellum aculeatum) are endemic to Western Australia. Among the corals collected the global threatened status has been assessed for 29 species using IUCN categories and criteria (Carpenter et al., 2008). From that assessment, six of the corals recorded in this study are listed as Vulnerable (Acropora spicifera; Alveopora allingi; Alveopora verriliana; Heliopora coerculea; Leptastrea aequalis; Turbinaria mesenterina). Ten others are listed as Near Threatened and 13 are listed as Least Concern. Collection of corals in this study was restricted to snorkeling on a limited number of reef flat sites. Sampling on SCUBA would have enabled a more comprehensive collection of species. As such, this collection 37 represents a small subset of the diversity of hard corals present in the Kimberley (Richards et al., in press). Hence, the species-level diversity of corals in the King George region is expected to be at least two-three times greater than that documented here and further targeted coral collections must be made to more fully capture the true extent of hard coral diversity in shallow subtidal habitats 0-30m. The only other sampling of hard corals from this area is reported by Marsh (1992a) who sampled at the mouth of King George River and Lesueur Island in 1991 recording 18 scleractinian species. Of these only 5 were found in our study. Thus a total of 50 species has now been recorded from this location. Cnidaria (soft corals) – Monika Bryce, Western Australian Museum A total of 89 octocorals were sampled, yielding a rich fauna of 42 species belonging to 20 genera, 11 families, and five groups/subclasses (Table 3.6). Within the Stolonifera group only two species were represented - Carijoa sp. 1 (Clavulariidae) and the organ pipe coral Tubipora musica (Tubiporidae). Within the Alcyoniina group only one species was recorded from each of the families, Alcyoniidae (Lobophytum sp. 1) and Nidaliidae (Nephthyigorgia sp.1). The highest diversity was found within the family Nephtheidae with 14 species represented by Dendronephthya spp. (6), Chromonephtea spp. (5), Nephthea sp. (1) and Umbellulifera spp. (2). Within the Scleraxonia group the family Melithaeidae was the most speciose with five species recorded from the genus Acabaria and three species from Melithaeida. Also recorded were Subergorgia suberosa (Subergorgiidae), Iciligorgia brunnea (Anthothelidae) and two species of Solenocaulon (Anthothelidae). All octocorals from the suborder, Holoxonia were within the family Plexauridae, with the genera Echinogorgia being the most common. The genera Menella, Anthogorgia and Paracis were also collected. Within the suborder Calcaxonia, the two common sea whips, Dichotella gemmacea and Junceella fragilis (family Ellisellidae) were represented as well as one species of Jasminisis (family Isididae). In general, the collection reflects a typical Octocorallia assemblage for muddy environments with mild to strong currents and weak wave action. This conclusion is supported by the absence of the genera Sinularia and Sarcophyton, and the collection of only one specimen of Lobophytum from the reef flat at Lesueur Island. Some species of these genera are often very abundant in intertidal or shallow water and tolerant to air and wave exposure as well as intense illumination. The relatively high abundance of whips and fans, and genera known to live predominantly in turbid environments, such as Carijoa, Iciligorgia, and Solenocaulon, in this dataset further support these findings. Paracis sp. is not very common and considered to be rare in shallow water. As species were mainly identified to OTU level and comparative information is sparse it is not possibly at this stage to determine how many collected octocorals may constitute new or previously undescribed species. Species diversity observed in this survey is relatively high in relation to collection effort. This may suggest that octocoral biodiversity may be representative of the local area. Soft corals have received little collecting effort in Western Australian waters (Bryce & Sampey in press). No previous surveys of the King-George region have reported on octocoral species composition. GENUS SPECIES CLASS/SUBCLASS ORDER Acropora cerealis Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Acroporidae Acropora intermedia Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Acroporidae Acropora latistella Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Acroporidae Acropora pulchra Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Acroporidae Acropora spicifera Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Acroporidae Montipora peltiformis Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Acroporidae Caryophyllia sp. 1 Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Caryophyllidae Caryophyllia sp. 2 Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Caryophyllidae Caryophyllia cf. quadragenaria Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Caryophyllidae 38 SUBORDER FAMILY Tubastraea sp. 1 Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Dendrophyllidae Tubastraea sp. 2 Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Dendrophyllidae Tubastraea sp. 3 Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Dendrophyllidae Turbinaria mesenterina Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Dendrophyllidae Heteropsammia cf. cochleata Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Dendrophylliidae Euphyllia glabrescens Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Euphylliidae Placotrochus laevius Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Flabellidae Truncatoflabellum aculeatum Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Flabellidae Truncatoflabellum angiostomum Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Flabellidae Truncatoflabellum australiensis Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Flabellidae Truncatoflabellum spheniscus Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Flabellidae Coelastrea pectinata Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Merulinidae Favites acuticollis Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Merulinidae Hydnophora exesa Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Merulinidae Hydnophora microconos Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Merulinidae Platygyra daedalea Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Merulinidae Platygyra lamellina Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Merulinidae Seriatopora caliendrum Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Pocilloporidae Seriatopora hystrix Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Pocilloporidae Stylophora pistillata Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Pocilloporidae Alveopora allingi Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Poritidae Alveopora verriliana Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Poritidae Goniopora djiboutiensis Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Poritidae Goniopora tenuidens Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Poritidae Porites cylindrica Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Poritidae Porites lutea Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Poritidae Psammocora contigua Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia Psammocoridae Leptastrea aequalis Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Scleractinia incertae sedis Antipatharian sp. 1 Anthozoa/Hexacorallia Antipatharia Millepora dichotoma Hydrozoa/Hydroidolina Anthoathecata Capitata Milleporidae Millepora exaesa Hydrozoa/Hydroidolina Anthoathecata Capitata Milleporidae Heliopora coerculea Anthozoa/Octocorallia Helioporacea Pennatulacean sp. 1 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Pennatulacea Lobophytum sp. 1 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Alcyoniina Alcyoniidae Chromonephthea sp. 1 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Alcyoniina Nephtheidae Chromonephthea sp. 2 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Alcyoniina Nephtheidae Chromonephthea sp. 3 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Alcyoniina Nephtheidae Helioporidae Chromonephthea sp. 4 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Alcyoniina Nephtheidae Chromonephthea sp. 5 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Alcyoniina Nephtheidae Dendronephthya sp. 1 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Alcyoniina Nephtheidae Dendronephthya sp. 2 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Alcyoniina Nephtheidae Dendronephthya sp. 3 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Alcyoniina Nephtheidae Dendronephthya sp. 5 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Alcyoniina Nephtheidae Dendronephthya sp. 6 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Alcyoniina Nephtheidae Dendronephthya sp. 7 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Alcyoniina Nephtheidae Nephthea sp. 1 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Alcyoniina Nephtheidae Umbellulifera sp. 1 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Alcyoniina Nephtheidae Umbellulifera sp. 2 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Alcyoniina Nephtheidae 39 Nephthyigorgia sp. 1 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Alcyoniina Nidaliidae Dichotella gemmacea Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Calcaxonia Ellisellidae Junceella fragilis Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Calcaxonia Ellisellidae Jasminisis sp. 1 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Calcaxonia Isididae Anthogorgia sp. 1 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Holoxonia Plexauridae Anthogorgia sp. 2 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Holoxonia Plexauridae Echinogorgia sp. 1 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Holoxonia Plexauridae Echinogorgia sp. 2 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Holoxonia Plexauridae Echinogorgia sp. 21 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Holoxonia Plexauridae Echinogorgia sp. 3 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Holoxonia Plexauridae Menella sp. 1 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Holoxonia Plexauridae Menella sp. 2 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Holoxonia Plexauridae Paracis sp. 1 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Holoxonia Plexauridae Iciligorgia brunnea Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Scleraxonia Anthothelidae Solenocaulon sp. 1 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Scleraxonia Anthothelidae Solenocaulon sp. 2 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Scleraxonia Anthothelidae Acabaria sp. 1 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Scleraxonia Melithaeidae Acabaria sp. 2 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Scleraxonia Melithaeidae Acabaria sp. 3 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Scleraxonia Melithaeidae Acabaria sp. 4 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Scleraxonia Melithaeidae