Biodiversity value of a geographically restricted soft coral species within a temperate estuary

Poulos, Davina E.; Harasti, David; Gallen, Christopher; Booth, David J.

doi:10.1002/aqc.2362

Cited by 35 publications

(33 citation statements)

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“…The study was conducted on the southern side of the Port Stephens estuary (Figure ), which contains a range of temperate coastal and estuarine habitats (Davis, Harasti, & Smith, ; Poulos, Gallen, Davis, Booth, & Harasti, ) and a high diversity of biota (Poulos, Harasti, Gallen, & Booth, ; Smith et al., ). The entire Port Stephens estuary lies within the Port Stephens‐Great Lakes Marine Park, the largest Marine Protected Area (MPA) in New South Wales (NSW) (NSW‐MPA, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial and temporal variation in subtidal molluscan diversity amongst temperate estuarine habitats

et al. 2017

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Effective management of marine ecosystems is enhanced when detailed information on biodiversity is available. Key information to underpin management actions and conservation planning includes relationships between species assemblages and environmental gradients, and information on species distributions. We conducted a subtidal biodiversity assessment of surface‐dwelling subtidal molluscs in eight a priori defined habitat types using underwater visual censuses to quantitatively explore relationships between molluscan assemblages, and their correlation with benthic habitats and abiotic variables. In addition, variations in diversity were examined for two key habitat types (areas dominated by Dendronephthya australis and by filter feeders) over a period of 15 months to examine temporal change. We found that molluscs form distinct assemblages within subtidal habitats, but that assemblages within key habitats show inherent temporal variability. Regional (gamma) diversity of molluscs was found to result from a combination of: (i) within habitat alpha diversity, which increased with habitat complexity; (ii) between habitat beta diversity, with significant differences in molluscan assemblages amongst habitats with differing benthic growth, substrate type, and depth; and (iii) temporal beta diversity, with significant changes detected in molluscan assemblages over time. The results demonstrate how habitats and abiotic variables (principally depth and substrate type) combine to contribute to molluscan biodiversity in temperate estuaries, and illustrate the value of these factors as surrogates for surface‐dwelling subtidal molluscs in conservation planning.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The study was conducted on the southern side of the Port Stephens estuary (Figure 1), which contains a range of temperate coastal and estuarine habitats Davis, Booth, & Harasti, 2015) and a high diversity of biota (Poulos, Harasti, Gallen, & Booth, 2013;Smith et al, 2010). The entire Port…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and temporal variation in subtidal molluscan diversity amongst temperate estuarine habitats

et al. 2017

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“…data). The D. australis habitat has been found to contain high biodiversity when compared with other adjacent habitats and is considered to be an important nursery habitat for many fish species (Poulos et al, 2013). In addition to its limited distribution in Port Stephens, D. australis has only been confirmed to occur from Port Hacking (Sydney) to Port Stephens (NSW DPI, unpubl.…”

Section: H a R A S T I E T A Lmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ontogenetic and sex‐based differences in habitat preferences and site fidelity of White's seahorse Hippocampus whitei

Harasti

Martin‐Smith

Gladstone

2014

Journal of Fish Biology

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The aim of this study was to determine and compare habitat preferences for male and female adult and juvenile White's seahorse Hippocampus whitei and assess their movements and site fidelity over 4 years. Data were collected from three sites along 1.5 km of estuarine shoreline in Port Stephens, New South Wales, Australia, from 2006 to 2009 using H. whitei that had been tagged with visible implant fluorescent elastomer. Relative availability of 12 habitats and habitat preferences of H. whitei was determined, based on the habitat that H. whitei used as a holdfast. Hippocampus whitei occurred in nine different habitats; adults preferred sponge and soft coral Dendronephthya australis habitats with no difference between male and female habitat preferences whilst juveniles preferred gorgonian Euplexaura sp. habitat. There was a significant preference by adults for D. australis colonies with height >40 cm and avoidance of colonies <20 cm. Neither adults nor juveniles used sand or the seagrasses Zostera muelleri subsp. capricorni and Halophila ovalis. Hippocampus whitei showed cryptic behaviour with c. 50% of adult sightings cryptic and c. 75% for juveniles with crypsis occurring predominantly in Sargassum sp. for adults and Euplexaura sp. habitat for juveniles. Within sites, females moved significantly longer distances (maximum of 70 m) than males (maximum of 38 m) over 20 months. Strong site fidelity was displayed by H. whitei with males persisting at the same site for up to 56 months and females for 49 months and no H. whitei moved between sites. The longest period that an H. whitei was recorded on the same holdfast was 17 months for a male and 10 months for a female. As this species displays strong site fidelity, specific habitat preferences and has a limited distribution, future management needs to minimize the risk of habitat disturbance as loss of key habitats could have a negative effect on species abundance and distribution.

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“…While adult C. auratus are found on rocky reefs across the continental slope in depths from 5 to 200 m (Curley et al, 2013;Parsons et al, 2014), juveniles are predominantly encountered within coastal embayments and estuaries (Hartill et al, 2004;Poulos et al, 2013). Acoustic telemetry studies have found that C. auratus movement patterns vary based on their size and region.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increase in Relative Abundance and Size of Snapper Chrysophrys auratus Within Partially-Protected and No-Take Areas in a Temperate Marine Protected Area

et al. 2018

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Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are known to contribute toward the conservation of marine biodiversity, particularly targeted fishery species. Snapper Chrysophrys auratus are an important recreational and commercial fish species in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, and despite fishery management for this species, they are considered "growth overfished" in this region. To assess how C. auratus respond to the implementation of an MPA with several no-take and partially protected areas in temperate NSW, we monitored their populations over a decade (2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015)(2016)(2017) using baited remote underwater video systems (BRUVs). Surveys were conducted in the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park with BRUVs deployed on rocky reefs in depths of 20-50 m. Long term seasonal sampling (winter vs. summer) was undertaken at two locations (Broughton and Fingal Island), and changes in C. auratus abundance prior to, and 8 years after zoning implementation, were assessed between these two locations. In total, we sampled five no-take areas within the marine park and five comparative nearby partially protected fished areas and three sites located outside the marine park boundaries. The most pronounced changes in abundance and size structure for C. auratus were observed in the Broughton Island no-take area where numbers increased almost 3-fold (2.91 times) over 8 years of protection. Relative abundance showed seasonal variation at two locations, and we consistently recorded increasing abundance within no-take areas at Broughton and Fingal Island compared to nearby sites open to fishing. Surveys across the five no-take areas found a significant increase in the abundance of C. auratus, whilst the five partially-protected locations in the marine park still recorded higher abundances than sites outside the marine park. In addition, length measurements from stereo-BRUVS indicated that C. auratus were significantly larger in no-take areas compared to partially-protected areas in the marine park and sites outside the marine park. This study demonstrates how the implementation of the marine park and the protection afforded by no-take and partially-protected areas provides refuge for this important fishery targeted species.

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Biodiversity value of a geographically restricted soft coral species within a temperate estuary

Cited by 35 publications

References 50 publications

Spatial and temporal variation in subtidal molluscan diversity amongst temperate estuarine habitats

Spatial and temporal variation in subtidal molluscan diversity amongst temperate estuarine habitats

Ontogenetic and sex‐based differences in habitat preferences and site fidelity of White's seahorse Hippocampus whitei

Increase in Relative Abundance and Size of Snapper Chrysophrys auratus Within Partially-Protected and No-Take Areas in a Temperate Marine Protected Area

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