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The Distribution of Shallow Marine Fishes of the Kimberley, Western

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The Distribution of Shallow Marine Fishes of the Kimberley, Western RECORDS OF THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM 85 105–115 (2020) DOI: 10.18195/issn.0313-122x.85.2020.105-115 SUPPLEMENT The distribution of shallow marine fshes of the Kimberley, Western Australia, based on a long-term dataset and multiple methods G.I. Moore1,2 *, S.M. Morrison1 and J.W. Johnson3 1 Department of Aquatic Zoology, Western Australian Museum, Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC, Western Australia 6986, Australia. 2 School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6907, Australia. 3 Ichthyology, Queensland Museum, PO Box 3300, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia. * Corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT – The Kimberley and offshore marine waters of Western Australia are some of the least impacted environments in the world. The region is facing increasing pressure from anthropogenic stressors and there is a need to understand the baseline faunal communities. Fish surveys were conducted between 2009 and 2014, using a variety of methods, including UVC and extractive techniques. The results of these contemporary surveys were added to all known shallow water fsh records from more than 100 years of historical museum databases. We present the frst comprehensive species by site table, based on nearly 15,000 species records to summarise species presence at more than 134 unique locations across the Kimberley marine region and highlight new distributional records. This reference dataset of 1,529 species should inform managers and assist the development of representative marine protected areas. KEYWORDS: biodiversity, museum, collections, UVC, inventory INTRODUCTION Most monitoring surveys are necessarily based on carefully standardised, statistically rigorous Most tropical marine ecosystems are already methods that reduce bias. Such approaches may substantially impacted by human activities (Pyke provide a robust assessment of a subset of the and Ehrlich 2010) and all are facing increasing total fsh community (Samoilys and Carlos 2000; threats from anthropogenic pressures such as Usseglio 2015; Caldwell et al. 2016); however, such pollution, overfishing or global warming along surveys rarely attempt to include cryptic or small with severe natural disturbances such as cyclones species and often do not (or cannot) discriminate (Pauly 1995; Knowlton and Jackson 2008). Accurate between morphologically similar species (Smith- species inventories can provide baseline data to Vaniz et al. 2006; Holmes et al. 2013), and are monitor the effects of many of these concerns (e.g. seldom conducted by taxonomic specialists. As a Perry et al. 2005; Vergés et al. 2014). Furthermore, result most ecological methods, such as Underwater as one of the most fundamental components of Visual Census (UVC) or Baited Remote Underwater biodiversity science, accurate species inventories Video System (BRUVS), will considerably under- reveal regional taxonomic breadth and define detect, and hence under-estimate total biodiversity species distributions, uncovering patterns of (e.g. Plaisance et al. 2011; Usseglio 2015). In contrast, community composition, hotspots, endemism and ad hoc collections and observations compiled using are central to broader issues of evolution, ecology multiple methods, over a long timeframe, and and management (e.g. Hutchins 2001; Pyke and with confrmed voucher specimens often provide Ehrlich 2010; Briggs and Bowen 2013; Gaither and a more thorough species list. With cryptic, rare Rocha 2013). and extra-limital records specifcally targeted, and Species inventories are often fit-for-purpose identifications made by specialist taxonomists, and methodological compromises must be made. such inventories can be among the most complete 106 G.I. MOORE, S.M. MORRISON AND J.W. JOHNSON (e.g. Johnson 2010; Larson et al. 2013; Moore et al. marine fora and fauna of the Kimberley is still 2014; Roberts et al. 2019); however, data are usually inadequately documented; largely due to the vast collected in such a way that is diffcult to use area, remoteness and environmental challenges of with the quantitative rigour demanded in most working there. ecological studies (Caldwell et al. 2016). Here we report on six years of baseline marine Museums and other collection-based natural surveys in the Kimberley between 2009 and 2014, history research agencies are uniquely placed which builds on a list of shallow water fsh records to provide the most comprehensive species from more than 100 years of historical records inventories, employing dedicated taxonomists with (Moore et al. 2014). We provide a comprehensive honed identification skills backed by extensive summary of known