2013 Natural Resources KangarooDate Island COMMUNITYKangaro ASSESSMENTo Island Natural OFResources Management Board ON KANGAROOREPORT TITLE ISLAND

COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT OF REEF BIODIVERSITY ON KANGAROO ISLAND

A report prepared for the Kangaroo Island Natural Resources Management Board

by

Sarah-Lena Reinhold, Martine Kinloch, Kym Lashmar, Alicia McArdle and Danny Brock

Coast and Marine Program The views expressed and the conclusions reached in this report are those of the author and not necessarily those of persons consulted. Natural Resources Kangaroo Island shall not be responsible in any way whatsoever to any person who relies in whole or in part on the contents of this report.

Project Officer Contact Details Kym Lashmar Coast and Marine Technical Officer Natural Resources Kangaroo Island 37 Dauncey Street Kingscote SA 5223

Phone: (08) 8553 4439 Email: [email protected]

Natural Resources Kangaroo Island Bill Haddrill Regional Manager 37 Dauncey Street Kingscote SA 5223

Phone: (08) 8553 4444 Email: [email protected]

© Natural Resources Kangaroo Island

This document may be reproduced in whole or part for the purpose of study or training, subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgment of the source and to its not being used for commercial purposes or sale. Reproduction for purposes other than those given above requires the prior written permission of the Kangaroo Island Natural Resources Management Board.

For bibliographic purposes this paper should be cited as: Reinhold, S., Kinloch, M., Lashmar, K., McArdle, A. & Brock, D. 2013. Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island. Natural Resources Kangaroo Island Coast and Marine Program Report No. CMP13/014.

Front cover images: Mosaic seastar (Plectaster decanus) at Snellings. Photo by Alicia McArdle Bluelined leatherjacket (Meuschenia galii) at Snellings. Photo by Kym Lashmar

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 3

Foreword

This project is a component of the Kangaroo Island Natural Resources Management Board‟s „Here to Stay‟ Investment Strategy. The following Program Outcomes, Actions, Resource Condition Targets and Management Action Targets from the Strategy are relevant to the project.

Program Oceans of Blue: Managing marine, coastal and estuarine biodiversity on Kangaroo Island

Program outcome A scientifically rigorous and integrated system of measuring and reporting on the state of marine, coastal and estuarine environments of Kangaroo Island that relates trends in the condition of biodiversity assets to changes in human uses of land and seascapes, provides advice on targeting management action to mitigate anthropogenic impacts where required and empowers the public to respond to threats to natural resource condition and values.

Relevant Resource Condition Targets 8.5 D An enhancement in the condition of natural biodiversity in marine, coastal and estuarine systems through protection and management of key biodiversity assets and areas.

Relevant Management Action Targets 8.5.1 Establish benchmarks and monitoring program for marine and estuarine water quality, terrestrial and marine coastal biodiversity and condition of fisheries stocks.

8.5.2 Establish representative monitoring program for terrestrial and marine coastal biodiversity focusing on areas subject to water contamination and other threatening processes.

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 4

Acknowledgements

First and foremost we heartily thank all of the volunteer divers from Friends of the Sea (FOTS) and South Australian Conservation Research Divers (SACReD) for their dedicated and excellent work: Dave Muirhead, Grant Flanagan, Heiri Klein, Helen Crawford, James Brook, James Manna, Luke Baade, Renate Velzeboer, Rohan Kaehne, Simon Bryars and especially Janine Baker (President of SACReD) for her expert technical advice on all things marine.

We would also like to thank Andrew Neighbour from Kangaroo Island Marine Adventures for providing us with excellent vessel support and, more importantly, hot cups of tea at the end of the dives! Finally, we would like to give special thanks to our other trusty boat skipper, Tony Geyer, whose dedication and nautical expertise were invaluable when deploying divers from RV Cousteau.

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 5

Contents

Foreword ...... 4

Acknowledgements ...... 5

Contents ...... 6

Tables and Figures ...... 7

Introduction ...... 9

Methods ...... 10

Results ...... 16

Discussion ...... 24

Conclusions and Recommendations ...... 29

References ...... 30

Appendices ...... 32

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 6

Tables and Figures

Tables

Table 1: Number of transects conducted at reef sites...... 11

Table 2: Kangaroo Island focal ...... 12

Table 3: List of the 10 most common fish and species...... 17

Table 4: Ranked list of the 10 most abundant fish and invertebrate species...... 20

Figures

Figure 1: Map of Friends of the Sea (FOTS) and NR KI Reef Life Survey sites...... 13

Figure 2: Species accumulation rates in relation to number of transects...... 16

Figure 3: Frequency of occurrence of fish and invertebrate species...... 18

Figure 4: Cumulative species curves for reef fish and ...... 18

Figure 5: Total number of species recorded at each reef site...... 19

Figure 6: Total number of individual fish and invertebrates recorded at each reef site. 21