Acabaria sp. 5 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Scleraxonia Melithaeidae Melithaea sp. 1 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Scleraxonia Melithaeidae Melithaea sp. 2 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Scleraxonia Melithaeidae Melithaea sp. 3 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Scleraxonia Melithaeidae Subergorgia suberosa Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Scleraxonia Subergorgiidae Carijoa sp. 1 Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Stolonifera Clavulariidae Tubipora musica Anthozoa/Octocorallia Alcyonacea Stolonifera Tubioporiidae Table 3.6. Species list for cnidarian fauna collected from the King George River region. Molluscs – Lisa Kirkendale and Corey Whisson , Western Australian Museum The collection yielded over 150 genera distributed across five classes (Polyplacophoran or chitons, Scaphopods or tusk shells, Gastropods or snails, Cephalopods and Bivalves or clams) and 80 families (Table 3.7). The 464 sample lots were dominated (98%) by two classes: 63% gastropods (293 records) and 35% bivalves (163 records). Much of material was live taken (67%) and was adequately preserved for genetic analysis, with Saccostrea oysters from this trip currently integrated into genetic pipeline for new species description and Brachidontes spp certainly to be utilized in this regard as well in near future. ‘Muddy bottom’ taxa apparent with abundance of nassarids (e.g. Nassarius acuminatus 13 records, across multiple sites), as well as N. bicallosus, N. crenatus and N. dorsatus, all found at more than one site. Most common mollusc family was the Muricidae with 64 lots across 18 genera. Sponge commensal Vulsella was present (live taken), the ‘charismatic’ fauna was represented with ovulids, scallops, including weathervane scallop, cones, cowries and one volute. GENUS SPECIES CLASS SUBCLASS Cardiid sp. Bivalvia Heterodonta Cardiidae Vasticardium sp. Bivalvia Heterodonta Cardiidae Cardita crassicosta Bivalvia Heterodonta Carditidae 40 FAMILY Chama asperella Bivalvia Heterodonta Chamidae Chama cf. pacifica Bivalvia Heterodonta Chamidae Chama croceata Bivalvia Heterodonta Chamidae Chama libula Bivalvia Heterodonta Chamidae Chama sp. Bivalvia Heterodonta Chamidae Corbula macgillivrayi Bivalvia Heterodonta Corbulidae Corbula smithiana Bivalvia Heterodonta Corbulidae Corbula stephensoni Bivalvia Heterodonta Corbulidae Galeomma sp. Bivalvia Heterodonta Galeommatidae Epicodakia sp. Bivalvia Heterodonta Lucinidae Lucinid sp. Bivalvia Heterodonta Lucinidae Mactra cf. grandis Bivalvia Heterodonta Mactridae Mactra mitis Bivalvia Heterodonta Mactridae Mactra cf. westralis Bivalvia Heterodonta Mactridae Mactra dissimilis Bivalvia Heterodonta Mactridae Ensiculus cultellus Bivalvia Heterodonta Pharidae Asaphis violascens Bivalvia Heterodonta Psammobiidae Psammobiid sp. Bivalvia Heterodonta Psammobiidae Semele exarata Bivalvia Heterodonta Semelidae Semele hedlandi Bivalvia Heterodonta Semelidae Azorinus minutus Bivalvia Heterodonta Solecurtidae Solen fonesii Bivalvia Heterodonta Solenidae Solen sp. Bivalvia Heterodonta Solenidae Clathrotellina sp. Bivalvia Heterodonta Tellinidae Pharaonella sp. Bivalvia Heterodonta Tellinidae Pharaonella pharaonis Bivalvia Heterodonta Tellinidae Tellina sp. Bivalvia Heterodonta Tellinidae cf. Laciolina sp. Bivalvia Heterodonta Tellinidae cf. Tellina sp. Bivalvia Heterodonta Tellinidae Tellinid sp. Bivalvia Heterodonta Tellinidae Anomalodiscus squamosus Bivalvia Heterodonta Veneridae Antigona chemnitzii Bivalvia Heterodonta Veneridae Antigona resticulata Bivalvia Heterodonta Veneridae Circe scripta Bivalvia Heterodonta Veneridae Dosinia circularis Bivalvia Heterodonta Veneridae Irus irus Bivalvia Heterodonta Veneridae Lioconcha sp. Bivalvia Heterodonta Veneridae Paphia semirugata Bivalvia Heterodonta Veneridae Paphia undulata Bivalvia Heterodonta Veneridae Pharaonella sp. Bivalvia Heterodonta Veneridae Pitar inflatus Bivalvia Heterodonta Veneridae Placamen foliaceum Bivalvia Heterodonta Veneridae Placamen lamellosum Bivalvia Heterodonta Veneridae Placamen sp. Bivalvia Heterodonta Veneridae Protapes roemeri Bivalvia Heterodonta Veneridae Venerid sp. Bivalvia Heterodonta Veneridae Circe cf. quoyi Bivalvia Heterodonta Veneridae Ennucula cumingii Bivalvia Protobranchia Nuculidae 41 Bivalvia Protobranchia Nuculidae Ennucula superba Arca patriarchalis Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Arcidae Arca sp. Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Arcidae Anadara gubernaculum Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Arcidae Barbatia amygdalumtostum Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Arcidae Barbatia obliquata Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Arcidae Cucullaea vaga Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Cucullaeidae Parahyotissa imbricata Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Gryphaeidae Parahyotissa numisma Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Gryphaeidae Lima vulgaris Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Limidae Malleus legumen Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Malleidae Modiolus sp. Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Mytilidae Lithophaga sp. Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Mytilidae Lithophaga teres Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Mytilidae Septifer bilocularis Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Mytilidae Bathymodiolus elongatus Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Mytilidae Brachidontes sp. Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Mytilidae Botula sp. Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Mytilidae Planostrea pestigris Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Ostreidae Booneostrea subucula Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Ostreidae Nanostrea fluctigera Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Ostreidae Saccostrea cucullata Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Ostreidae Saccostrea sp. Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Ostreidae Ostreid sp. Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Ostreidae Annachlamys flabellata Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Pectinidae Cryptopecten nux Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Pectinidae Glorichlamys quadrilirata Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Pectinidae Mimachlamys cloacata Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Pectinidae Pectinid sp. Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Pectinidae Serratovola pallula Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Pectinidae Volachlamys singaporina Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Pectinidae Atrina cf. vexillum Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Pinnidae Placuna placenta Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Placunidae Plicatula cf. muricata Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Plicatulidae Pinctada albina Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Pteriidae Pinctada cf. reeveana Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Pteriidae Pteria maura Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Pteriidae Vulsella minor Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Pteriidae Vulsella vulsella Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Pteriidae Isognomon cf. albisoror Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Pteriidae Isognomon nucleus Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Pteriidae Spondylus sp. Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Spondylidae Spondylus victoriae Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Spondylidae Spondylus sp. Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Spondylidae Spondylus spinosus Bivalvia Pteriomorphia Spondylidae Octopodid sp. Cephalopoda Octopodidae Sepia sp. Cephalopoda Sepiidae Engina concinna Gastropoda 42 Caenogastropoda Buccinidae Engina sp. Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Buccinidae Nassaria acuminata Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Buccinidae Phos cf. nodicostatus Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Buccinidae Pollia fumosa Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Buccinidae Antillophos sp. Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Buccinidae Bufonaria rana Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Bursidae Trigonostoma scala Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Cancellariidae Semicassis bisulcata Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Cassidae Cerithium sp. Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Cerithiidae Cerithium torresi Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Cerithiidae Clypeomorus batillariaeformis Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Cerithiidae Clypeomorus bifasciata Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Cerithiidae Rhinoclavis sinensis Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Cerithiidae Glyphostoma sp. Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Clathurellidae Mitrella cf. scripta Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Columbellidae Pardalinops testudinaria Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Columbellidae Conus achatinus Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Conidae Conus novaehollandiae Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Conidae Conus sp. Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Conidae Conus trigonus Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Conidae Vexillum vulpecula Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Costellariidae Bistolida hirundo Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Cypraeidae Contradusta walkeri Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Cypraeidae Cypraea sp. Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Cypraeidae Erosaria miliaris Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Cypraeidae Erronea errones Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Cypraeidae Erronea pyriformis Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Cypraeidae Erronea cf. subviridis Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Cypraeidae Mauritia arabica Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Cypraeidae Purpuradusta gracilis Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Cypraeidae Eulima sp. Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Eulimidae Fusolatirus paetelianus Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Fasciolariidae Ficus cf. ficus Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Ficidae Littoraria filosa Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Littorinidae Littoraria pallescens Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Littorinidae Littoraria scabra Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Littorinidae Nodilittorina cf. pyramidalis Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Littorinidae Volvarina philippinarum Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Marginellidae Mitra sp. Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Mitridae Mitra coronata Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Mitridae Neocancilla sp. Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Mitridae Neocancilla maculosa Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Mitridae Subcancilla n.sp. Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Mitridae Subcancilla florale nsp. Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Mitridae Chicoreus cervicornis Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Muricidae Chicoreus torrefactus Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Muricidae Coralliophila sp. Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Muricidae Cronia aurantiaca Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Muricidae 43 Cronia avellana Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Muricidae Drupella margariticola Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Muricidae Drupella rugosa Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Muricidae Ergalatax crassulnata Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Muricidae Lataxiena blosvillei Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Muricidae Mancinella echinata Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Muricidae Menathais tuberosa Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Muricidae Morula anaxares Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Muricidae Morula spinosa Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Muricidae Murex acanthostephes Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Muricidae Murex brevispina macgillivrayi Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Muricidae Murex coppingeri Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Muricidae Muricid sp. Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Muricidae Pterochelus acanthopterus Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Muricidae Pterynotus alatus Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Muricidae Stramonita javanica Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Muricidae Tenguella granulata Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Muricidae Thais kieneri Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Muricidae Thais sp. Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Muricidae Thalessa aculeata Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Muricidae Vokesimurex multiplicatus Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Muricidae Nassarius crematus Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Nassariidae Nassarius dorsatus Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Nassariidae Nassarius pauper Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Nassariidae Nassarius algidus Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Nassariidae Nassarius bicallosus Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Nassariidae Nassarius fraudator Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Nassariidae Neverita didyma Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Naticidae Notocochlis gualteriana Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Naticidae Natica cf. schepmani Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Naticidae Mammilla simiae Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Naticidae Oliva brettinghami Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Olividae Pellasimnia angasi Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Ovulidae Pellasimnia improcera Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Ovulidae Volva cumulata Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Ovulidae Volva volva Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Ovulidae Distorsio reticularis Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Personidae Planaxis sulcatus Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Planaxidae Terebralia palustris Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Potamididae Inquisitor sp. Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Pseudomelatomidae Biplex pulchella Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Ranellidae Monoplex pilearis Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Ranellidae Reticutriton pfeifferianus Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Ranellidae Turritriton labiosus Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Ranellidae Tenagodus cf. anguinus Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Siliquariidae Tenagodus ponderosus Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Siliquariidae Canarium urceus Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Strombidae Harpago chiragra Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Strombidae 44 Terebra sp. Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Terebridae Cinguloterebra cumingii Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Terebridae Cinguloterebra sp. Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Terebridae Dolichupis producta Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Triviidae Tudivasum inerme Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Turbinellidae Turrid sp. Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Turridae Turritella sp. Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Turritellidae Amoria turneri Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Volutidae Melo amphora Gastropoda Caenogastropoda Volutidae Heterobranch sp. Gastropoda Heterobranchia Aplysiid sp. Gastropoda Heterobranchia Aplysiidae Glossodoris sp. Gastropoda Heterobranchia Chromodorididae Onchidium sp. Gastropoda Heterobranchia Onchidiidae Philine sp. Gastropoda Heterobranchia Philinidae Siphonaria atra Gastropoda Heterobranchia Siphonariidae Nerita albicilla Gastropoda Neritimorpha Neritidae Nerita antiquata Gastropoda Neritimorpha Neritidae Nerita undata Gastropoda Neritimorpha Neritidae Nerita balteata Gastropoda Neritimorpha Neritidae Patelloida profunda Gastropoda Patellogastropoda Lottiidae Patelloida mimula Gastropoda Patellogastropoda Lottiidae Patelloida sp. Gastropoda Patellogastropoda Lottiidae Angaria delphinus Gastropoda Vetigastropoda Angariidae Calliostoma sp. Gastropoda Vetigastropoda Calliostomatidae Calliostomatid sp. Gastropoda Vetigastropoda Calliostomatidae Perrinia sp. Gastropoda Vetigastropoda Chilodontidae Diodora ticaonica Gastropoda Vetigastropoda Fissurellidae Diodora jukesii Gastropoda Vetigastropoda Fissurellidae Haliotis varia Gastropoda Vetigastropoda Haliotidae Tectus pyramis Gastropoda Vetigastropoda Tegulidae Trochus histrio Gastropoda Vetigastropoda Trochidae Trochus nigropunctatus Gastropoda Vetigastropoda Trochidae Monilea callifera Gastropoda Vetigastropoda Trochidae Monodonta labio Gastropoda Vetigastropoda Trochidae Stomatella cf. impertusa Gastropoda Vetigastropoda Trochidae Astralium rotularium Gastropoda Vetigastropoda Turbinidae Lunella cinerea Gastropoda Vetigastropoda Turbinidae Vetigastropoda Turbinidae Turbo bruneus Gastropoda Polyplacophoran sp. Polyplacophora Acanthopleura gemmata Polyplacophora Neoloricata Chitonidae Tonicia fortilirata Polyplacophora Neoloricata Chitonidae Dentalium exmouthensis Scaphapoda Dentaliidae Tesseracme quadrapicalis Scaphapoda Dentaliidae Table 3.7. Species list for molluscan fauna collected from the King George River region. 45 Figure 3.9. A variety of molluscs scs collected collec from the King George River Region (not not to sc scale). Crustacea – Andrew Hosie and d Ana Ha Hara, Western Australian Museum The sampling regime covered a wide range ran of habitats from the base of the King ng Georg George Waterfall to 70 m depth on the seaward side of Lesueur Island. This resulted in a diverse collection on of crustaceans cru totalling 242 species from 62 families (Table Table 3.8). 3.8 Of these, 60 species were identified to o an ope operational taxonomic unit (OTU) and not assigned to o a described descr species, owing to either the difficulty lty of identifying ide the species represented (e.g. Polysaccus sp. 1, Pilumnus Pilum spp. Leucothoe sp. 1) or damage (e.g. Alpheus Alph sp., Synalpheus sp.). This diversity is represented ted by a high level of rarity with 97 (40%) speciess being rrepresented by a single specimen and only 29 (12%) 12%) spe species represented by 10 or more specimens. The fauna collected contained 23 (10% (10%) Australian endemic species, only one of which is restricted to Western Australia (the crab, Heteropilu eteropilumnus longisetum), this low level of endemicity emicity iis consistent with previous surveys in tropical Australia ustralia (Morgan (M 1990; Hewitt 2004; Hewitt et al. 2009; Keesing K et al. 2011). In terms of the novelty of the taxa coll collected, 26 (11%) species are new recordss for Wes Western Australia, of which eight (3%) are new for Australian waters. Five new species have been identified, entified, although further new records/species are likely amongst the groups identified to an OTU. The species identified id as new to science, include three barnacles, les, one mantis m shrimp, and one spider crab (Table le 3.3). The diversity of the collection is skewe skewed towards members of the order Decapoda oda with 192 species, this is the best known and most diverse rse group grou of Crustacea and include the crabs, shrimps rimps an and lobsters. Of these, 114 belong to the true crabs (Brachyur Brachyura). These results are typical of surveys utilising tilising sl sleds, which are better suited to collecting larger er fauna (e.g. Keesing et al. 2011). The most diverse erse families fam collected were the so-called hairy crabs of thee family Pilumnidae P (23 species) followed by the swimmin swimming crabs (Portunidae) and snapping shrimp (Alpheidae), ae), both with 19 species identified. These families ies are ty typically diverse in tropical waters with the members bers of th the Pilumnidae and the Portunidae being mostly rrepresented in the 46 collection by soft sediment species as opposed to reef species (e.g. Ceratoplax spp. and Scylla spp.). The Alpheidae on the other hand are represented mostly by epibiotic species (e.g. Synalpheus spp. are more often present on sponges, soft corals and echinoderms than free-living). Several collecting methods were used during the expedition and a comparison between them is difficult. As an example, two different sleds were used across the depths. The CSIRO sled characterised by a low, rectangular mouth collected its greatest diversity (28–38 species per tow) in deeper waters (40–60 m), which were dominated by soft sediments with a sparser cover of large sessile benthos. In contrast, the AIMS sled, with a taller mouth, collected its greatest diversity at 17 m. Owing to this difference the communities collected differed. This is possibly due to the greater complexity of the habitat at shallower depths, where the large sessile benthos i.e. large sponges and sea fans and their associated crustacean fauna were not adequately sampled by the CSIRO sled. Conversely, the CSIRO sled was better at collecting species that are more