Baywide Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Sub -Program

Milestone Report No. 6 (November 2010).

Neil Hutchinson, Greg Jenkins and Andrew Brown

February 2011 Fisheries Victoria Technical Report Series No. 128

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Published: Fisheries Victoria Hutchinson, N. Jenkins, G. and Brown, A. (2011). Department of Primary Baywide Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Industries, Queenscliff Centre Seagrass Beds Sub-Program. Milestone Report PO Box 114, Queenscliff, Victoria No. 6 (November 2010). Fisheries Victoria 3225 Australia. Technical Report Series No. 128, February 2011, Department of Primary Industries, Queenscliff, Victoria, Australia. 37pp General disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not ISSN 1835-4785 guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your ISBN 978-1-74264-698-5 particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.

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Executive Summary

The objective of the Monitoring Key Fishery In shallow seagrass at Blairgowrie, significantly Species in Seagrass Beds Sub-Program is to fewer fish were sampled in spring 2010 than collect data on the types and abundance of fish autumn 2010 while no significant differences in shallow and deeper seagrass beds that will fill were apparent at Mud Islands or St Leonards. In existing knowledge gaps and assist in deep seagrass at St Leonards, significantly fewer understanding the significance of any observed fish were sampled in spring 2010 than spring changes in seagrass habitat for these fish. 2009 but no significant differences were apparent at Blairgowrie or Mud Islands. Surveys are undertaken to compare the distribution and abundance of fish in shallow (< 1 m) and deeper (2–8 m) seagrass beds in Fish size three areas of PPB. These surveys are conducted Size frequencies of finfish varied significantly in spring and autumn each year and results are but inconsistently between dates, and between analysed to compare against results for the deep and shallow seagrass beds, with a higher preceding seasonal survey and for the same proportion of larger fish collected in spring 2010 seasonal survey 12 months prior. Specific recorded in deep seagrass. comparisons are made between regions and depths for species richness, fish abundance, Assemblage structure length frequency distribution and fish The greatest difference in fish assemblage assemblage structure. structure during spring 2010 was between deep Sampling of fish in shallow and deep water and shallow seagrass beds. Fish assemblage seagrass beds was completed successfully at the structure also varied significantly with time, and Blairgowrie, Mud Islands and St Leonards sites was significantly different between spring 2010 in spring (November) 2010. A total of 39 fish and autumn 2010 in both shallow and deep species (37 finfish, one ray and one squid) from seagrass beds, and between spring 2010 and 21 families (19 families for finfish, one family for spring 2009 in shallow seagrass beds only. ray and one family for squid) were sampled from all sites. Conclusions Results from spring 2010 sampling continue to Species richness and fish show that shallow and deep seagrass beds in abundance PPB have distinct fish assemblages. As with previous sampling events from this sub- Species richness was significantly higher in program, shallow seagrass beds tend to be shallow seagrass compared with deep seagrass dominated by small, schooling species that do in spring 2010 at Blairgowrie, Mud Islands and not occur in deeper seagrass. Seasonal patterns St Leonards. of change in assemblage structure can now be In deep seagrass beds at St Leonards, species clearly seen, partly due to distinct population richness was lower in spring 2010 than spring changes in species such as bridled leatherjackets 2009, but not different to autumn 2010. There in deep and shallow seagrass beds, wide-body were no significant differences in species pipefish in both deep and shallow seagrass beds, richness at this site in shallow seagrass beds and the seasonal presence of King George between spring 2010 and the two previous whiting in shallow seagrass beds. A positive seasons. There were no significant differences in relationship between seagrass biomass/length species richness between spring 2010 and the and fish abundance/species richness also previous two seasons at either depth at continues to be apparent. Blairgowrie or Mud Islands. In general, based on previous studies, variability Fish abundances were significantly higher in in fish assemblages in shallow and deep shallow seagrass compared with deep seagrass seagrass beds during the spring 2010 reporting in spring 2010 at Mud Islands and St Leonards, period was within what would be expected in but not at Blairgowrie. PPB.