Figure 7: Abundance of species of conservation significance...... 22

Figure 8: Abundance of commercially fished species...... 22

Plates

Plate 1: Western Blue Devil (Paraplesiops meleagris) sighted at Lavers Reef...... 12

Plate 2: FOTS members preparing to dive at Muston...... 14

Plate 3: FOTS member conducting a fish survey at Stokes Bay West...... 14

Plate 4: FOTS members conducting an invertebrate survey at Snellings...... 15

Plate 5: Typical seascape observed during a survey (Snellings)...... 15

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 7

Plate 6: Western Blue Groper (Achoerodus gouldii) sighted at Snellings...... 23

Plate 7: Giant cuttle (Sepia apama) sighted at Frenchmans Rocks...... 23

Plate 8: Whitespotted anglerfish (Phyllopryne scortea) photographed at Muston...... 26

Plate 9: Whiskered prowfish (Neopataecus waterhousii) photographed at Snellings. .. 26

Plate 10: Southern velvetfish (Aploactisoma milesii) photographed at Muston...... 27

Plate 11: Spotted Snake-blenny (Ophiclinops paradalis) photographed at Muston. .... 27

Plate 12: Slender blindfish (Dermatopsis multiradiatus) photographed at Muston...... 28

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 8

Introduction

Kangaroo Island‟s northern and southern coastlines are dominated by shallow (< 20 metres) sandstone, granite and limestone rocky reefs covered in dense macroalgae („seaweed‟). These ecological systems supply essential environmental services such as primary production and nutrient cycling (Holmlund & Hammer 1999), as well as the economic and social benefits of commercial fishing, marine tourism and public recreation. Kangaroo Island‟s reefs are renowned for their high conservation value as they support an abundance of iconic, emblematic and threatened species that are rare elsewhere in South (SA), such as blue groper, leafy sea dragons and harlequin fish. They also support valuable commercial and recreational rock lobster and abalone fisheries.

Natural Resources Kangaroo Island (NR KI) in association with the Reef Life Survey (RLS) Foundation based in Tasmania, has been gathering baseline data on fish, invertebrate and algal communities on Kangaroo Island since 2009 in order to monitor reef health and detect changes in condition associated with climate change or the imminent establishment of marine parks. Friends of the Sea (FOTS), a newly- established community dive group on Kangaroo Island, obtained funding from a Caring for our Country Community Action Grant in 2012-13 to establish a project to supplement the NR KI/RLS Foundation program. Additional project support was provided by the South Australian Conservation Research Divers (SACReD) and SA Museum. The aims of the FOTS project were: (1) to augment reef life surveys on KI at additional sites along the north coast of Kangaroo Island and provide data to the RLS national program and (2) to improve community understanding and stewardship of local reef communities.

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 9

Methods

Field Sampling Ten reef sites distributed along approximately 100 kilometres (km) of the northern coastline of KI between Western River Cove and Ironstone Hill were selected for survey based on access, representativeness and complementarity to existing sites (Figure 1). Survey data were collected during two dive trips conducted in March and April 2013. The benthic substrate of most of the sites was typical sandstone, granite or limestone rocky reef of varying relief, with a dense macroalgal canopy. Muston was an exception, being a unique site composed entirely of „sponge garden‟, i.e. a habitat dominated by sessile invertebrates rather than rock and macroalgae. This site was surveyed largely as a result of its accessibility during a bout of bad weather that prevented access to more exposed sites.

Sites were surveyed using the standard Reef Life Survey (RLS) underwater visual census method (Reef Life Survey Foundation 2013). This comprises sampling four 50- metre-long „belt‟ transects using a 10-metre wide search swath for fish, a two-metre wide search swath for mobile invertebrates (largely molluscs, crustaceans and echinoderms), plus 25 photo-quadrats taken at 2.5-metre intervals for macroalgae. All surveys were conducted along a relatively constant depth contour in water less than 10 metres deep. Survey data were entered into a standard RLS Excel datasheet template. All species identifications were carried out with the aid of reference books by Edgar (2008), Gomon et al. (2008), Growlet-Holmes (2008) and Kuiter (2000).

Data Analysis Due to logistical factors, such as volunteer availability, weather conditions and the area of the reefs being surveyed, completing four transects at each site was not always possible, whereas at one site, McDonnell Hill, six transects were completed due to the size of the site and the number of volunteers available (Table 1). Data from this site were therefore used to analyse the effect of transect number on estimates of species richness in order to establish an adequate or optimal survey effort for characterizing reef biodiversity. Ten random combinations of the species richness data from the six

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 10

transects at McDonnell Hill, were used to calculate the average number of new species recorded during each additional transect.

Table 1: Number of transects conducted at reef sites.