species presence at more than collections of verifiable voucher specimens 134 unique locations across the Kimberley marine collected over many decades and by a diversity region and highlight new distributional records. of methods. The importance of such taxonomic This reference dataset should inform managers and precision is often overlooked (Bortolus 2008). In an assist the development of representative marine attempt to compile a ‘complete’ species inventory, protected areas. Moore et al. (2014) summarised historical museum records (vouchers and observations between 1880 MATERIAL AND METHODS and 2009) of shallow water marine fshes from the Kimberley, north-western Australia and reported Shallow water (<30 m) fshes were sampled with that 1,475 species were currently confrmed from other phyla as part of the Western Australian shallow (<30 m) inshore and offshore reefs of the Museum’s (WAM) Kimberley Woodside Collection region. Project. Briefy, the 2009–2014 study area included The Kimberley and offshore areas comprise a reefs and islands near Cape Leveque in the vast expanse of remote marine environments with south to Long Reef in the north and out to the an incredible diversity of habitats and associated continental edge atolls of the Rowley Shoals in the faunas (Wilson 2013; Wilson 2014; Jones et al. 2017). south, to Ashmore and Hibernia reefs in the north Inshore fringing reefs in the region are subject (see Bryce et al. 2018). The recent surveys included to enormous tides (>11 m), high turbidity and six ‘Island Groups’: three inshore (Buccaneer and relatively low wave energy (DEC 2009; Wilson Bonaparte archipelagos, Cassini Island/Long 2014). In contrast, the offshore reefs of submerged Reef), two offshore (Rowley Shoals and Ashmore/ midshelf shoals and continental edge atolls of Hibernia reefs) and a series of midshelf reefs and the region are typical Indo-west Pacifc coral reef shoals (Table 1, S1). Full details of the project and environments of relatively clear water and low recent study sites were provided by Bryce et al. productivity, and subject to seasonal cyclonic (2017) and Richards et al. (2018). activity (Wilson 2013). Fishes were recorded by several methods: The shallow water reefs of the Kimberley are among the least impacted in the world by virtue of Subtidal. Underwater Visual Census (UVC) their remote location and low human population was the main method of survey, where fish density (Halpern et al. 2008). Despite this, the were counted by two independent, experienced region has a history of traditional, recreational observers [SM & JJ at Adele Island and and commercial fshing (Nowara and Newman Montgomery Reef; GM & SM at all other locations] 1996; Fox 1998; Molony et al. 2011), oil and gas on SCUBA or snorkel over a 60 minute period, exploration and extraction (Moore et al. 2016) and during which the divers swam from deep is increasingly affected by rising sea temperatures (maximum of 20 m) to shallow at each station. All and coral bleaching (Ceccarelli et al. 2011; Gilmour fsh within a 10 m wide belt were counted and et al. 2013; Le Nohaïc et al. 2017; Richards et al. some effort was allocated to including cryptic 2019). Parts of the Kimberley marine region have species during and after the time period. Counts been designated as marine protected areas for were progressively recorded onto underwater decades (e.g. Rowley Shoals), several years (e.g. slates and the quantitative analysis of these data Camden Sound) or are soon to be (e.g. Buccaneer will be presented elsewhere (Moore et al. in prep.). Archipelago). Furthermore, since 2011 inshore areas Where identifcation was uncertain, specimens of the region have been progressively designated as were either collected (by hand, net or clove oil) or Indigenous Protected Areas recognising traditional photographed for later confrmation. All species custodianship of Sea Country and supporting joint management of environmental, biodiversity recorded beyond the transect belt or time period and cultural values (Kimberley Land Council were also noted. 2019). Despite the known biological signifcance Intertidal. Intertidal stations were sampled using of the region, including decades of research, the the ichthyocide rotenone in contained pools at THE DISTRIBUTION OF SHALLOW MARINE FISHES OF THE KIMBERLEY 107 low tide. The dimensions and depths of the pools more than 6,800 species records including more varied considerably depending on the geological than 5,800 vouchered specimens permanently structure of each reef, but sampling areas were accessioned into the WAM collection. Additional usually in the order of 20–50 m2. Pools were unpublished UVC and collections by the senior attended for at least one hour and all fshes were author around the Sunday Islands and Bonaparte collected using hand nets. All specimens were Archipelago between 2014 and 2016 were also later
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