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Table of Contents

Executive Summary...... iii Species richness and fish abundance...... iii Fish size ...... iii Assemblage structure...... iii Conclusions...... iii

Introduction...... 1 Purpose of this report...... 1

Materials and Methods...... 2 Statistical model ...... 2 Definitions ...... 2 Data Management...... 2 QA/QC...... 2

Results...... 4 Species Richness...... 4 Fish Abundance ...... 4 Wide-body pipefish ...... 4 Fish Size...... 5 Fish and Seagrass...... 5 Fish assemblage structure...... 5

Discussion...... 6 Conclusions...... 7

Acknowledgements...... 8

References ...... 9

Appendix 1 Results ...... 11 Species Richness...... 11 Fish Abundance ...... 11 Fish Size...... 12 Seagrass ...... 12 Fish and Seagrass...... 13

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Fish Assemblage Structure...... 13

Appendix 2 Data ...... 37 Raw data...... 37

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List of Tables Table 1. Average abundance (No. haul -1; four hauls per site) of fish and squid sampled in deep and shallow seagrass beds at each site (Blairgowrie, Mud Islands and St Leonards) in November 2010 and total number of each species collected (species names from Gomon et al. (2008) and Museum of Victoria). Species not found during previous sampling events are marked in bold...... 15 Table 2. Species sampled inconsistently in seagrass beds from autumn (April) 2008 – spring (November) 2010. Grey bars indicate species sampled during all surveys; Black bars indicate that a species was sampled only during specific surveys. Species not found during previous sampling events are marked in bold...... 17 Table 3. ANOVA results comparing variation in species richness, total fish abundance and wide-body pipefish abundance across years, seasons, sites and depths (df, degrees of freedom; MS, mean squares; F, F statistic; P, probability; significantly different results in bold; P <0.05) for all surveys in PPB from autumn (April) 2008 to spring (November) 2010...... 20 Table 4. ANOVA results comparing variation in seagrass length and biomass across years, seasons, sites and depths (df, degrees of freedom; MS, mean squares; F, F statistic; P, probability; significantly different results in bold; P <0.05) for all surveys in PPB from autumn (April) 2008 to spring (November) 2010...... 21

List of Figures Figure 1. CDBMP sampling sites for monitoring key fishery species in seagrass beds sub-program...... 3 Figure 2. Average (+SE) species richness recorded in seagrass beds at each site in PPB from autumn (April) 2008 to spring (November) 2010...... 22 Figure 3. Average (+SE) fish abundance (totalled for all species) recorded in seagrass beds at each site in PPB from autumn (April) 2008 to spring (November) 2010 (NB scale change between graphs)...... 23 Figure 4. Average (+SE) wide-body pipefish abundance in seagrass beds at each site in PPB from autumn (April) 2008 to spring (November) 2010 (NB scale change between graphs)...... 24 Figure 5. Total proportion of finfish arranged by size class (mm) in deep and shallow seagrass beds in PPB during autumn (April) 2009, spring (November) 2009, autumn (April) 2010 and spring (November) 2010. (NB scale change between graphs). Stars indicate largest size class...... 25 Figure 6. Total proportion of finfish arranged by size class (mm) in PPB during autumn (April) 2009, spring (November) 2009, autumn (April) 2010 and spring (November) 2010. (NB scale change between graphs). Stars indicate largest size class...... 26 Figure 7. Total proportion of wide-body pipefish arranged by size class (mm) in deep and shallow seagrass beds in PPB during autumn (April) 2009, spring (November) 2009, autumn (April) 2010 and spring (November) 2010. Stars indicate largest size class...... 27 Figure 8. Total proportion of wide-body pipefish arranged by size class (mm) in PPB for deep and shallow seagrass beds combined during autumn (April) 2009, spring (November) 2009, autumn (April) 2010 and spring (November) 2010. Stars indicate largest size class...... 28 Figure 9. Total proportion of bridled leatherjackets arranged by size class (mm) in deep and shallow seagrass beds in PPB during autumn (April) 2009, spring (November) 2009, autumn (April) 2010 and spring (November) 2010. Stars indicate largest size class...... 29 Figure 10. Total proportion of bridled leatherjackets arranged by size class (mm) in PPB for deep and shallow seagrass beds combined during autumn (April) 2009, spring (November) 2009, autumn (April) 2010 and spring (November) 2010. Stars indicate largest size class...... 30 Figure 11. Average (+SE) length of seagrass recorded in seagrass beds at each site in PPB from autumn (April) 2008 to spring (November) 2010...... 31

