A&MLR NRM Algae
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Biodiversity and Conservation of Macroalgae in the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges NRM Region, including an assessment of biodiversity and distribution of macroalgae in the Gulf St Vincent Bioregion A report prepared by Janine L. Baker and Dr C. Frederico D. Gurgel for the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board May 2011 BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION OF MACROALGAE IN THE ADELAIDE & MT LOFTY RANGES NRM REGION including an assessment of biodiversity and distribution of macroalgae in the Gulf St Vincent Bioregion REPORT TO ADELAIDE AND MT LOFTY RANGES NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT BOARD © J. Baker Janine L. Baker1 and Dr C. Frederico D. Gurgel2 1 J. L. Baker, Marine Ecologist: [email protected] 2 School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide ([email protected]); South Australia State Herbarium, Department of Environment and Natural Resources; and South Australia Research and Development Institute, Aquatic Sciences. AUGUST 2010 (Updated MAY 2011) 1 CONTENTS Executive Summary ........................................................................................................... 3 List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... 4 List of Figures .................................................................................................................... 5 Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................. 7 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 7 2. Materials and Methods ................................................................................................ 9 3. Results and Discussion ............................................................................................ 10 4. Conclusions and Recommendations ...................................................................... 80 References ....................................................................................................................... 90 Appendices .................................................................................................................... 104 Citation This report may be cited as: Baker, J.L. and Gurgel, C.F.D. (2010) Biodiversity and Conservation of Macroalgae in the Adelaide & Mt Lofty Ranges NRM Region, including an assessment of biodiversity and distribution of macroalgae in the Gulf St Vincent Bioregion. Report to Adelaide & Mt Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board. 2 Executive Summary This report summarises the distribution and species composition of marine macroalgae in the AMLR NRM region based on data of herbarium records from the South Australian State Herbarium and the Australian Virtual Herbarium databases. The geographically and taxonomically updated datasets used in this assessment are an amalgamation of many thousands of herbarium records deposited in the seven biggest Australian herbarium collections, dated from the 1850s to 2009. This report also summarises the number and location of South Australian endemic species, and the known distribution of introduced and potentially cryptogenic macroalgae in the AMLR NRM region, including Aquatic Reserves and the Encounter Marine Park. Additionally, we updated and revised a previous national assessment of threatened macroalgae that included examples of potentially rare and threatened species in Gulf St Vincent. Conservation recommendations are made, for protecting habitats which support macroalgae as a major component, and monitoring of activities that threaten such habitats. Recommendations include: Continued restoration and management of rivers and land upstream to stop erosion and reduce the amount of sediment and nutrients that enters rivers and creeks (and thus ends up on coastal reefs), and continued treatment and recycling of wastewaters on land, and reduction of effluent-rich flows to the sea. Of benefit is the AMLR NRM Board‘s long-term and regular water quality monitoring to improve coastal water quality and the condition of marine and coastal habitats. Where possible, particular protection of existing Aquatic Reserves and proposed Sanctuary Zones of marine parks from physical impacts, nutrient enrichment, and sedimentation, especially those which are known to provide habitat for apparently endemic / limited range species of macroalgae. Surveys to better determine the composition, distribution and abundance of South Australian rare and endemic species of macroalgae, particularly in Aquatic Reserves and MPA sanctuary zones, and also in port areas. More information on the macroalgal species composition / biodiversity from data-poor areas such as upper north-eastern part of Gulf St Vincent; much of the Fleurieu Peninsula; much of the central gulf region, and much of the coastal area from Cape Jervis to Encounter Bay, including Aquatic Reserves and Parks Targeted studies to determine the current distribution and relative abundance of species known only from very few records Establishment of a reliable and sensitive monitoring program for Aquatic Reserves, ports and harbour areas and other coastal waters, not only for marine pest species but also to generate baseline data to detect a plethora of marine impacts caused by either local or global stressors. Continuation of the SA Government‘s current monitoring program for Caulerpa taxifolia is recommended. Consideration of the invasive possibilities of Codium fragile ssp. fragile (= ssp. tomentosoides), and development of measures to control such an occurrence. Also recommended is survey and monitoring of various species of Ulva, Cladophora and Hincksia that may be introduced or cryptogenic, in nutrient-rich locations (such as port areas, and estuaries), as these species have the potential to bloom. Increased public awareness about potential vectors that may aid the spread of introduced macroalgae. Determine of the status of macroalgal species so far considered cryptogenic, using modern techniques in molecular biology. 3 List of Tables Table 1: Species richness of Cystophora in SA‘s NRM regions......................................................14 Table 2: Species richness of Sargassum in SA‘s NRM regions......................................................15 Table 3: Presence in SA‘s NRM regions of common canopy-forming species and other large species in Phaeophyceae................................................................................................................16 Table 4: Species recorded in the AMLR NRM, and in other parts of southern Australia and the world, but not in any other NRM regions in SA................................................................................33 Table 5: Number of species considered endemic in SA per NRM region, according to AVH 2010 database records.............................................................................................................................36 Table 6: South Australian endemic species recorded in the AMLR NRM region............................37 Table 7: Macroalgae present in the AMLR NRM region that are either known from single or very few records, or known from restricted habitats according to the compilations provided by Womersley (2004, 2005), and Baldock and Ricci (2005) ...............................................................41 Table 8: Summary of the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (from IUCN Shark Specialist Group 2007).....................................................................................................................................44 Table 9: Species present in the AMLR NRM region that were previously listed as rare and/or threatened, including vulnerable or endangered (according to Cheshire et al. 2000, Womersley 2004, 2005, and/or Baldock and Ricci 2005) but which would not qualify as such in South Australia, Australia, and/or globally..................................................................................................45 Table 10: Species found in AMLR NRM region which may qualify for formal listing as are, or another category of threat, in South Australia and/or nationally......................................................48 Table 11: Number of species introduced to South Australia based on herbarium collections, for each NRM Region............................................................................................................................52 Table 12: Introduced macroalgal species in the AMLR NRM region known from location-specific records in ADHerb 2010 database...................................................................................................57 Table 13: Macroalgal species in AMLR NRM that are likely to be cryptogenic in origin……..........65 Table 14: Numbers of records, species, South Australian endemic species, and introduced species in the Aquatic Reserves situated within the AMLR NRM region, based on ADHerb 2010 database..........................................................................................................................................77 Table 15: Comparison between the numbers of geo-referenced herbarium records of macroalgae in AMLR NRM region, with numbers recorded within Sanctuary Zones of Encounter Marine Park..................................................................................................................................................78 4 List