Survey Site No. Transects McDonnell Hill 6 Snellings 4 Frenchmans Rocks 4 Ironstone Hill 4 Lavers Reef 4 Muston 4 Stokes Bay West 4 Kangaroo Head 3 Western River Cove 3 White Point 3

Data from all transects at each site were pooled for analysis of species abundance (number of individuals) and diversity (species richness or variety). Data were analysed separately for 15 species (ten fish, five invertebrate) of particular focus on KI, due either to their conservation status (12 species) or commercial value (three species) (Table 2). Eleven species of conservation focus (ten fish, one invertebrate) are listed as „In Peril‟ by the SA Conservation Council on their Reef Watch dive slate and the twelfth species, the giant cuttlefish, is reported to have been in “drastic” decline since 2010 (Gillanders 2013). There are significant industries on Kangaroo Island, including resident fishing fleets and processing plants, based on the three commercially valuable invertebrate species (Table 2).

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 11

Table 2: Kangaroo Island focal species.

Conservation value Commercial value Western blue groper Southern rock lobster Western blue devil Greenlip abalone Harlequin fish Blacklip abalone Queen snapper Long-snouted boarfish Leafy sea dragon Weedy sea dragon Spotted wobbegong Gulf wobbegong Cobbler wobbegong Black cowrie Giant cuttlefish

Plate 1: Western Blue Devil (Paraplesiops meleagris) sighted at Lavers Reef.

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 12

Figure 1: Map of Friends of the Sea (FOTS) and NR KI Reef Life Survey sites.

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 13

Plate 2: FOTS members preparing to dive at Muston.

Plate 3: FOTS member conducting a fish survey at Stokes Bay West.

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 14

Plate 4: FOTS members conducting an invertebrate survey at Snellings.

Plate 5: Typical seascape observed during a survey (Snellings).

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 15

Results

Sampling Effort

Figure 2 confirms that the standard RLS sampling effort of four transects per survey generally captures around 85% of fish and macroinvertebrate species at a site. After three transects, 77% of species have been recorded and the slope of the curve visibly decreases, with fewer than 10% of species recorded with each additional transect so this is the absolute minimum required for describing the biodiversity of a site. However, the mean number of species recorded is still rising at a steady rate of 7-8% per additional transect even after six transects. This places limitations on comparisons of results among sites where transect numbers were not consistent.

Figure 2: Species accumulation rates in relation to number of transects.

Species abundance and composition

A total of 14,900 individuals were counted representing 142 different species at the ten sites surveyed during the 2013 Reef Life Surveys on Kangaroo Island. This total was

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 16

comprised of 71 species and 12,122 individuals of fish, and 71 species and 2778 individuals of invertebrates (Appendix 1).

Only four species (< 3%) occurred at all 10 sites, although another seven species (5%) were found at all but one site (Table 3; Appendix 2). Over 30% of both fish and invertebrate species were recorded at only one site and over 50% at less than three sites (Figure 3). The cumulative species curves for both fish and invertebrates level off to almost flat after nine sites (Figure 4), indicating that a sample size of ten sites adequately represents the typical suite of fish and mobile invertebrate reef species along the north coast of KI.

Table 3: List of the 10 most common fish and invertebrate species.

Fish Species (FOO) 1 Invertebrate Species (FOO) 1 Sea sweep (10) Tulip shell (10) Moonlighter (10) Purple urchin (9) Zebra fish (10) Turban shell (9) Blue-throat wrasse (9) Velvet star (8) Senator wrasse (9) Orange feather star (8) Magpie Perch (9) Biscuit star (8) Castelnau‟s wrasse (9) Firebrick sea star (7) Dusky Morwong (9) Western slate-pencil urchin (7) Yellow-headed hula fish (8) Blacklip abalone (7) Common bullseye (8) Pheasant shell (6)

1 Figures in brackets are the number of sites at which the species was recorded (also called frequency of occurrence or FOO).

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 17

Figure 3: Frequency of occurrence of fish and invertebrate species.

Figure 4: Cumulative species curves for reef fish and invertebrates.

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 18

The number of fish species (richness or diversity) recorded during each survey ranged from 14 - 39 with a mean (average) of 29 ± 9 (Figure 5; Appendix 1). The number of invertebrate species was very similar, ranging from 13 - 35 with a mean of 23 ± 7 (Figure 5; Appendix 1). McDonnell Hill had the greatest number of species, both fish and invertebrate (Figure 5). The least biodiverse sites were White Point and Muston, with roughly half as many species. This was due, in particular, to the presence of significantly fewer fish species at these sites; as a result, both were notable for being the only sites that were richer in invertebrates than fish (Figure 5). There was a slight indication of higher biodiversity (particularly invertebrate) at the more westerly sites (Figure 5).

Figure 5: Total number of species recorded at each reef site.

The most abundant fish (highest numbers of individuals) were, not surprisingly, schooling species such as Yellow-headed hulafish, White trevally, Common bullseye and Sea sweep (Table 4). The most abundant non-schooling species were Blue-throat wrasse followed by Moonlighter (Table 4). The most abundant invertebrates were mainly echinoderms (sea urchins, sea stars and feather stars). Two species of mollusc were also relatively abundant: the Queen scallop and Turban shell (Table 4).

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 19

Table 4: Ranked list of the 10 most abundant fish and invertebrate species. Figures in brackets are total counts from all ten sites combined.