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Figure 12. Average (+SE) biomass of seagrass recorded in seagrass beds at each site in PPB from autumn (April) 2008 to spring (November) 2010...... 32 Figure 13. Relationship between: species richness and seagrass length (A); fish abundance and seagrass length (B); species richness and seagrass biomass (C) and fish abundance and seagrass biomass (D) for all samples from autumn (April) 2008 to spring (November) 2010. Lines on graphs represent the regression line (solid), 95% confidence interval of the regression line (dashed) and 95% confidence interval of the population (dotted)...... 33 Figure 14. MDS ordination comparing the similarity of fish assemblages at all depths and sites for spring (November) 2010. Increasing distance between points indicates decreasing similarity...... 34 Figure 15. MDS ordination comparing the similarity of fish assemblages (averaged for all hauls) at all depths and from autumn (April) 2008 to spring (November) 2010. Increasing distance between points indicates decreasing similarity...... 35 Figure 16. MDS ordinations, for each depth, comparing the similarity of fish assemblages at all sites from autumn (April) 2008 to spring (November) 2010 Increasing distance between points indicates decreasing similarity...... 36

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Introduction

The purpose of the Monitoring Key Fishery is conducted on fish species richness, fish Species in Seagrass Beds Sub-Program of the abundance, wide-body pipefish abundance, fish Channel Deepening Baywide Monitoring length frequency distribution and fish Programs (CDBMP) for Port Phillip Bay (PPB) is assemblage structure. to improve the understanding of the fish species The autumn 2008, spring 2008, autumn 2009, using seagrass beds in the Bay. This sub-program spring 2009 and autumn 2010 surveys were is described in the CDBMP Detailed Design: reported in Smith et al. (2008a), Hutchinson et al. CDP_ENV_MD_018 Rev 2.1 (PoMC 2009). (2009; 2010a; 2010b) and Hutchinson and Jenkins The objective is to collect data on the types and (2010). abundance of fish in shallow and deeper seagrass beds that will fill existing knowledge gaps and Purpose of this report assist in understanding the significance of any This milestone report presents and discusses observed changes in seagrass habitat for these results from the third spring survey (November fish. 2010) for the sub-program, including: Surveys are undertaken to compare the types • Comparison of results from spring 2010 with and abundance of fish in shallow (< 1 m) and the autumn 2010 survey deeper (2–8 m) seagrass beds in three areas of • Comparison of results from spring 2010 PPB. These surveys are conducted in spring survey with the spring 2009 survey (November) and autumn (April) each year and • results are analysed to compare against results Apparent trends over the entire survey for the preceding seasonal survey and for the period. same seasonal survey 12 months prior. Analysis

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Materials and Methods

Project design and methods for this study are i.e. Blairgowrie, Mud Islands and St Leonards) described in PoMC (2009). Additional data and depth (2 levels; fixed and orthogonal; i.e. analysis methods presented in this report and not shallow and deep). Planned comparison tests otherwise described by PoMC (2009) are were performed to determine if there were summarised in Hutchinson et al. (2009). significant differences between shallow and deep seagrass beds at each site during spring 2010, and Surveys were undertaken to compare the types between the spring 2010 survey and the two and abundance of fish in shallow (< 1 m) and previous surveys at each depth and site. deeper (2–8 m) seagrass beds in three areas of PPB. These surveys are conducted in spring and autumn each year between 2008 and 2011. The Definitions spring 2010 survey (this report) was completed Fish - as a broad (generic) term includes teleost during the period 4–29 November 2010, and was (bony) fish, sharks, rays and cephalopods but preliminarily reported by Hutchinson and precludes crustaceans. Jenkins (2011). Finfish - refers to teleost (bony) fish only, which The locations of field sites are shown in Figure 1. precludes sharks, rays and cephalopods. Statistical model Data Management Spatial and temporal variation in fish abundance, QA/QC. fish species richness, seagrass length and There were no significant field events observed seagrass biomass was analysed using 4-factor during this reporting period. No QA/QC issues ANOVA to examine variation with year (3 levels; were recorded during this reporting period. fixed and orthogonal; i.e. 2010, 2009 and 2008) season (2 levels; fixed and orthogonal; i.e. spring and autumn), site (3 levels; fixed and orthogonal;

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Figure 1. CDBMP sampling sites for monitoring key fishery species in seagrass beds sub-program.