likely to have been buried in the softer sediments e.g. Leucosiidae, Portunidae and Pilumnidae. GENUS and SPECIES SUBCLASS ORDER SUBORDER INFRAORDER FAMILY Atypopenaeus formosus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Dendrobranchiata Penaeidae Fenneropenaeus merguiensis Eumalacostraca Decapoda Dendrobranchiata Penaeidae Kishinouyepenaeopsis cornuta Eumalacostraca Decapoda Dendrobranchiata Penaeidae Megokris granulosus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Dendrobranchiata Penaeidae Melicertus latisulcatus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Dendrobranchiata Penaeidae Metapenaeopsis Eumalacostraca Decapoda Dendrobranchiata Penaeidae Metapenaeopsis sinuosa Eumalacostraca Decapoda Dendrobranchiata Penaeidae Metapenaeopsis novaeguineae Eumalacostraca Decapoda Dendrobranchiata Penaeidae Metapenaeus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Dendrobranchiata Penaeidae Metapenaeus insolitus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Dendrobranchiata Penaeidae Metapenaeus dali Eumalacostraca Decapoda Dendrobranchiata Penaeidae Parapenaeopsis Eumalacostraca Decapoda Dendrobranchiata Penaeidae Penaeus semisulcatus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Dendrobranchiata Penaeidae Trachypenaeus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Dendrobranchiata Penaeidae Trachysalambria fulva Eumalacostraca Decapoda Dendrobranchiata Biarctus sordidus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Achelata Scyllaridae Eduarctus martensii Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Achelata Scyllaridae Coenobita spinosus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Coenobitidae Penaeidae Clibanarius infraspinatus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Diogenidae Clibanarius longitarsus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Diogenidae Diogenes avarus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Diogenidae Diogenes rectimanus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Diogenidae Diogenes setocristatus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Diogenidae Diogenes stenops? Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Diogenidae Allogalathea elegans Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Galatheidae Allogalathea longimana Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Galatheidae Galathea sp. Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Galatheidae Lauriea punctata Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Galatheidae Pagurus sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Paguridae Spiropagurus spiriger Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Paguridae Aliaporcellana suluensis Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Porcellanidae Aliaporcellana telestophilus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Porcellanidae 47 Enosteoides ornatus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Porcellanidae Lissoporcellana furcillata Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Porcellanidae Lissoporcellana quadrilobata ? Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Porcellanidae Lissoporcellana spinuligera Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Porcellanidae Lissoporcellana streptochiroides Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Porcellanidae Pachycheles sculptus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Porcellanidae Petrolisthes boscii Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Porcellanidae Petrolisthes lamarckii Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Porcellanidae Petrolisthes militaris Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Porcellanidae Polyonyx biunguiculatus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Porcellanidae Polyonyx obesulus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Porcellanidae Raphidopus ciliatus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Anomura Porcellanidae Drachiella sculpta Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Aethridae Baruna trigranulum Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Camptandriidae Jonas leuteanus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Corystidae Cryptochirus sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Cryptochiridae Cryptodromia tuberculata Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Dromiidae Stimdromia angulata Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Dromiidae Achaeus sp. Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Epialtidae Austrolibinia gracilipes Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Epialtidae Hyastenus aries Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Epialtidae Hyastenus borradailei Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Epialtidae Hyastenus cf. subinermis Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Epialtidae Hyastenus convexus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Epialtidae Hyastenus hilgendorfi Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Epialtidae Hyastenus sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Epialtidae Hyastenus sp. 2 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Epialtidae Naxioides tenuirostris Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Epialtidae Phalangipus australiensis Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Epialtidae Phalangipus sp. Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Epialtidae Xenocarcinus tuberculatus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Epialtidae Eucrate dorsalis Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Euryplacidae Eucrate sexdentata Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Euryplacidae Eucrate sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Euryplacidae Halimede ochtodes Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Galenidae Metopograpsus frontalis Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Grapsidae Metopograpsus latifrons Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Grapsidae Oncinopus kathae Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Inachidae Arcania echinata Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Leucosiidae Arcania undecimspinosa Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Leucosiidae Ebalia lambriformis Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Leucosiidae Hiphyra elegans Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Leucosiidae Ixa pulcherrima Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Leucosiidae Leucosia ocellata Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Leucosiidae Myra australis Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Leucosiidae Myra curtimana Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Leucosiidae Nursia sinuata Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Leucosiidae Paranursia abbreviatta Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Leucosiidae 48 Tlos muriger Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Leucosiidae Lutogemma sandybrucei Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Macrophthalmidae Macrophthalmus sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Macrophthalmidae Maerid sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Maeridae Leptopisa australis Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Majidae Paranaxia sp. nov. Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Majidae Schizophris aspera Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Majidae Schizophris rufescens Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Majidae Tiarina mooloolah Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Majidae Ashtoret granulosa Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Matutidae Matuta victor Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Matutidae Ocypode ceratophthalma Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Ocypodidae Epixanthus corrosus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Oziidae Ozius guttatus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Oziidae Aulacolambrus longioculis Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Parthenopidae Cryptopodia queenslandi Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Parthenopidae Enoplolambrus carenatus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Parthenopidae Rhinolambrus spinifer Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Parthenopidae Bathypilumnus pugilator Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Pilumnidae Ceratocarcinus longimanus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Pilumnidae Ceratoplax punctata Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Pilumnidae Ceratoplax sp. 2 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Pilumnidae Ceratoplax sp. 3 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Pilumnidae Cryptolutea? sp. Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Pilumnidae Heteropanope sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Pilumnidae Heteropilumnus longisetum Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Pilumnidae Heteropilumnus sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Pilumnidae Pilumnopeus sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Pilumnidae Pilumnus pulcher Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Pilumnidae Pilumnus sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Pilumnidae Pilumnus sp. 2 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Pilumnidae Pilumnus sp. 3 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Pilumnidae Pilumnus sp. 4 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Pilumnidae Pilumnus sp. 5 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Pilumnidae Pilumnus sp. 6 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Pilumnidae Pilumnus sp. 7 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Pilumnidae Pilumnus sp. 8 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Pilumnidae Pilumnus sp. 9 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Pilumnidae Typhlocarcinops sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Pilumnidae Charybdis anisodon Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Portunidae Charybdis jaubertensis Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Portunidae Charybdis truncata Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Portunidae Portunid sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Portunidae Portunus gracilimanus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Portunidae Portunus hastatoides Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Portunidae Portunus pelagicus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Portunidae Portunus sanguinolentus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Portunidae Portunus wilsoni Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Portunidae 49 Portunus armatus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Portunidae Scylla olivacea Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Portunidae Scylla serrata Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Portunidae Thalamita