Fish Species (#) Invertebrate Species (#)³ Yellow-headed hulafish* (6605) Gunn‟s sea star (493) White trevally* (1417) Purple urchin (492) Common bullseye* (710) Feather star (475) Sea sweep* (653) Queen scallop (210) Blue-throat wrasse (488) Biscuit star (153) Moonlighter (212) Turban shell (136) Ornate bullseye (161) Firebrick sea star (82) Pencil weed whiting (158) Western slate-pencil urchin (60) Silver drummer (125) Velvet star (56) Rough bullseye (116) Troughton‟s seastar (49)

* Schooling species.

Numbers of fish and invertebrates counted at each site varied twenty-fold from 218 at White Point to 4175 at Lavers Reef (Figure 6). Counts of fish and invertebrates were relatively similar at the four westerly reef sites. Most sites had far more fish than invertebrates, except for Muston and White Point. By far the greatest number of fish were recorded at the two sheltered reefs in Nepean Bay: Lavers Reef (4175 individuals) and Frenchmans Rocks (3012 individuals). This was mainly due to the large number of schooling fish such as Yellow-headed hula fish and White trevally that were counted at these sites. The greatest number of invertebrates was recorded at Muston (Figure 5), and largely consisted of Gunn‟s sea star (487 individuals) and Purple urchin (418 individuals; Appendix 1).

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 20

Figure 6: Total number of individual fish and invertebrates recorded at each reef site.

Focal Species

Nine of the 15 focal species were recorded during the Kangaroo Island Reef Life Surveys; six of conservation significance and all three commercially-valuable shellfish species. No records of sea dragons, wobbegongs or Black cowrie were made, although all are known to occur in these waters (Natural Resources Kangaroo Island 2011).

The highest diversity and abundance of reef species of conservation significance was recorded at the four easterly sites located in the waters of Nepean Bay and Backstairs Passage, with the greatest being at Kangaroo Head (Figure 7). Western blue gropers (WBG) were found at sites all along the coastline, whereas Western blue devils were recorded only at the eastern sites (Figure 7). Long-snouted boarfish (two individuals) were seen at Western River Cove only, and a solitary Harlequin fish was seen at Ironstone Hill. Frenchmans Rocks was notable for its frequent sightings of Giant cuttlefish (Figure 7).

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 21

Figure 7: Abundance of species of conservation significance.

Figure 8: Abundance of commercially fished species.

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 22

The three commercially-fished species were found at seven sites; they did not occur at the three sheltered sites of Frenchmans Rocks, Lavers Reef and Muston (Figure 8). The two fished species of abalone were both far more abundant at Stokes Bay West than any other site. Greenlip abalone had the most restricted distribution and was less abundant than Blacklip abalone (Figure 8). Rock lobsters were widely distributed but more than twice as abundant at Ironstone Hill than other sites (Figure 8).

Plate 6: Western Blue Groper (Achoerodus gouldii) sighted at Snellings.

Plate 7: Giant cuttle (Sepia apama) sighted at Frenchmans Rocks.

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 23

Discussion

The Reef Life Surveys conducted by Kangaroo Island Friends of the Sea and the South Australian Conservation Research Divers confirmed the Island‟s status as a region rich in marine biodiversity, and a haven for species of commercial and conservation significance. A total of 142 species were found in ten samples, including several rare specimens. The presence of species listed as „In Peril‟ by the Conservation Council of SA at seven out of 10 reef sites, some of which numbered collectively as many as 24 individuals, is also testament to the high conservation value of Kangaroo Island‟s north coast reef communities.

Very similar suites of commonly occurring reef fish species were recorded in this study as were documented in an earlier report on KI reef fish assemblages by Brock & Kinloch (2007), namely Zebra fish, Blue-throat wrasse, Sea sweep, Magpie perch, Senator wrasse and Dusky morwong. The relative abundance of different species of fish was also very similar in the two studies, with Yellow-headed hula fish, Bullseyes, Sea sweep and Blue-throat wrasse consistently recorded in the highest numbers. The greater diversity of species recorded at more westerly sites also mirrored the earlier Brock & Kinloch (2007) report and may be related to variations in oceanographic conditions such as water and wave energy or to reef relief. Leeuwin eddies are transported through Investigator Strait bringing warmer water that may improve habitat condition.

The two sites with the highest numbers of fish were Lavers Reef and Frenchmans Rocks, both of which are located in the sheltered waters of Nepean Bay. These sites were dominated by schooling species such as Yellow-head hula fish. These sites, however, also had some of the lowest invertebrate abundances, with just 30 individuals counted at Lavers Reef. They were also the only reefs composed of limestone rather than the more common sandstone and granite reef substrate found along the coasts of Investigator Strait and Backstairs Passage (Twidale & Bourne 2002). It is possible that the underlying geology of these reefs promotes an environment that is conducive to large numbers of schooling fish but few invertebrates. The underlying substrate at

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 24

Muston however, was quite unique, being comprised largely of sand and shell grit, with extensive areas of habitat-forming „sponge garden‟. This site supported the greatest number of invertebrates but very few fish, no doubt largely due to the absence of canopy-forming macroalgae and associated habitat structure and food webs (Grutter & Irving 2007).