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Results

The results for spring (November) 2010 survey between spring 2010 and autumn 2010, or spring have been initially reported by Hutchinson and 2009. There were no significant differences in Jenkins (2011), are provided in detail in species richness between spring 2010 and the Appendix 1 and are summarised below. previous two seasons at either depth at A total of 39 fish species (37 finfish, one ray and Blairgowrie or Mud Islands. one squid) from 21 families (19 families for Many fish species were restricted to either finfish, one family for ray and one family for shallow (24 species) or deep (six species) squid) were sampled from all sites in spring seagrass at this time. (November) 2010 (Table 1). These included a variety of species found in previous surveys, as well as short-tassel weedfish ( Heteroclinus Fish Abundance flavescens ), the only new species recorded during Fish abundance (total for each site) varied spring 2010 (Table 2). Several species of fish significantly but inconsistently with interactions found in the previous spring survey were not between years, seasons, sites and depths. Fish found in this survey (Table 2), including: abundances were significantly higher in shallow • Australian herring ( Arripis georgianus ) seagrass compared with deep seagrass in spring 2010 at Mud and St Leonards, but not at • Smallmouth hardyhead ( Atherinosoma Blairgowrie. microstoma ) At Blairgowrie, significantly fewer fish were • Shortsnout hardyhead ( Kestratherina sampled in spring 2010 than autumn 2010 in brevirostris ) shallow seagrass beds, but there was no • Bass Strait flounder ( Arnoglossus significant difference in fish abundance between bassensis ) spring 2010 and spring 2009. No significant • differences were apparent in shallow seagrass at Common stinkfish ( Foetorepus Mud Islands or St Leonards. calauropomus ; Alabes spp. ) • At St Leonards, significantly fewer fish were Bridled goby ( Arenigobius bifrenatus ) sampled in spring 2010 than spring 2009 in deep • Half bridled goby ( Arenigobius frenatus ) seagrass beds, but there was no significant difference in fish abundance between spring • Opalescent sandgoby ( Nesogobius sp. 1 ) 2010 and autumn 2010. No significant • Meuschenia spp. differences were apparent at Blairgowrie or Mud Islands, although a steady decrease in fish • Red mullet ( Upeneichthys vlamingii ). abundance has been observed in deep seagrass Species Richness beds at Mud Islands since the beginning of the study. Species richness, as determined by the number of different species recorded, varied Wide-body pipefish significantly but inconsistently, with the main Wide-body pipefish, Stigmatopora nigra , was a interactions between: year and sites; year and dominant species in all surveys to date. Its depth; seasons and sites. abundance varied significantly but Species richness was significantly higher in inconsistently with interactions between: years, shallow seagrass compared with deep seagrass seasons, sites and depths. In general, wide-body in spring 2010 at Blairgowrie, Mud Islands and pipefish were less abundant in spring than St Leonards. autumn and more abundant in shallow than deep seagrass. In deep seagrass beds at St Leonards, species richness was lower in spring 2010 than spring Pipefish abundances were significantly higher in 2009, but not different to autumn 2010. There shallow seagrass compared with deep seagrass were no significant differences in species in spring 2010 at Blairgowrie but not at Mud richness at this site in shallow seagrass beds Islands or St Leonards.

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In deep seagrass beds at St Leonards, There were significant differences in the length significantly fewer pipefish were sampled in frequency distributions of bridled leatherjackets spring 2010 than spring 2009, but not between in shallow and deep seagrass beds in spring spring 2010 and autumn 2010. Pipefish 2010. The highest proportion of bridled abundance in deep seagrass beds at Blairgowrie leatherjackets in shallow seagrass in spring 2010 and Mud Islands did not differ significantly was in the 40-60 mm size class. In deep seagrass, between spring 2010 and autumn 2010 or spring in spring 2010, bridled leatherjackets of 60-100 2010 and spring 2009. mm in size predominated. A seasonal pattern was apparent, with the smallest juveniles found In shallow seagrass at Mud Islands, pipefish in deep seagrass during spring of each year. abundance was significantly lower in spring 2010 than autumn 2010 and lower in spring 2010 Fish and Seagrass than spring 2009. At St Leonards, pipefish There was a significant positive relationship abundance was significantly lower in spring between species richness and both seagrass 2010 than autumn 2010 but not significantly length and seagrass biomass. There was also a different to abundances in spring 2009. No significant positive relationship between total significant differences were apparent at fish abundance and both seagrass length and Blairgowrie at either depth between spring 2010 seagrass biomass, but not between wide-body and the previous two seasons. pipefish abundance and seagrass length or Fish Size biomass. The length frequency distribution of finfish Fish assemblage structure varied significantly between shallow and deep Fish assemblages varied mainly in relation to seagrass beds in spring 2010. The largest fish depth and sampling time. collected during this survey were found at both The greatest difference in assemblage structure depths, although a higher proportion was was based on depth. Fish assemblages sampled recorded in deep seagrass. in deep seagrass were significantly different Length frequency distributions of bridled from those sampled in shallow seagrass. leatherjackets, Acanthaluteres spilomelanurus, Assemblage structure also varied significantly differed significantly between shallow and deep with time with significantly different fish seagrass beds in spring 2010, while there was no assemblages in spring 2010 compared to those such significant difference for wide-body recorded in autumn 2010 and spring 2009. pipefish. Fish assemblage structure at each depth varied There was a significant difference in the significantly with time, with spring 2010 being distribution of size classes of wide-body pipefish significantly different from autumn 2010 in both between spring 2010 and autumn 2010, as well shallow and deep seagrass beds, and as between spring 2010 and spring 2009. A significantly different between spring 2010 and seasonal pattern was apparent, with a greater spring 2009 in shallow seagrass beds, but not in proportion of pipefish in the 100–120 mm size deep seagrass beds. class in spring of both years compared with the autumn, and a greater proportion of pipefish in the 60–80 mm size class in autumn of both years compared with spring.