admete Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Portunidae Thalamita crenata Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Portunidae Thalamita danae Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Portunidae Thalamita intermedia Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Portunidae Thalamita macropus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Portunidae Thalamita prymna Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Portunidae Thalamita sima Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Portunidae Tetralia nigrolineata Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Tetraliidae ?Novactaea sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Xanthidae Actaea sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Xanthidae Actaea sp. 2 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Xanthidae Actaeodes mutatus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Xanthidae Atergatis floridus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Xanthidae Atergatopsis tweediei Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Xanthidae Chlorodiella nigra Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Xanthidae Cymo cerasma Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Xanthidae Etisus australis Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Xanthidae Gaillardiellus rueppelli Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Xanthidae Liomera sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Xanthidae Liomera venosa Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Xanthidae Lophozozymus pictor Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Xanthidae Pilodius granulatus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Brachyura Xanthidae Alpheus acutocarinatus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Alpheidae Alpheus chiragricus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Alpheidae Alpheus edamensis Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Alpheidae Alpheus malleodigitus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Alpheidae Alpheus obesomanus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Alpheidae Alpheus parvirostris Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Alpheidae Alpheus serenei Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Alpheidae Alpheus sp. 2 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Alpheidae Alpheus sp.1 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Alpheidae Alpheus strenuus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Alpheidae Synalpheus fossor Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Alpheidae Synalpheus harpagatrus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Alpheidae Synalpheus hastilicrassus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Alpheidae Synalpheus iocasta Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Alpheidae Synalpheus neomeris Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Alpheidae Synalpheus pockocki Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Alpheidae Synalpheus sp. Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Alpheidae Synalpheus stimpsonii Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Alpheidae Synalpheus theano Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Alpheidae Gelastocaris paronae Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Hippolytidae Saron marmoratus Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Hippolytidae Thor paschalis Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Hippolytidae Coralliocaris graminea Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Palaemonidae 50 Harpiliopsis beaupressi Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Palaemonidae Harpiliopsis spinigera ? Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Palaemonidae Leander sp. Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Palaemonidae Palaemonella spinulata Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Palaemonidae Periclimenaeus sp. Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Palaemonidae Periclimenes sp. Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Palaemonidae Pandalid sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Caridea Pandalidae Gebiacantha acutispina Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Gebiide Upogebiidae Upogebia darwini Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Gebiide Upogebiidae Upogebia savigny Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Gebiide Upogebiidae Upogebia tractabilis Eumalacostraca Decapoda Pleocyemata Gebiide Upogebiidae Ampelisca sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Amphipoda Ampeliscidae Eusirid sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Amphipoda Eusiridae Leucothoe sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Amphipoda Photid sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Amphipoda Senticaudata Corophiida Photidae Leucothoidae Podocerid sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Amphipoda Senticaudata Corophiida Podoceridae Ischyrocerid sp.1 Eumalacostraca Amphipoda Senticaudata Corophiida Ischyroceridae Hadziida Melitidae Melitid sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Amphipoda Senticaudata Bopyrid sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Isopoda Cymothoida Bopyridae Aegid sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Isopoda Cymothoida Aegidae Rocinela sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Isopoda Cymothoida Aegidae Anthuroid sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Isopoda Cymothoida Anthuroidea Cirolanid sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Isopoda Cymothoida Cirolanidae Cirolanid sp. 3 Eumalacostraca Isopoda Cymothoida Cirolanidae Cirolanid sp.2 Eumalacostraca Isopoda Cymothoida Cirolanidae Neocirolana hermitensis Eumalacostraca Isopoda Cymothoida Cirolanidae Oxinasphaera sp. Eumalacostraca Isopoda Sphaeromatidea Sphaeromatidae Sphaeromatid sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Isopoda Sphaeromatidea Sphaeromatidae Sphaeromatid sp. 2 Eumalacostraca Isopoda Sphaeromatidea Sphaeromatidae Sphaeromatidea Sphaeromatidae Sphaeromatid sp. 3 Eumalacostraca Isopoda Heteromysis harpaxoides Eumalacostraca Mysida Apseudid sp. 1 Eumalacostraca Tanaidacea Apseudomorpha Apseudidae Manningia raymondi Hoplocarida Stomatopoda Unipeltata Eurysquilloidea Manningia sp. nov. Hoplocarida Stomatopoda Unipeltata Eurysquilloidea Gonodactylellus cf. erdmanni Hoplocarida Stomatopoda Unipeltata Gonodactylidae Gonodactylus smithii Hoplocarida Stomatopoda Unipeltata Gonodactylidae Lysiosquilla tredecimdentata Hoplocarida Stomatopoda Unipeltata Lysiosquillidae Mysidae Chorisquilla spinosissima Hoplocarida Stomatopoda Unipeltata Protosquillidae Anchisquilla fasciata Hoplocarida Stomatopoda Unipeltata Squillidae Cloridina moluccensis Hoplocarida Stomatopoda Unipeltata Squillidae Oratosquillina stephensoni Hoplocarida Stomatopoda Unipeltata Squillidae Quolastria subtilis Hoplocarida Stomatopoda Unipeltata Squillidae Polysaccus sp. Thecostraca Akentrogonida Lepas anserifera Thecostraca Lepadiformes Lepadomorpha Lepadidae Minyaspis cf. reducens Thecostraca Lepadiformes Lepadomorpha Oxynaspididae Polysaccidae Oxynaspis pacifica Thecostraca Lepadiformes Lepadomorpha Oxynaspididae Acasta pertusa Thecostraca Sessilia Balanomorpha Archaeobalanidae Acasta sp. 1 Thecostraca Sessilia Balanomorpha Archaeobalanidae 51 Acasta sp. 2 Thecostra hecostraca Sessilia Balanomorpha Archaeobalanidae Acasta sp. nov. Thecostra hecostraca Sessilia Balanomorpha Archaeobalanidae Eucasta antipathidis Thecostra hecostraca Sessilia Balanomorpha Archaeobalanidae Eucasta sp. nov. Thecostra hecostraca Sessilia Balanomorpha Archaeobalanidae Eucasta sp. 2 Thecostra hecostraca Sessilia Balanomorpha Archaeobalanidae Striatobalanus amaryllis Thecostra hecostraca Sessilia Balanomorpha Archaeobalanidae Amphibalanus cirratus Thecostra hecostraca Sessilia Balanomorpha Balanidae Amphibalanus poecilotheca Thecostra hecostraca Sessilia Balanomorpha Balanidae Amphibalanus reticulatus Thecostra hecostraca Sessilia Balanomorpha Balanidae Amphibalanus sp. nov. Thecostra hecostraca Sessilia Balanomorpha Balanidae Chthamalus malayensis Thecostra hecostraca Sessilia Balanomorpha Chthamalidae Pyrgoma cancellata Thecostra hecostraca Sessilia Balanomorpha Pyrgomatidae Tetraclita squamosa Thecostra hecostraca Sessilia Balanomorpha Tetraclitidae Table 3.8. Species list for crustacean stacean fauna fau collected from the King George River er region region. Figure 3.10. A variety of crustaceans aceans co collected from the King George River Region ion (not to scale). 52 Echinoderms – John Keesing (CSIRO), Loisette Marsh (WA Museum), Tim O’Hara, Mark O’Loughlin and Kate Naughton (Museum Victoria) Ninety-seven species of echinoderms were collected including 5 asteroids, 11 echinoids, 20 crinoids, 36 ophiuroids and 25 holothurians (Table 3.9). The asteroid fauna is impoverished relative to other studies in northwestern Australia (e.g. Marsh and Marshall 1983, Keesing et al. 2011) and probably reflects the relatively small sampling effort in coral reef habitats. As noted above the number of hard coral species collected is underrepresented relative to that expected for the same reason. Marsh (1992b) recorded only 11 echinoderms in the only other sampling undertaken in the King George River/ Lesueur Island area. These were 1 asteroid, 1 ophiuroid, 3 echinoids and 6 holothurians. Of these, all occurred in our study except for 5 of the reef dwelling holothurians. The asteroids collected in our study are all commonly recorded species for northwestern Australia. The echinoids are typical of those expected although the Chaetodiadema granulatum is uncommon and three small adult species of Peronella could not be assigned to any known species. These may represent new species or at least new records for Australia, but await further comparison with material collected outside Australia. The absence of heart urchins (except for a fragment of one dead specimen of Anametalia which came up in one sled) is surprising given the types of habitats sampled and their abundance in other parts of the Kimberley (e.g. Keesing and Irvine 2013). The diversity of holothurians was rich relative to sampling effort and four new species of holothurians have been described from the material collected: Actinocucumis solanderi O'Loughlin 2014, Globosita elnazae O'Loughlin 2014, Massinium bonapartum O'Loughlin 2014, Massinium keesingi O'Loughlin 2014 (see O’Loughlin et al. in press). Two other holothurians found are new records for Australia: Phyllophorus (Urodemella) holothuroides Ludwig, 1875 and Thyone pedata Semper, 1867. The ophiuroids are typical of the continental shelf off the NW Coast. There is sufficient material of the species Ophiochasma stellatum to indicate there are two similar species. Also notable is the diversity of colour in ophiuroids that are commensal on crinoids, such as Ophiomaza cacaotica and Ophiothrix melanosticta. The crinoid fauna collected in this study are largely as expected for this environment and at these depths