This study showed that volunteer divers are capable not just of recording common reef fish, but also rare and cryptic species. For example, a Whitespotted anglerfish (Phyllopryne scortea) was recorded at Muston (Plate 8) and a Whiskered prowfish (Neopataecus waterhousii) at Snellings (Plate 9). Other rare species were sighted but not included in data analyses as they weren‟t recorded along a survey transect. These species included a Southern velvetfish (Aploactisoma milesii), a Spotted Snake-blenny (Ophiclinops paradalis), and a Slender blindfish (Dermatopsis multiradiatus), all seen at Muston (Plates 10-12). This site is clearly a hotspot for these more unusual, sedentary species, which prefer a sheltered, low-energy environment with habitat dominated by sessile invertebrates such as sponges, possibly due to its camouflage properties. The Slender blindfish is a Western Australian species for which Kangaroo Island is at the eastern edge of its range. The photo taken of this fish is thought to be the first documented record from the American River area.

It should be noted that results from this project are indicative only and should be treated with caution as data were collected by relatively inexperienced voluntary community divers. The quality of data collected at sites surveyed early in the dive trips, compared with those collected towards the end demonstrated a significant improvement in species identification and observational skills over the course of the study. In addition, not all sites were surveyed with four transects, which may lead to higher or lower species counts, and variability in local conditions such as visibility, water movement and reef topography likely also affected results. Repeat surveys will allow more accurate site comparisons to be made.

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 25

Plate 8: Whitespotted anglerfish (Phyllopryne scortea) photographed at Muston.

Plate 9: Whiskered prowfish (Neopataecus waterhousii) photographed at Snellings.

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 26

Plate 10: Southern velvetfish (Aploactisoma milesii) photographed at Muston.

© H. Crawford

Plate 11: Spotted Snake-blenny (Ophiclinops paradalis) photographed at Muston.

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 27

© H. Crawford

Plate 12: Slender blindfish (Dermatopsis multiradiatus) photographed at Muston.

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 28

Conclusions and Recommendations

Data collected from 10 reef sites surveyed along a 100-kilometre stretch of the northern coastline of Kangaroo Island demonstrated geographic differences in abundance and composition of fish and invertebrate species and communities that are likely related to variable and geology. However, caution must be exercised in interpreting too much from this preliminary dataset collected by relatively inexperienced community volunteers on only one sampling occasion. The quality of the data for comparative purposes was also compromised by inconsistency in the number of transects completed at each site and this should be addressed in future surveys. Data from this study confirmed that four transects per site is optimal for an accurate species inventory.

This study identified that some sites are particularly rich in species that are commercially-valuable or of conservation significance or that are rare and unusual. These sites would be worthy of consideration for ongoing assessments to determine the impacts of climate change or other threatening processes, as well as the effectiveness of marine parks zoning, which is due to come into effect on 1 October 2014. It is recommended that greater and more consistent survey effort be directed towards these few sites to more accurately characterise and monitor their biodiversity.

Finally, this study generated significant engagement of the local Kangaroo Island community in a citizen science project. It was highly effective in raising awareness and improving knowledge of subtidal reefs that are largely hidden from the view of the general public. FOTS members aim to continue surveying the reef sites established as part project so that long-term trends can be measured. They will also continue to attract new members and foster growing interest in the marine environment.

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 29

References

Brock, D. J. & Kinloch, M. A. 2007. Reef Fish Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island. KI NRM Board Coast and Marine Program Report No. CMP07/005.

Conservation Council of South Australia Inc. Feral or In Peril Dive Slates, Adelaide, South Australia.

Edgar, G. 2008, Australian Marine Life: The Plants and of Temperate Waters, Reed New Holland an imprint of New Holland Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Gillanders, B. 2013. Mapping the mysteries of South Australia's giant cuttlefish decline, viewed 21 June 2013 http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/05/20/3762852.htm

Gomon, M., Bray, D. and Kuiter, R. 2008, Fishes of Australia’s Southern Coast, Reed New Holland an imprint of New Holland Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Growlett-Holmes, K. 2008, A Field Guide to the Marine Invertebrates of South Australia, Notomares, Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia.

Grutter, A. S. & Irving, A. D. 2007. Positive Interactions in Marine Communities. Pp 110 – 137. In Marine Ecology (eds S.D. Connell & B.M. Gillanders), Oxford University Press, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Holmlund, C. M. & Hammer, M. 1999. Ecosystem services generated by fish populations, Ecological Economics 29: 253-268pp.

Kuiter, R. 2000, Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia, Gary Allen Pty Ltd, Smithfield, NSW, Australia.

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 30

Natural Resources Kangaroo Island. 2011. Reef Life Survey Data from Kangaroo Island, Unpublished.