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Discussion

Finfish species found in deep and shallow Consistent with the previous sampling events seagrass beds in spring 2010 were similar to for this sub-program, wide-body pipefish were those collected in and around seagrass beds in less abundant in spring, while spotted pipefish previous studies of PPB (Jenkins et al. 1997; were more abundant during this sampling event Hindell et al. 2001; Hutchinson and Jenkins 2010; than in autumn 2010 (Hutchinson and Jenkins Hutchinson et al. 2010b). 2010). Previous sampling in Swan Bay found that spotted pipefish were more abundant at this As with results from previous sampling dates time due to juvenile recruitment (Jenkins et al. (spring and autumn, 2008–2009 and autumn 1993). Similar seasonal patterns in recruitment 2010) (Smith et al. 2008a; Hutchinson et al. 2009; can be seen for bridled leatherjackets, with a 2010a; 2010b; Hutchinson and Jenkins 2010), smaller size class of individuals in the 0–20 mm there were distinctly different fish assemblages size range occurring in spring 2010 and previous in shallow and deep seagrass beds. This was spring sampling as part of this sub-program. attributable to greater abundances and species richness in shallow beds, and also a distinctly Total fish abundance and species richness in different suite of species, with many species shallow and deep seagrass continue to show a occurring only in shallow or deep habitats. positive relationship with seagrass biomass and length of seagrass, as previously described for In the current reporting period, spotted this sub-program (Smith et al. 2008a; Hutchinson (Stigmatopora argus ) and wide-body and Jenkins 2010). Previous studies, including (Stigmatopora nigra ) pipefish (mostly shallow) the work of Bell and Westoby (1986a; 1986b) and and silver fish, Leptatherina presbyteroides, Orth et al. (1984) have also shown that seagrass (shallow) were the major species responsible for structure, including length and biomass, these depth differences. These species have been influence the distribution of fish in seagrass. found to occur in high abundance in shallow While such a relationship may partially explain seagrass beds in previous studies (Jenkins and patterns of change in fish abundance in deep Wheatley 1998). seagrass at Mud Islands, the constantly After depth differences, the greatest change in changing distribution of fragmented patches at fish assemblages occurred between sampling this site (Hirst et al. 2010) is also likely to play a times. The main species responsible for seasonal role. Several studies conducted in PPB describe differences in shallow seagrass beds were silver in detail the impacts of seagrass patch size and fish, wide-body and spotted pipefish and fragmentation on fish distribution (Smith et al. bridled leatherjackets ( Acanthaluteres 2008b; 2010; Macreadie et al. 2009; 2010a; 2010b). spilomelanurus ). In the case of the pipefish and This sub-program includes the measuring of fish bridled leatherjackets, seasonal differences length to gain some idea of population structure, appeared to be related to seasonal recruitment and how this may change over time. Variation patterns. While there were seasonal differences between depths and with season in the in assemblage structure in shallow seagrass at proportion of finfish in different size classes all sites, seasonal differences between spring appears to be driven to a large extent by 2010 and the two previous sampling times were seasonal changes in length distribution of not apparent in terms of either species richness species such as wide-body pipefish in shallow or abundance at any of the sites. seagrass beds, and bridled leatherjackets in deep Seasonal differences in assemblage structure and shallow seagrass beds. Other species, were also apparent in deep seagrass beds. In including King George whiting recruits, terms of species richness and abundance, (Sillaginodes punctatus ) have been recorded in significant differences between spring 2010 and spring each year, but not in autumn. the two previous sampling times were only Additionally, leatherjacket recruits (e.g. bridled apparent at St Leonards, where spring 2010 was leatherjacket) made up a larger proportion of the significantly different to spring 2009, but not the population in spring 2010 than autumn 2010. previous sampling time in autumn 2010. Such patterns of seasonal change (e.g. recruitment of King George whiting and bridled leatherjacket in spring), have been reported for

