Publication Date

2-2009

Series Number

188

Publisher

Department of Fisheries, Western Australia

City

Perth

ISBN

1 921258 45 4

ISSN

1035 - 4549

Abstract

A survey of the Albany marine area (King George Sound, Princess Royal Harbour and Oyster Harbour) for introduced marine pest species was conducted in 2007. This survey was trialling the new system of monitoring for introduced marine pests developed by the National Introduced Marine Pests Coordination Group (NIMPCG). This study represents one of the first trials of this system (the first trial commenced in South Australia is still ongoing). In this survey fifty-two of the fifty-five potential pest species were targeted. Three species were excluded on the basis of salinity and/or temperature tolerances being exceeded. A wide variety of sampling methods were all used in two seasons (winter and spring): surface scrapes, grabs, visual census, small cores, large cores, traps, and plankton nets. A total of 875 flora and fauna samples were collected from 39 locations within the Albany marine area. Samples were sorted to major taxonomic groups and scanned for individuals that could possibly be one of the 52 target species; only possible target pest species were identified to species. In addition, 108 settlement plates were installed in the Albany marine area in October 2007 and collected in February 2008.

The only species recorded from Albany that were on the target list was the polychaete Sabella spallanzanii and the marine alga Codium fragile ssp. tomentosoides (now C. fragile ssp. fragile). Sabella spallanzanii was previously known from the area, but the single specimen of C. fragile ssp. fragile was a new record. Following the finding of C. fragile ssp. fragile in Princess Royal Harbour, an extensive survey specifically targeting this species was conducted in June 2008. No further specimens were found during the survey. The Port of Albany later collected thirteen additional individuals outside the initial survey area and their identity was confirmed as C. fragile ssp. fragile.

Six introduced species not on the NIMPCG target list were also recorded during the present study. Two (the marine algae Grateloupia imbricata and Ulva fasciata) are new records for the Albany marine area, bringing the total number of introduced species known from this region to 27. It emphasises the fact that additional surveys in any given area of Western Australia have a high probability of detecting more species

Number of Pages

30

Keywords

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Albany marine area, marine pests, algae

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries | Environmental Monitoring | Natural Resources Management and Policy

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