Reef Life Survey Foundation. 2013. Standardised Survey Procedures for Monitoring Rocky & Ecological Communities, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

Shepherd, S. A., Brook, J. B., & Xiao, Y. 2010. Environmental and fishing effects on the abundance, size and sex ratio of the blue‐throated wrasse, Notolabrus tetricus, on South Australian coastal reefs. Fisheries Management and Ecology 17:209‐220pp.

Twidale, C. R. & Bourne, J.A. 2002. The Land Surface. pp. 23 – 35. In Natural History of Kangaroo Island (eds, M. Davies, C.R. Twidale & M. J. Tyler), Royal Society of South Australia, Geographic Services Pty ltd, Northfield, South Australia.

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 31

Appendices

Appendix 1: Inventory of reef species recorded from ten Reef Life Survey sites on Kangaroo Island.

Total 2 Species common name FOO

(N)

Muston

Snellings

White White Point

Laver'sReef

IronstoneHill

McDonnell McDonnell Hill

KangarooHead

Stokes Stokes Bay West

FrenchmansRocks WesternRiver Cove

Fish

Trachinops noarlungae Yellow-headed hulafish 366 980 400 160 - 1123 - 3410 165 1 6605 8 Pseudocaranx georgianus White Trevally - 1 3 1 - 1400 - 4 8 - 1417 6 Pempheris multiradiata Common bullseye 195 13 335 69 - 8 - 63 19 8 710 8 Scorpis aequipinnis Sea sweep 4 87 62 99 21 43 1 48 63 225 653 10 Notolabrus tetricus Blue-throat wrasse 39 81 57 87 13 21 - 32 25 133 488 9 Tilodon sexfasciatus Moonlighter 13 21 27 15 4 20 1 76 34 1 212 10 Pempheris ornata Ornate bullseye - - - 1 - 60 - 100 - - 161 3 Siphonognathus beddomei Pencil weed whiting 18 38 18 33 2 13 - - - 36 158 7 sydneyanus Silver drummer - 2 21 5 - 12 - 51 21 13 125 7 Pempheris klunzingeri Rough bullseye 2 10 38 5 - 6 - 55 - - 116 6 Meuschenia hippocrepis Horseshoe leatherjacket 4 26 45 21 - 7 - 8 - - 111 6 Pictilabrus laticlavius Senator wrasse 24 11 9 47 3 3 - 2 3 1 103 9

2 Frequency of occurance

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 32

Enoplosus armatus Old wife 18 3 11 - - 19 - 38 1 6 96 7 zebra Zebra fish 5 19 4 26 3 11 1 11 10 5 95 10 Dinolestes lewini Long-fin pike 3 2 11 8 - 1 - 65 - 3 93 7 Cheilodactylus nigripes Magpie perch 20 4 16 5 - 12 1 15 6 9 88 9 Parma victoriae Scalyfin 9 20 16 14 - 10 - 6 2 8 85 8 Parequula melbournensis Silverbelly 13 - 1 8 - - - 58 2 1 83 6 Neoodax balteatus Little rock whiting - - - 2 - 38 3 25 4 - 72 5 Dotalabrus aurantiacus Castelnau's wrasse 11 7 9 28 3 1 - 5 1 2 67 9 Siphamia cephalotes Little siphonfish - 1 - - 1 62 1 - 1 - 66 5 Upeneichthys vlamingii Southern goatfish 12 7 - 13 8 8 - 11 2 4 65 8 Meuschenia flavolineata Yellow-stripe leatherjacket 26 7 17 4 - 4 - - - - 58 5 Olisthops cyanomelas Herring cale 14 4 3 3 6 - - - - 8 38 6 Austrolabrus maculatus Black-spotted wrasse 7 2 2 10 1 2 - 8 - 5 37 8 Achoerodus gouldii Western blue groper - 2 6 - - 1 - 8 13 6 36 6 Acanthaluteres brownii Spiny tailed Leatherjacket 18 2 - 3 ------23 3 Notolabrus parilus Brown-spotted wrasse 5 3 1 6 - 1 - 4 2 1 23 8 Odax acroptilus Rainbow cale 5 6 2 4 3 - - - - 2 22 6 Hypoplectrodes nigroruber Banded 2 6 2 8 1 1 - 1 - - 21 7 Parapriacanthus elongatus Slender bullseye - - 20 ------20 1 Trinorfolkia cristata Crested threefin - - - - - 2 7 9 2 - 20 4 Chelmonops curiosus Western talma 2 - 2 5 - 3 - 4 1 2 19 7 Dactylophora nigricans Dusky morwong 4 - 1 1 4 2 1 2 1 3 19 9 Paraplesiops meleagris Southern blue devil - - - - - 2 - 1 6 5 14 4 Nemadactylus valenciennesi Queen Snapper - 1 - - - 2 - 8 2 - 13 4 Meuschenia galii Blue-lined leatherjacket - 7 - 1 - - - - - 1 9 3 Sillago bassensis Southern School Whiting 8 ------8 1 Nesogobius pulchellus Australian sailfin goby ------3 4 - - 7 2 Parapercis haackei wavy grubfish ------1 6 - - 7 2 Caesioperca rasor Barber perch ------6 - 6 1 Meuschenia freycineti Six-spine leatherjacket 2 2 2 ------6 3 Centroberyx gerrardi Red snapper 2 - 2 - - 1 - - - - 5 3