in northwestern Australia. More than half of the twenty species represented were from the Comasteridae, a family which is commonly dominant in this region. Two range extensions were apparent, being represented by Comatella nigra and Clarkcomanthus albinotus. Although both species have previously been reported from Western Australia, neither have been recorded from this far north. It is worth mentioning, however, that morphological species boundaries among crinoids from this region are unclear and there may be greater species diversity among these samples than reported. GENUS and SPECIES CLASS FAMILY Aquilonastra coronata Asteroidea Asterinidae Astropecten pulcherrimus Asteroidea Astropectenidae Metrodira subulata Asteroidea Echinasteridae Anthenea tuberculosa Asteroidea Oreasteridae Euretaster insignis Asteroidea Pterasteridae Oligometra carpenteri Crinoidea Colobometridae Oligometra serripinna Crinoidea Colobometridae Capillaster multiradiata Crinoidea Comasteridae Clarkcomanthus albinotus Crinoidea Comasteridae Clarkcomanthus luteofuscum Crinoidea Comasteridae Clarkcomanthus wahlbergii Crinoidea Comasteridae Comanthus alternans Crinoidea Comasteridae Comanthus gisleni Crinoidea Comasteridae Comanthus parvicirrus Crinoidea Comasteridae Comanthus wahlbergii Crinoidea Comasteridae Comaster multifidus Crinoidea Comasteridae Comatella maculata Crinoidea Comasteridae Comatella nigra Crinoidea Comasteridae 53 Comatula pectinata Crinoidea Comasteridae Amphimetra tessellata Crinoidea Himerometridae Heterometra crenulata Crinoidea Himerometridae Himerometra robustipinna Crinoidea Himerometridae Lamprometra palmata Crinoidea Mariametridae Stephanometra indica Crinoidea Mariametridae Zygometra microdiscus Crinoidea Zygometridae Anametalia sp. Echinoidea Brissidae Arachnoides placenta Echinoidea Clypeasteridae Chaetodiadema granulatum Echinoidea Diadematidae Diadema setosum Echinoidea Diadematidae Peronella lesueuri Echinoidea Laganidae Peronella cf. orbicularis Echinoidea Laganidae Peronella “Pilbara” sp. 1 Echinoidea Laganidae Peronella “Pilbara” sp. 2 Echinoidea Laganidae Peronella “Pilbara” sp. 4 Echinoidea Laganidae Prionocidaris baculosa Echinoidea Cidaridae Salmacis belli Echinoidea Temnopleuridae Cercodemas anceps Holothuroidea Cucumaridae Colochirus quadrangularis Holothuroidea Cucumaridae Mensamaria intercedens Holothuroidea Cucumaridae Plesiocolochirus australis Holothuroidea Cucumaridae Plesiocolochirus challengeri Holothuroidea Cucumaridae *Actinocucumis solanderi Holothuroidea Holothuriidae Holothuria (Lessonothuria) pardalis Holothuroidea Holothuriidae Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) leucospilota Holothuroidea Holothuriidae Holothuria (Metriatyla) martensi Holothuroidea Holothuriidae Holothuria (Stauropora) modesta Holothuroidea Holothuriidae *Globosita elnazae Holothuroidea Phyllophoridae Hemithyone semperi Holothuroidea Phyllophoridae *Massinium bonapartum Holothuroidea Phyllophoridae *Massinium keesingi Holothuroidea Phyllophoridae Phyllophorus (Phyllothuria) cebuensis Holothuroidea Phyllophoridae Phyllophorus (Urodemella) holothuroides Holothuroidea Phyllophoridae Phyllophorus (Urodemella) proteus Holothuroidea Phyllophoridae Stolus buccalis Holothuroidea Phyllophoridae Stolus canescens Holothuroidea Phyllophoridae Thyone A species Holothuroidea Phyllophoridae Thyone B species Holothuroidea Phyllophoridae Thyone C species Holothuroidea Phyllophoridae Thyone pedata Holothuroidea Phyllophoridae Afrocucumis africana Holothuroidea Sclerodactylidae Havelockia versicolor Holothuroidea Sclerodactylidae Amphioplus depressus Ophiuroidea Amphiuridae Amphioplus laevis Ophiuroidea Amphiuridae Amphioplus ochroleuca Ophiuroidea Amphiuridae Amphiura maxima Ophiuroidea Amphiuridae Amphiura septemspinosa Ophiuroidea Amphiuridae 54 Amphiura sp. Ophiuroidea Amphiuridae Dougaloplus echinatus Ophiuroidea Amphiuridae Ophiocentrus sp. Ophiuroidea Amphiuridae Astrobrachion adhaerens Ophiuroidea Euryalidae Euryale aspera Ophiuroidea Euryalidae Ophiacantha indica Ophiuroidea Ophiacanthidae Ophiactis maculosa Ophiuroidea Ophiactidae Ophiactis savignyi Ophiuroidea Ophiactidae Ophiactis sp. Ophiuroidea Ophiactidae Ophiocomella sexradia Ophiuroidea Ophiocomidae Ophiopsila pantherina Ophiuroidea Ophiocomidae Ophiarachnella gorgonia Ophiuroidea Ophiodermatidae Ophiarachnella similis Ophiuroidea Ophiodermatidae Ophiarachnella sphenisci Ophiuroidea Ophiodermatidae Ophiochasma stellata Ophiuroidea Ophiodermatidae Ophiopeza spinosa Ophiuroidea Ophiodermatidae Ophionereis dubia Ophiuroidea Ophionereididae Ophionereis semoni Ophiuroidea Ophionereididae Gymnolophus obscura Ophiuroidea Ophiotrichidae Macrophiothrix caenosa Ophiuroidea Ophiotrichidae Macrophiothrix longipeda Ophiuroidea Ophiotrichidae Macrophiothrix lorioli Ophiuroidea Ophiotrichidae Macrophiothrix megapoma Ophiuroidea Ophiotrichidae Macrophiothrix sp. Ophiuroidea Ophiotrichidae Macrophiothrix variabilis Ophiuroidea Ophiotrichidae Ophiothela sp. Ophiuroidea Ophiotrichidae Ophiothrix ciliaris Ophiuroidea Ophiotrichidae Ophiothrix lineocaerulea Ophiuroidea Ophiotrichidae Ophiothrix martensi Ophiuroidea Ophiotrichidae Ophiothrix melanosticta Ophiuroidea Ophiotrichidae Ophiothrix nereidina Ophiuroidea Ophiotrichidae Dictenophiura stellata Ophiuroidea Ophiuridae Table 3.9. Species list for Echinoderms collected from the King George River region. Those marked with an asterix* are new species described from specimens collected during this study (see O’Loughlin et al. 2014) 55 Figure 3.11. A variety of echinoderms oderms collected c from the King George River Region gion (not to scale). 56 Fish – Glenn Moore and Sue Morrison, Western Australian Museum The sampling equipment used in this study was not well suited to obtaining a comprehensive representation of the fish fauna of the region, however those species that were captured are given here for completeness (Table 3.10). The collection comprises 59 fishes from 28 species that are predominantly small cryptic benthic associated species. None of the identified species in the collection are endemic to Australia and most have broad Indo-West Pacific distributions. All of the species have been previously recorded in Western Australia and all, except two, are known from the Kimberley. This collection confirms the presence of the gobies Oxyurichthys sp. and Parachaeturichthys polynema from the Kimberley for the first time (see Moore et al. in press). GENUS Muraenichthys Myrophis Tetrabrachium Scorpaenodes Liocranium Platycephalus Centrogenys Cephalopholis Amniataba Ostorhinchus Ostorhinchus Choerodon Salarias Brachyamblyopus Eviota Gobiodon Gobiodon Mugilogobius Oxyurichthys Oxyurichthys Parachaeturichthys Paragobiodon Parioglossus Arnoglossus Pseudorhombus Cynoglossus Cynoglossus Paraplagusia SPECIES sp. sp.? ocellatum varipinnis praepositum westraliae vaigiensis boenak caudovittata cavitiensis quadrifasciatus monostigma sexfilum sp.? queenslandica quinquestrigatus sp. sp. cf. ophthalmonema sp. polynema echinocephalus philippinus polyspilus arsius kopsii maculipinnis? bilineata FAMILY Ophichthidae Ophichthidae Tetrabrachiidae Scorpaenidae Tetrarogidae Platycephalidae Serranidae Serranidae Terapontidae Apogonidae Apogonidae Labridae Blenniidae Gobiidae Gobiidae Gobiidae Gobiidae Gobiidae Gobiidae Gobiidae Gobiidae Gobiidae Microdesmidae Bothidae Paralichthyidae Cynoglossidae Cynoglossidae Cynoglossidae Table 3.10. Species list for fish fauna collected from the King George River region. 57 Chapter 4 Biogeochemical and biological oceanographic characterisation Joanna Strzelecki1, James McLaughlin1, John Keesing1, Dongyan Liu2 1 CSIRO, 2Chinese Academy of Sciences Introduction Biological and biogeochemical processes in the column and sediment characteristics play an important role in ecosystem function and influence, and are influenced by, habitat distribution and structure. As such understanding the key characteristics of the water column is important to understanding benthic biodiversity and community dynamics. Sampling of the sediment was undertaken to examine sediment grain size, organic matter content and chlorophyll. Sampling of the water column was made to determine temperature and salinity as well as nutrient characteristics, chlorophyll and other photosynthetic pigments and zooplankton biomass. These attributes are described in this chapter. Materials and Methods Sampling Sites We sampled water column and sediment sites extending from the base of the King George River falls out to Lesueur Island and offshore into 70m water depth (Figs 4.1-4.4, Table 4.1). Where possible sites were the same as those where biodiversity and habitat type were assessed. Location King George River (upper reaches) King George River (middle reaches) King George River (lower reaches) Inner Koolama Bay Habitat type Mangrove, rocky shore, muddy or sandy river bank, rocky or soft bottom (waterfall separates freshwater from estuary) Mangrove, rocky shore, muddy or sandy river bank, rocky or soft bottom Mangrove, muddy or sandy river bank, soft sediment benthos soft sediment benthos Outer Koolama Bay soft sediment benthos 0-15 m Offshore of Koolama Bay Lesueur Island Soft sediment benthos, filter feeder dominated benthos Coral and algal reef flat, coral rubble beach Filter feeder dominated benthos 17-47 m 0-3 m Offshore of Lesueur Island Depth 0-1m Sampling methods / Sites CTD349, CDT350, CTD351,CTD363 Dropcore364 0-1m CTD352, CTD356 Dropcore365, Dropcore366 CTD359, CTD360 Dropcorer 354, Dropcorer360, Dropcorer367 CTD371 Dropcore370, Dropcorer 352, Dropcorer 362 CTD368, CTD7, CTD8, CTD9, Bongo7, Bongo8, Bongo9 Dropcore7, Dropcore9, Dropcorer358 Dropcore368, Dropcore373 CTD4, CTD5, CTD6, Bongo4, Bongo5, Bongo6, Sediment sample site 433 0-8m 0-2 m 54-73 m South of island: CTD 13, CTD14, CTD15, Bongo13, Bongo14, Bongo15, North of island: CTD 10, CTD 11, CTD 12, Bongo10, Bongo11, Bongo12 Table 4.1 Summary of locations, habitat types and sampling methods and gear used. 58 Figure 4.1 Sampling sites around Lesueur Island. Yellow CTD markers are where water column measurements were made and where Zooplankton samples were taken using a Bongo net. Figure 4.2 Sampling sites in and around Koolama Bay. Pink dropcorer markers are where sediment was sampled and yellow CTD markers are where water column measurements were taken. CTD stations north of CTD368 were also sampled for zooplankton using a Bongo net. 59 Figure 4.3 Sampling sites in the lower and middle King George River. Pink dropcorer markers are where sediment was sampled and yellow CTD markers are where water column measurements were taken. Figure 4.4 Sampling sites in the upper King George River. Pink dropcorer markers are where sediment was sampled and yellow CTD markers are where water column measurements were taken. Sampling and data acquisition methods 60 Rainfall Rainfall data for the Kimberley region was obtained from the Bureau of meteorology http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/weatherData/av?p_nccObsCode=139&p_display_type=dataFile&p_s tartYear=&p_c=&p_stn_num=001035_ Temperature, Salinity, Fluorescence and Photosynthetically Available Radiation (CTD with Fluorometer and PAR) Data for 23 deployments were acquired using two Seabird CTD instruments with two auxiliary photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) and fluorometer sensors, one on the Solander vessel itself, a SBE 9, fitted with 12 ten litre bottles on a rosette sampler and one hand operated CTD instrument, a SBE 19Plus, operated from the Solander service boat. The CTD was lowered through the water from top to bottom and a depth profile of the water temperature, salinity and light levels were taken. The bottles around the CTD, sampled water at different depths and samples were later analysed for nutrients, phytoplankton and suspended organic matter (Fig. 4.1). A total of 13 CTD casts were made from the Solander and a further 10 from the tender using a hand held CTD and manually operated Niskin bottle. The data were subjected to automated QC to remove spikes and out-of-range values using the Seabird “SBE Data Processing Package, Version 7.22.5. Data from downcasts were used. Figure 4.1 CTD and Niskin bottle rosette being lowered into the water from the RV Solander 61 Nutrients Depth stratified bottle samples (n = 46, depth range 0 m to 50 m) from 22 stations were analysed for silicate, phosphate, nitrate/nitrite and ammonium. All nutrients except ammonium were analysed using a flow injection analysis while ammonium concentration was determined using a flow injection analysis, gas diffusion, derivatisation - fluorescence detection method. For dissolved silica, Si species were reacted with molybdate at 45ºC pH 1.2 and then reduced with stannous chloride to form a heteropoly blue complex which was measured at 820 nm (Wolters, 2003). Phosphate was reacted with molybdate and antimony potassium tartrate in acid medium which was then reduced with ascorbic acid to form a blue complex which was measured at 880 nm (Diamond, 1988). Nitrate was first reduced to nitrite by passing it through a copperised cadmium column. Nitrite was then reacted with sulfanilamide under acidic conditions to form a diazonium salt which was then coupled with N-(1-naphthyl) ethylenediamine dihydrogenchloride to form a pink complex which was measured at 520 nm (Diamond, 1999). For ammonium a sodium hydroxide solution was added to liberate ammonia which was then diffused across a PTFE membrane (HPMSD) to react with ortho-phthaldialdehyde (OPA) - sulfite solution to form a fluorescent derivative. This solution was then measured with an excitation wavelength of 310 nm and an emission wavelength of 390 nm (Watson, 2005). The detection limits are 0.05 µM for nitrates, phosphates and silica and 0.02 µM for ammonium. Phytoplankton and Pigments HPLC Chlorophyll a was used as a measure of phytoplankton biomass. Water for chlorophyll a and for pigments was collected with Niskin bottles from the surface and at 9 oceanic stations from the bottom depth. Water samples were filtered under low vacuum (<100 mm Hg) onto 25 mm diameter glass fibre filters (Whatman GF/FTM; nominal mesh size = 0.7 μ) (total phytoplankton) and 5 μm NitexTM mesh (large phytoplankton). Pigments were extracted overnight in 90% acetone in the dark at 4 ⁰C and measured using a Turner Designs model 10AU fluorometer which had been previously calibrated with pure Chl a (Sigma Chemical Co.) and chlorophyll a was calculated following standard methods (Parsons et al., 1984). Small phytoplankton biomass was obtained by subtracting large fraction biomass from total phytoplankton. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine algal pigments. These pigments were applied to estimate phytoplankton community composition and size classes (Vidussi et al., 2001, Uitz et al., 2008, Thompson et al, 2011b). The following equations based on table 1 in Vidussi et al. 2001 and Uitz et al., 2008 were used to estimate three size classes: microplankton (> 20 µm) = (1.41 fucoxanthin + 1.41 peridinin)/wDP nanoplankton (2-20 µm) = (0.60 alloxanthin + 0.35 19'-butanoyloxyfucoxanthin + 1.27 19'hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin)/wDP picoplankton (< 2 µm) = (0.86 zeaxanthin + 1.01 Chl b)/wDP wDP (weighted diagnostic pigments) is total algal biomass represented by the weighted sum of 7 diagnostic pigments = 1.41 fucoxanthin + 1.41 peridinin +0.60 alloxanthin + 0.35 -butanoyloxyfucoxanthin + 1.27 19'hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin + 0.86 zeaxanthin + 1.01 Chl b The coefficients represent the average ratios of chlorophyll a to accessory pigment determined by multiple regressions on a global dataset (Uitz et al, 2006). Monovinyl chl a served as a proxy for phytoplankton community biomass. Divinyl chl a or b were not present in our samples indicating absence of Prochlorococcus spp in the area. The pigments derived classes and size groups are not always accurate because some pigments are shared by several plankton groups and some species within a group i.e. diatoms and dinoflagellate might fall into a different size range (Uitz et al, 2008). 62 Zooplankton Zooplankton was sampled with a Bongo net. A Bongo net is a twin net designed to sample zooplankton (Fig. 4.2). The twin nets can be used to collect different size fractions of plankton using two nets of different mesh size. The net was towed obliquely from the surface to ~0.5 m from the bottom and was then raised up through the water column as the ship was moving forward thus it took a depth integrated sample of the plankton at a site. We conducted 12 Bongo net tows, always in conjunction with CTD casts. Figure 4.2. Bongo net being deployed to sample zooplankton 63 Sediment Sediment samples were collected using an Uwitec dropcorer. The drop corer took samples of sediment from the seabed and samples were analysed for chlorophyll, moisture and organic matter content and sediment grain size (Fig. 4.3). For sediment Chl a content, approximately 4 grams of sediment was subsampled for microphytobenthos pigments (Chl a and phaeopigment) analyses and accurately weighed. These were then extracted in 90% acetone overnight and fluorescence measured on a Turner Designs model 10AU fluorometer (detection limit of 0.01 mg chl a m-3) following the acidification technique of Parsons et al. (1989). Sediment moisture content was determined by drying at 60oC and organic matter content was determined by ashing known weight of sediment at 500oC for 4 hours. Sediment grain size was determined using a Malver Mastersizer 2000 laser optical analyser (fraction <2mm). Figure 4.3. Drop corer being used from the tender in the King George River estuary to collect sediment samples. 64 Results and Discussion Rainfall and CTD with Fluorometer and PAR The Kimberley region has high inter-annual variability in rainfall, which is highest in the summer months (Fig. 4.4) and hence rates of runoff and sediment and nutrients discharged vary seasonally. This land-sea interaction can influence the diversity and benthic and pelagic productivity of generally low-nutrient waters. 700 average lowest highest 600 Rainfall (mm) 500 400 300 200 100 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Figure 4.4 Mean, highest and lowest monthly rainfall in mm/month from 2003 to 2013 in Kimberley region (source: Bureau of Meteorology) Temperature, Salinity, Fluorescence and Photosynthetic Available Radiation (PAR) Figure 4.5 shows the temperature, salinity, light (as photosynthetically available radiation) and fluorescence from all stations. Light decreased from ~ 10 m in all stations. In oceanic stations water column was well mixed with no salinity or temperature spikes. In estuary intrusion of fresh water was visible in stations 351, 352 and 363. Fluorescence profiles showed a zigzag pattern in many stations except at stations 13, 14, 15 and 363 where there was a visible chlorophyll maximum at ~ 7 m. At shallow stations 351, 352 and 356 fluorescence increased at the benthos. 65 66 67 KGR 351 KGR 359 KGR 352 KGR 356 KGR 360 KGR 368 68 KGR 371 KGR 363 Figure 4.5. Temperature, salinity, light (as photosynthetically available radiation) and fluorescence. Analysis of temperature and salinity data showed that stations were grouped into oceanic characterised by higher salinity (mean 34.18 PSU, ± 0.02, n = 12) and warmer waters (mean 28.44 ⁰C, ± 0.23, n = 12) and estuarine, less saline (mean 33.07 PSU, ± 0.94, n = 12) and cooler (mean 27.34 ⁰C, ± 0.38, n = 12) (Figure 4.6). 69 29.0 Temperature (oC) 28.5 28.0 27.5 27.0 26.5 31.5 32.0 32.5 33.0 33.5 34.0 34.5 Salinity (PSU) Figure 4.6. Temperature and salinity plot shown for King George River sampling area. Nutrients Overall the whole area depth integrated mean silica values were 9.27 µmol L-1 (± 9.17 SD, range 5.28-44 µmol L-1 ), phosphate 0.19 µmol L-1 (± 0.06 SD, range 0.05-0.39 µmol L-1), nitrite/nitrate 1.11 µmol L-1 (± 0.79 SD, range 0.02-4.93 µmol L-1) and ammonium 0.10 µmol L-1 (± 0.08 SD, range 0.04-0.52 µmol L-1) (n = 47). Comparing to results from observations from the euphotic zone, defined as surface to 100 m, collected in May 2007 along all the continental shelf of Western Australia and same cruise results from 80 m station in 22⁰S all nutrients were much higher in our area (Table 4.2). 70 sampling area and time Si NO2 + NO3 or NO3 PO4 NH4 Reference King George River, June 2013 9.27 ± 9.17, n = 47 1.11 ± 0.79, n = 47 0.19 ± 0.06, n = 47 0.10 ± 0.08, n = 47 this study KGR, June 2013 offshore (KGR 46 & 10-15) 5.55 ± 0.26, 1.34 ± 0.23 0.20 ± 0.04 0.07 ± 0.03 this study n = 32 n = 32 n = 32 n = 32 KGR, June 2013 bay (KGR 7-9, 368 & 371) 6.27 ± 0.24, 0.66 ± 0.28 0.21 ± 0.02 0.12 ± 0.05 n=5 n=5 n=5 n=5 KGR, June 2013 river KGR falls, 349-351, 355356,359-360 21.60 ± 0.24 0.60 ± 1.6 2.20 ± 0.10 0.10 ± 0.20 n=9 n=9 n=9 n=9 euphotic zone (0 – 100 m) Western Australia Continental Shelf (22⁰-34⁰S), May 2007 2.42 ± 0.71, 0.26 ± 0.46, n = 550 0.076 ± 0.046 n = 536 not available Thompson et al., 2011a 22⁰S, 80 m, May 2007 3.62 0.086 not available unpublished 13⁰-18⁰S, AprilMay 2010 27.05 ± 34.13 0.94 ± 1.14 0.06 ± 0.07 unpublished n = 531 0.064 0.73 ± 1.14 this study this study Table4.2. The average nutrient concentrations in Western Australia (in µmol L-1 ± SD, n = sample numbers). Silica values increased 5 times in stations 349 to 356 where salinity values decreased below 32 PSU and two times in water from the water falls where fresh water was flowing (0.01 PSU) (Figure 4.7) indicating that silica is supplied to ocean water by river inflow. This is not surprising since rivers account for two-thirds of silica supply to the marine environment (e.g. DeMaster et al, 1983, Peterson et al, 1975). 