Baywide Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Milestone Report #6 6

these and other seagrass associated species Conclusions within PPB (Jenkins et al. 1993). While numbers of recruits recorded during the current study Results from spring 2010 sampling continue to were low in comparison to spring 2009, such show that shallow and deep seagrass beds in PPB have distinct fish assemblages. As with annual differences are well documented (Jenkins previous sampling events from this sub- 2005). Recruitment of post-larval King George program, shallow seagrass beds tend to be whiting is known to be correlated with strong dominated by small, schooling species that do westerly winds and water temperatures off western Victoria (Jenkins 2005). not occur in deeper seagrass. Seasonal patterns of change in assemblage structure can now be clearly seen, partly due to distinct population To date, the majority of species using seagrass as changes in species such as bridled leatherjackets a nursery, such as King George whiting, have in deep and shallow seagrass beds, wide-body been found almost entirely in shallow seagrass pipefish in both deep and shallow seagrass beds, beds. This importance of shallow seagrass beds as nursery grounds for juveniles has been shown and the seasonal presence of King George elsewhere (Jackson et al. 2001), and the potential whiting in shallow seagrass beds. A positive relationship between seagrass biomass/length role of seagrass as nursery grounds has been and fish abundance/species richness also discussed at some length by other researchers continues to be apparent. (Beck et al. 2001; Heck et al. 2003). Unlike the species using shallow seagrass as a nursery area, In general, based on previous studies (Jenkins et bridled leatherjacket recruits have been found in al. 1993), variability in fish assemblages in both deep and shallow seagrass beds, with the shallow and deep seagrass beds during the smallest individuals found in deep seagrass spring 2010 reporting period was within what beds; thereby indicating the importance of these would be expected in PPB. beds as nursery grounds for this species in PPB (Hutchinson et al. 2009).

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Acknowledgements

This work would not have been possible work was done in accordance with state and without the assistance of K. Mills, T. Sheehan, B. national guidelines, and has animal ethics Womersley and C. White in the field. D. Bray approval. assisted with fish species identification. All