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 33

Omegophora armilla Ringed toadfish - - - 2 - - 1 1 - - 4 3 Diodon nicthemerus Globe fish - - - 1 - - 1 1 - - 3 3 Scorpaenid spp. Scorpaenid - - 3 ------3 1 Callogobius mucosus Sculptured goby - 1 - - - 1 - - - - 2 2 Cochleoceps bicolor Western Cleaner Clingfish ------2 - - 2 1 Eubalichthys gunnii Gunn's leatherjacket 2 ------2 1 Genypterus tigerinus Rock ling - 1 - - - - - 1 - - 2 2 Nemadactylus macropterus Jackass morwong - - - 2 ------2 1 Pentaceropsis recurvirostris Long-snouted boarfish 2 ------2 1 Siphonognathus caninus Sharp-nosed weed whiting - - 1 1 ------2 2 Bovichtus angustifrons Dragonet - - 1 ------1 1 Dasyatis brevicaudata Smooth stingray - - - 1 ------1 1 Eocallionymus papilio Painted stinkfish - - - 1 ------1 1 Eupetrichthys angustipes Snake-skin wrasse ------1 - - 1 1 Glyptauchen panduratus Goblinfish - 1 ------1 1 Heteroclinus spp. Weedfish ------1 - 1 1 Meuschenia scaber Velvet leatherjacket 1 ------1 1 Meuschenia venusta Stars and stripes leatherjacket - 1 ------1 1 muraenichthyts breviceps short headed worm eel - - - 1 ------1 1 Neopataecus waterhousii #N/A - 1 ------1 1 Nesogobius spp. Goby - - - - - 1 - - - - 1 1 Othos dentex Harlequin fish ------1 1 1 Phyllophryne scortea Whitespotted Anglerfish ------1 - - - 1 1 Scorpis georgiana Banded sweep 1 ------1 1 Sphyraena novaehollandiae Snook - - - 1 ------1 1 Trachichthys australis Southern roughy - - - 1 ------1 1 Trinorfolkia incisa notched threefin ------1 - - 1 1 Tripterygiid spp. unidentified threefins - 1 ------1 1 Total Fish 857 1381 1148 703 73 2901 23 4145 401 490 12122 Total Fish Species 33 36 33 39 14 34 13 37 26 26 71

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 34

Invertebrates

Meridiastra gunnii gunns seastar - - - - 6 - 487 - - - 493 2 Heliocidaris erythrogramma Common urchin 3 3 5 4 4 35 418 - 15 5 492 9 Comanthus trichoptera Featherstar 43 108 30 98 84 3 - - 31 78 475 8 Equichlamys bifrons Queen scallop - - - - - 11 193 6 - - 210 3 Tosia australis Biscuit star - 6 - 2 9 5 116 7 6 2 153 8 turbo torquatus Periwinkle 26 37 44 12 3 3 3 2 6 - 136 9 Pentagonaster dubeni Fire-brick star 2 30 6 35 - 2 - - 5 2 82 7 Hapalochlaena maculosa Blue-ringed Octopus ------66 - - - 66 1 Phyllacanthus irregularis Western slate-pencil urchin 1 11 18 22 2 4 - - 2 - 60 7 Petricia vernicina Velvet star 7 12 9 6 6 - - 2 12 2 56 8 Nepanthia troughtoni Seastar - 10 16 16 7 - - - - - 49 4 Prothalotia lehmani Lehman's top shell - 20 - 24 - - - - - 1 45 3 Goniocidaris tubaria Pencil urchin - - 1 6 - 20 5 - - - 32 4 Pleuroploca australasia Tulip shell 1 3 2 5 6 2 2 2 3 4 30 10 Schizophrys aspera common decorator crab ------30 - - - 30 1 Nectria multispina Seastar 7 11 - 7 1 - - - - - 26 4 Plectaster decanus Seastar 5 5 3 - 2 - - - - 10 25 5 Jasus edwardsii Southern rock lobster - 4 4 1 2 - - - - 11 22 5 haliotis rubra Blacklip abalone 1 1 10 1 3 - - - 3 2 21 7 Fromia polypora Seastar 3 8 3 4 - - - - - 1 19 5 Echinaster arcystatus Seastar 1 4 6 1 1 - - - 4 - 17 6 Phasianella australis Pheasant shell - 2 2 4 - 3 - - 2 4 17 6 Sepia apama Giant cuttle - 1 - - - 8 - 3 3 - 15 4 Ceratosoma brevicaudatum Short tailed nudibranch - - 1 - 1 2 6 1 2 - 13 6 Paguristes frontalis Hermit crab - 6 - 3 - - - 1 1 1 12 5 Uniophora nuda Seastar - - - - 1 2 7 1 1 - 12 5 Echinaster glomeratus (blank) - 1 - 10 ------11 2 Hermit crab unidentified Hermit crab 3 - 5 3 ------11 3 Nectria macrobrachia Seastar 2 7 2 ------11 3