71 60 Si Salinity 50 40 30 20 10 KGR 10 KGR 11 KGR 12 KGR 13 KGR 14 KGR 15 KGR 4 KGR 5 KGR 6 KGR 7 KGR 8 KGR 9 KGR 368 KGR 371 KGR 359 KGR 360 KGR 356 KGR 352 KGR 351 KGR 350 KGR 349 KGR falls 0 Figure 4.7. Depth integrated silicate (µmol L-1) (bar graph) and salinity (PSU) (scatter plot). Oceanic stations are KGR 4 to KGR 15; estuarine stations are KGR 349 to KGR 371. KGR falls is a water sample taken from the falls before it hits the estuarine water directly under the water fall. All nutrients in general were higher at depth then at the surface of the water column (Figures 4.8-4.12). Phosphate and nitrite/nitrate was highest in the water collected from waterfall and station 349 15 m then decreased in stations 349 surface to 351 (King George River upper and middle reaches) and increased in waters from river lower reaches out to sea (Figure 4.9 – 4.10). Nitrate/nitrite was significantly and positively correlated with phosphate (Spearman rank correlation rho = 0.466, p = 0.001, n= 47) and significantly and negatively correlated with ammonium (Spearman rank correlation rho = -0.367, p = 0.011, n= 47). Ammonium was also highest in the waterfall water but then decreased steadily from river to sea (Figure 4.11). 72 -1 50 40 30 20 Si KGR10 0m KGR10 10m KGR10 25m KGR10 48m KGR11 0m KGR11 10m KGR11 25m KGR11 50m KGR12 0m KGR12 10m KGR12 25m KGR12 40m KGR12 68m KGR13 0m KGR13 10m KGR13 25m KGR14 0m KGR14 10m KGR14 25m KGR14 35m KGR15 0m KGR15 10m KGR15 25m KGR4 0m KGR4 18m KGR4 28m KGR5 0m KGR5 10m KGR5 20m KGR6 0m KGR6 20m KGR6 35m KGR7 0m KGR8 0m KGR9 0m KGR368 0m KGR371 0m KGR359 0m KGR359 13m KGR360 0m KGR356 0m KGR352 0m KGR351 0m KGR350 0m KGR349 0m KGR349 15m KGRfalls m 10 0 73 Figure 4.8. Depth stratified silica at King George River study sampling stations Si mmol L -1 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 PO4 KGR10 0m KGR10 10m KGR10 25m KGR10 48m KGR11 0m KGR11 10m KGR11 25m KGR11 50m KGR12 0m KGR12 10m KGR12 25m KGR12 40m KGR12 68m KGR13 0m KGR13 10m KGR13 25m KGR14 0m KGR14 10m KGR14 25m KGR14 35m KGR15 0m KGR15 10m KGR15 25m KGR4 0m KGR4 18m KGR4 28m KGR5 0m KGR5 10m KGR5 20m KGR6 0m KGR6 20m KGR6 35m KGR7 0m KGR8 0m KGR9 0m KGR368 0m KGR371 0m KGR359 0m KGR359 13m KGR360 0m KGR356 0m KGR352 0m KGR351 0m KGR350 0m KGR349 0m KGR349 15m KGRfalls m 0.1 0.0 74 Figure 4.9. Depth stratified phosphate at King George River study sampling stations PO4 µmol L -1 6 5 4 3 2 NO3+NO2 KGR10 0m KGR10 10m KGR10 25m KGR10 48m KGR11 0m KGR11 10m KGR11 25m KGR11 50m KGR12 0m KGR12 10m KGR12 25m KGR12 40m KGR12 68m KGR13 0m KGR13 10m KGR13 25m KGR14 0m KGR14 10m KGR14 25m KGR14 35m KGR15 0m KGR15 10m KGR15 25m KGR4 0m KGR4 18m KGR4 28m KGR5 0m KGR5 10m KGR5 20m KGR6 0m KGR6 20m KGR6 35m KGR7 0m KGR8 0m KGR9 0m KGR368 0m KGR371 0m KGR359 0m KGR359 13m KGR360 0m KGR356 0m KGR352 0m KGR351 0m KGR350 0m KGR349 0m KGR349 15m KGRfalls m 1 0 75 Figure 4.10. Depth stratified nitrite/nitrate at King George River study sampling stations NO3+NO2 µmol L NH4 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 NH4 1 10 Silicate Phosphate Nitrite/Nitrate Ammonium 100 KGR10 0m KGR10 10m KGR10 25m KGR10 48m KGR11 0m KGR11 10m KGR11 25m KGR11 50m KGR12 0m KGR12 10m KGR12 25m KGR12 40m KGR12 68m KGR13 0m KGR13 10m KGR13 25m KGR14 0m KGR14 10m KGR14 25m KGR14 35m KGR15 0m KGR15 10m KGR15 25m KGR4 0m KGR4 18m KGR4 28m KGR5 0m KGR5 10m KGR5 20m KGR6 0m KGR6 20m KGR6 35m KGR7 0m KGR8 0m KGR9 0m KGR368 0m KGR371 0m KGR359 0m KGR359 13m KGR360 0m KGR356 0m KGR352 0m KGR351 0m KGR350 0m KGR349 0m KGR349 15m KGRfalls m 0.1 0.0 0.1 Figure 4.11. Depth stratified ammonium at King George River study sampling stations 1000 100 10 1 0.1 0.01 concentration µmol L-1 76 Figure 4.12. All nutrient concentrations over all depths at King George River study sampling stations depth m The availability of nutrients differed from the Redfield ratios of 16:16:1 (N:Si:P) optimum for phytoplankton growth. All stations had considerably more silica and phosphate than nitrogen over all depths suggesting the likelihood of extreme nitrogen limitation to phytoplankton (Figure 3.13 and 3.14 or table 3.3). 6 NO x + NH4 µmol L−1 5 Redfield ratio 16:1 4 3 2 1 0 0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 PO4 µmol L-1 Figure 4.13. Ratio of phosphate to nitrogen at King George River study sampling stations 40 Redfield ratio 1:1 NOx +NH4 mmol L -1 30 20 10 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Si µmol L-1 Figure 4.14. Ratio of silica to nitrogen at King George River study sampling stations 77 40 Phytoplankton and Pigments HPLC Total mean depth integrated chlorophyll a (mg m-3) was 0.81 ± 0.38 SD with mean large fraction biomass of 0.19 ± 0.20 SD and small fraction of 0.63 ± 0.26 SD. On average small fraction was 78% ± 9.09 SD of total chlorophyll a (Fig. 4.15A). There was significantly less phytoplankton offshore than in the river and in the bay (mean 0.66 ± 0.10 SD offshore, 1.05 ± 0.38 bay and 1.13 ± 0.39 river, Kruskal Wallis p <0.05). The difference in biomass was not significant between river and bay. 3.0 2.5 total chl a large chl a small chl a mg m -3 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 offshore bay KGR 359 KGR 360 KGR 356 KGR 355 KGR351 KGR350 KGR349 KGR Falls KGR7 KGR8 KGR9 KGR 368 KGR 371 KGR10 KGR11 KGR12 KGR13 KGR14 KGR15 KGR4 KGR5 KGR6 0.0 river Figure 4.15 A Mean depth integrated total, small and large chlorophyll a (chl a) waters of King George River. Sites are grouped into offshore, bay and river. Error bars are standard deviation of the mean. Total average chlorophyll a (in mg m-3)in surface water was 0.89 ± 0.34 SD with lowest mean value offshore of 0.65 ± 0.22 and increasing in bay and river to mean 1.05 ± 0.38 and 1.05 ± 0.24 respectively (Fig. 4.15 B). Biomass was significantly higher between offshore and river (ANOVA p = 0.02) and between bay and offshore (ANOVA, p = 0.03) but not between bay and river. Small phytoplankton dominated in all stations comprising on average 82% ± 6.47 SD of total chlorophyll with 80% ± 4.79 SD offshore, 87% ± 7.81 in bay and 81% ± 5.69 in the river. Frequently the vertical distribution of chlorophyll in the water column is highest at depth. However in King George River area there was more phytoplankton on the surface offshore and river lower reaches station KGR 359 with bottom means for total chlorophyll of 0.59 ± 0.12, large 0.13 ± 0.05 and small 0.39 ± 0.06 for offshore stations and 1.09, 0.31 and 0.78 for total, large and small phytoplankton respectively. Lower level 78 of chlorophyll a in the bottom waters could be due to the light limitation and at stations KGR 4, KGR 10, KGR 12 and KGR 14 intermediate depths had more chlorophyll a than surface. The surface – bottom difference was not significant for total and large phytoplankton but was significant for small fraction (ANOVA, p = 0.042). Upper reaches river station 349 had more chlorophyll on the bottom layer than in the surface 2.57, 1.39 and 1.17 for total, large and small fraction. Small phytoplankton dominated at all offshore station comprising on average 79% of total phytoplankton and 71% in KGR 359. In contrast large phytoplankton dominated at depth in KGR 349 comprising 54% of total phytoplankton. Monovinyl chl a was linearly and significantly related to wDP (R2adj = 0.965, p <0.001, n = 30) making it a good estimator of phytoplankton biomass (Figure 4.16). 1.8 1.6 1.4 total chl a large chl a small chl a mg m -3 1.2 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 KGR 359 KGR 360 KGR 356 KGR 355 KGR351 KGR350 KGR349 KGR Falls KGR7 KGR8 KGR9 KGR 368 KGR 371 KGR10 KGR11 KGR12 KGR13 KGR14 KGR15 KGR4 KGR5 KGR6 0.0 Figure 4.15B Total, small and large chlorophyll a (chl a) in surface waters of King George River. Sites are grouped into offshore, bay and river. 79 1.2 a -3 wDP mg chl m 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 -3 Monovinyl chl a mg m Figure 4.16. Relationship between monovinyl chl a and wDP. 80 1.4 1.6 The biomass of total phytoplankton, micro-, nano- and picoplankton was significantly higher at the surface than at maximum depth of the stations (Table 4.3, Figure 4.17). Microplankton dominated in all three areas of King George River region (Table 4.4). In Koolama Bay and in the river there was slightly more pico- than nano-plankton. -3 Group N Mean (mg m ) ± SD total 0 m 9 0.50 ± 0.07 total bottom 9 0.38 ± 0.08 micro- 0 m 9 0.26 ± 0.04 micro- bottom 9 0.19 ± 0.05 nano- 0 m 9 0.23 ± 0.03 nano bottom 9 0.17 ± 0.04 pico- 0 m 9 0.23 ± 0.03 pico- bottom 9 0.17 ± 0.04 t(2) df p 3.2 17 0.006 3.4 17 0.004 3.3 17 0.005 3.1 17 0.007 Table 4.3. Comparison of total phytoplankton and three functional types between the surface and bottom waters (includes stations KGR 4 to KGR 6 and KGR 10 to KGR 15, two-tailed t-test). 0.7 0.6 micro >20 um nano 2-20 um pico <2 um 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 KGR 10 0m KGR 10 48m KGR 11 0m KGR 11 50m KGR 12 0m KGR 12 68m KGR 13 0m KGR 13 25m KGR 14 0m KGR 14 35m KGR 15 0m KGR 15 25m KGR 4 0m KGR 4 28m KGR 5 0m KGR 5 20m KGR 6 0m KGR 6 35m KGR 7 0m KGR 8 0m KGR 9 0m KGR 368 0m KGR 371 0m KGR 359 0m KGR 360 0m KGR 356 0m KGR 352 0m KGR 351 0m KGR 350 0m KGR 349 0m 0.0 Figure 4.17. Phytoplankton functional types micro-, nano- and picoplankton at each station sampled. 81 offshore of Koolama Bay (KGR 4- KGR 6, KGR 10 – KGR 15) integrated depth Koolama Bay (KGR 371, KGR 368, KGR 7-KGR 9 King George River (KGR 349352, KGR 356, KGR 359-360, micro nano pico micro nano pico micro mean ± SD 0 m 0.22 ±0.06 0.20 ±0.05 0.20 ±0.05 0.30 ±0.07 0.25 ±0.04 0.26 ±0.05 0.41 0.35 0.38 ±0.11 ±0.07 ±0.08 mean ± SD bottom n 0.26 ±0.04 0.23 ±0.03 0.23 ±0.03 9 no sampling no sampling 5 9 Table 4.4. Phytoplankton size classes in King George River region. 82 nano pico All size classes of phytoplankton were significantly negatively correlated with nitrite/nitrate (Figure 3.18). 0.7 R2adj =0.602 p<0.001 A microplankton mg m -3 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 Nitrite/Nitrate µmol L -1 0.50 R2adj = 0.666 p <0.001 B 0.45 nanoplankton mg m-3 0.40 0.35 0.30 0.25 0.20 0.15 0.10 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 Nitrite/Nitrate µmol L 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 1.8 2.0 -1 0.7 C R2adj = 0.634 p <0.001 picoplankton mg m -3 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 Nitrite/Nitrate µmol L -1 Figure 4.18. Relationship between nitrite/nitrate concentrations and concentrations of micro-, nano- and picoplankton. 83 Phytoplankton community was dominated by diatoms followed by Synechococcus sp, chlorophytes and haptophytes with mean biomass in mg m-3 ±SD 0.21 ±0.07, 0.08 ±0.06, 0.06 ±0.02 and 0.05 ±0.01 respectively (Figure 4.19). 0.30 0.25 mg m -3 0.20 0.15 0.10 0.05 chlorophytes (chlorophyll b) prochlorophytes (lutein) Synechoccoccus (zeaxanthin) haptophytes (19'-hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin) prasinophytes (prasonoxanthin) chlorophytes (neoxanthin) diatoms (fucoxanthin) pelagophytes (19'-butanoyloxyfucoxanthin) autotrophic dinoflagellates (peridinin) 0.00 Figure 4.19. Biomass of phytoplankton taxa, error bars are standard deviations, diagnostic pigment is indicated in brackets. 84 Sediment grain size Median grain size of sediment ranged from 20 microns to 272 microns (Table 4.5, Fig. 4.20). Site 358 close to a small creek flowing into Koolama Bay had the finest sediment. Sites 362, 364, 365, 366 had uniformly (uniformity ca. 0.35), larger sediment (median 117-160 microns). All the sites with large median grain size