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References

Beck, M. W., Heck, K. L., Able, K. W., Childers , Species in Seagrass Beds Sub-Program. D. L., Eggleston, D. B., Gillanders, B. M., Progress Report No. 6 (November 2010) Halpern, B., Hays, C. G., Hoshino, K., Fisheries Victoria, Technical Report Minello, T. J., Orth, R. J., Sheridan, P. F., Series No. 125, Department of Primary and Weinstein, M. R. (2001). The Industries, Queenscliff, Victoria, identification, conservation, and Australia. management of estuarine and marine Hutchinson, N., Jenkins, G. P., and Smith, T. nurseries for fish and invertebrates. (2009). Baywide Monitoring of Key Bioscience 51 , 633-641. Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Sub- Bell, J. D., and Westoby, M. (1986a). Importance Program. Milestone Report No. 2. of local changes in leaf height and Fisheries Victoria, Technical Report density to fish and decapods associated Series No. 37, Department of Primary with seagrasses. Journal of Experimental Industries, Queenscliff, Victoria, Marine Biology and Ecology 104 , 249-274. Australia. Bell, J. D., and Westoby, M. (1986b). Variation in Hutchinson, N., Jenkins, G. P., and Smith, T. seagrass height and density over a wide (2010a). Baywide Monitoring of Key spatial scale: effects on common fish and Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Sub- decapods. Journal of Experimental Marine Program. Milestone Report No. 3 (April Biology and Ecology 104 , 275-295. 2009) (Edition 2). Fisheries Victoria, Gomon, M. F., Bray, D. J., and Kuiter, R. H. Technical Report Series No. 60, (2008). 'Fishes of Australia's southern Department of Primary Industries, coast.' (Reed New Holland: Sydney.) Queenscliff, Victoria, Australia. Heck, K. L., Hays, G., and Orth, R. J. (2003). Hutchinson, N., Smith, T., and Jenkins, G. Critical evaluation of the nursery role (2010b). Baywide Monitoring of Key hypothesis for seagrass meadows Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Sub- [Review]. Marine Ecology-Progress Series program. Milestone Report No. 4 253 , 123-136. (November 2009) Fisheries Victoria, Hindell, J. S., Jenkins, G. P., and Keough, M. J. Technical Report Series No. 84, (2001). Spatial and temporal variability Department of Primary Industries, in the effects of fish predation on Queenscliff, Victoria, Australia. macrofauna in relation to habitat Jackson, E. L., Rowden, A. A., Attrill, M. J., complexity and cage effects. Marine Bossey, S. J., and Jones, M. B. (2001). The Ecology-Progress Series 224 , 231-250. importance of seagrass beds as a habitat Hirst, A., Ball, D., Heislers, S., Young, P., Coots, for fishery species. Oceanography and A., and Blake, S. (2010). Baywide Marine Biology: Annual Review 39 , 269- Seagrass Monitoring Program. 303. Milestone Report No. 10 (July-August Jenkins, G. P. (2005). The influence of climate on 2010). Fisheries Victoria Technical the fishery recruitment of a temperate, Report Series No. 115, November 2010. seagrass associated fish, the King Department of Primary Industries, George whiting, Sillaginodes punctata . Queenscliff, Victoria, Australia. Marine Ecology Progress Series 288 , 263- Hutchinson, N., and Jenkins, G. (2010). Baywide 271. Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Jenkins, G. P., May, H. M. A., Wheatley, M. J., Seagrass Beds Sub-program. Milestone and Holloway, M. G. (1997). Report No. 5 (April 2010) Fisheries Comparison of fish assemblages Victoria, Technical Report Series No. associated with seagrass and adjacent 102, Department of Primary Industries, unvegetated habitats of Port Phillip Bay Queenscliff, Victoria, Australia. and Corner Inlet, Victoria, Australia, Hutchinson, N., and Jenkins, G. P. (2011). with emphasis on commercial species. Baywide Monitoring of Key Fishery

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Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 44 , patches. Marine Ecology Progress Series 569-588. 359 , 203-213. Jenkins, G. P., Watson, G. F., and Hammond, L. Smith, T. M., Hindell, J. S., Jenkins, G. P., and S. (1993). Patterns of utilisation of Connolly, R. M. (2010). Seagrass patch seagrass ( Heterozostera ) dominated size affects fish responses to edges. habitats as nursery areas by Journal of Animal Ecology 79 , 275-281. commercially important fish. Victorian Institute of Marine Sciences, 19, 100p. Jenkins, G. P., and Wheatley, M. J. (1998). The influence of habitat structure on nearshore fish assemblages in a southern Australian embayment: comparison of shallow seagrass, reef algal, and unvegetated habitats, with emphasis on their importance to recruitment. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 221 , 147-172. Macreadie, P. I., Connolly, R. M., Keough, M. J., Jenkins, G. P., and Hindell, J. S. (2010a). Short-term differences in animal assemblages in patches formed by loss and growth of habitat. Austral Ecology 35 , 515-521. Macreadie, P. I., Hindell, J. S., Jenkins, G. P., Connolly, R. M., and Keough, M. J. (2009). Fish responses to experimental fragmentation of seagrass habitat. Conservation Biology 23 , 644-652. Macreadie, P. I., Hindell, J. S., Keough, M. J., Jenkins, G. P., and Connolly, R. M. (2010b). Resource distribution influences positive edge effects in a seagrass fish. Ecology 91 , 2013-2021. Orth, R. J., Heck, K. L., and Van Montfrans, J. (1984). Faunal communities in seagrass beds: a review of the influence of plant structure and prey characteristics on predator-prey relationships. Estuaries 7A , 339-350. PoMC (2009). Monitoring key fishery species in seagrass beds - Detailed Design - CDP_ENV_MD_018 Rev 2.1 Port of Melbourne Corporation. Smith, T., Jenkins, G., and Kemp, J. (2008a). Baywide Monitoring Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Sub-Program. Milestone Report No. 1. Fisheries Victoria, Technical Report Series No. 30, Department of Primary Industries, Queenscliff, Victoria, Australia. Smith, T. M., Hindell, J. S., Jenkins, G. P., and Connolly, R. M. (2008b). Edge effects on fish associated with seagrass and sand