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 35

Mimachlamys asperrimus Doughboy scallop - - - - - 1 9 - - - 10 2 Phasianella ventricosa Swollen pheasant shell - 6 - 1 - 1 1 - - - 9 4 Plagusia chabrus Red bait crab - - 1 1 2 4 - - - 1 9 5 Uniophora granifera Seastar - 2 - 5 - - - 2 - - 9 3 Dicathais orbita Dog whelk 2 1 4 1 ------8 4 Sabellastarte australiensis Southern fanworm - - - - - 1 7 - - - 8 2 Doriopsilla carneola Nudibranch ------7 - - - 7 1 haliotis laevigata Greenlip abalone - - 5 1 - - - - - 1 7 3 Amblypneustes ovum Short-spine urchin ------3 - - 2 5 2 Cenolia trichoptera Featherstar - - - 5 ------5 1 Nectria wilsoni Seastar - 1 - 4 ------5 2 Stichopus mollis Sea cucumber 1 2 - 2 ------5 3 Naxia aurita Spider Crab ------4 - - - 4 1 Anthaster valvulatus Seastar - - 1 1 1 - - - - - 3 3 Austrodromidia octodentata Bristled sponge crab ------3 - - - 3 1 Turbo undulatus Periwinkle - - - 2 1 - - - - - 3 2 Cabestana tabulata Trumpet shell 1 - - - - - 1 - - - 2 2 Cassis fimbriata Fimbriate helmet shell - - - - 1 - - - - 1 2 2 Cenolia tasmaniae Featherstar - 1 - 1 ------2 2 Cominella lineolata #N/A - - - 1 - 1 - - - - 2 2 Conus anemone Cone Shell ------1 - 1 2 2 Nectocarcinus integrifrons Red Swimmer Crab - 1 - - - - 1 - - - 2 2 Nectria ocellata Ocellate seastar 1 1 ------2 2 Nectria saoria Seastar - 1 1 ------2 2 Philocheras victoriensis #N/A - - - - 2 - - - - - 2 1 Stichopus ludwigi Sea cucumber ------1 - 1 2 2 Tylodina corticalis #N/A - - - - - 1 - 1 - - 2 2 Astroboa ernae Basket Star - - - 1 ------1 1 Australostichopus mollis Sea cucumber ------1 1 1 Chromodoris epicuira #N/A - - - - - 1 - - - - 1 1 Clanculus undatus #N/A ------1 1 1

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 36

haliotis cyclobates circular abalone ------1 - - - 1 1 Hypselodoris infucata flame-tipped cromodroid ------1 - 1 1 Katelysia scalarina Ridged cockle - - - 1 ------1 1 Lyria mytraefromis mitre-shaped volute ------1 - - - 1 1 Nectocarcinus tuberculatus Velvet crab - - 1 ------1 1 Ophiopeza cylindrica Brittle star - - - - - 1 - - - - 1 1 Pagurus sinuatus #N/A - 1 ------1 1 Pecten fumatus King scallop ------1 - - - 1 1 Phasianotrochus eximius Top Shell - 1 ------1 1 Siphonaria zelandica Lined siphen shell - - - 1 ------1 1 Thalotia conica Conical top shell - 1 ------1 1 Total Invertebrates 110 309 180 292 145 111 1372 30 97 132 2778 Total Invertebrate Species 18 33 24 35 21 21 23 13 16 21 71 Total Count of Fish and Invertebrates 967 1690 1328 995 218 3012 1395 4175 498 622 14900 Total Number of Fish and Invertebrate Species 51 69 57 74 35 55 36 50 42 47 142

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 37

Appendix 2: The 10 most common reef fish and invertebrate species.

Scorpis aequipinnis Tilodon sexfasciatus Sea sweep Moonlighter

Girella zebra Notolabrus tetricus Zebra fish Bluethroat wrasse (male)

Pictolabrus laticlavius Cheilodactylus nigripes Senator wrasse (female/juvenile) Magpie perch

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 38

Dotolabrus aurantiacus Dacthlophora nigricans Castelnau‟s wrasse Dusky morwong

Trachinops noarlungae Pempheris multiradiata Yellow-headed hulafish Common bullseye

Pleuroploca australasia Heliocidaris erythrogramma Tulip shell Purple urchin

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 39

Turbo torquatus Petricia vernicina Turban shell, turbo Velvet star

Comanthus trichoptera Tosia australis Orange feather star Biscuit star

Pentagonaster dubeni Phyllacanthus irregularis Firebrick sea star Western slate-pencil urchin

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 40

Haliotis rubra Phasianella australis Blacklip abalone Pheasant shell

© John Lewis (deepseaimages.com)

Community Assessment of Reef Biodiversity on Kangaroo Island 41