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Appendix 1 Results

The results for the spring (November) 2010 • Bridled goby ( Arenigobius bifrenatus ) survey have been initially reported by • Half bridled goby ( Arenigobius frenatus ) Hutchinson and Jenkins (2011) and are provided in detail below. • Opalescent sandgoby ( Nesogobius sp. 1 ) Overall, a total of 39 fish species (37 finfish, one • Meuschenia spp. ray and one squid) from 21 families (19 families • for finfish, one family for ray and one family for Rd mullet ( Upeneichthys vlamingii ). squid) were sampled from all sites in spring The majority of these species were rare, with few (November) 2010 (Table 1). individuals collected at any time. A total of 33 species (for all sites, 32 finfish and one squid) were sampled in shallow seagrass, of which 24 species (23 finfish and one squid) were Species Richness sampled only in shallow seagrass. A total of 15 Species richness varied significantly but species (14 finfish and one ray) were sampled in inconsistently with the main interactions between: deep seagrass, of which six species (five finfish year and sites; year and depth; seasons and sites and one ray) were found only in deep seagrass (Table 3, Figure 2). (Table 1). Species richness was significantly higher in These included a variety of species found during shallow seagrass compared with deep seagrass in previous surveys as well as one species, short- spring 2010 at Blairgowrie (F 1, 108 = 9.577, P = tassel weedfish ( Heteroclinus flavescens ), first 0.003), Mud Islands (F 1, 108 = 21.299, P < 0.001) and recorded during spring (November) 2010 (Table St Leonards (F 1, 108 = 17.126, P < 0.001). 2). In deep seagrass beds at St Leonards, species In spring 2010, ten finfish species were found at richness was lower in spring 2010 than spring all sites: • 2009 (F 1, 108 = 15.882, P < 0.001), but not different to Silver fish ( Leptatherina presbyteroides ) autumn 2010. There were no significant • Adelaide weedfish (Heteroclinus adelaide ) differences in species richness at this site in • Common weedfish (Heteroclinus shallow seagrass beds between spring 2010 and perspicillatus ) autumn 2010, or spring 2010 and spring 2009. • Globefish (Diodon nicthemerus ) There were no significant differences in species • Bridled leatherjacket (Acanthaluteres richness between spring 2010 and the previous spilomelanurus ) two seasons at either depth at Blairgowrie or Mud Islands. • Little rock whiting (Neoodax balteatus ) • Rock flathead ( Platycephalus laevigatus ) Fish Abundance • Spotted pipefish (Stigmatopora argus ) Fish abundance (total for each site) varied • Wide-body pipefish (Stigmatopora nigra ) significantly but inconsistently with interactions between years, seasons, sites and depths (Table 3, • Port Phillip pipefish (Vanacampus phillipi ). Figure 3). Fish abundances were significantly Several species of fish found in previous surveys higher in shallow seagrass compared with deep were not found in this survey (Table 2), including: seagrass in spring 2010 at Mud Islands (F 1, 108 = 49.974, P < 0.001) and St Leonards (F 1, 108 = 18.244, • Australian herring ( Arripis georgianus ) P < 0.001), but not at Blairgowrie. • Smallmouth hardyhead ( Atherinosoma At Blairgowrie, significantly fewer fish were microstoma ) sampled in spring 2010 than autumn 2010 in • Shortsnout hardyhead ( Kestratherina shallow seagrass beds (F 1, 108 = 20.001, P < 0.001), brevirostris ) but there was no significant difference in fish abundance between spring 2010 and spring 2009. • Bass Strait flounder ( Arnoglossus bassensis ) No significant differences were apparent in • Common stinkfish ( Foetorepus shallow seagrass at Mud Islands or St Leonards. calauropomus ; Alabes spp. )

Baywide Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Milestone Report #6 11

At St Leonards, significantly fewer fish were 280–300 mm in autumn 2010) (Figure 6). There sampled in spring 2010 than spring 2009 in deep was also a significant difference between spring seagrass beds (F 1, 108 = 20.001, P < 0.001), but there 2010 and spring 2009 (D = 0.428, P < 0.01) with the was no significant difference in fish abundance largest size class of fish in spring 2009 (480–500 between spring 2010 and autumn 2010. No mm) (Figure 6). significant differences were apparent at Of those species found at both depths in spring Blairgowrie or Mud Islands, although a steady 2010, autumn 2010 and spring 2009, wide-body decrease in fish abundance has been observed in pipefish and bridled leatherjackets were regularly deep seagrass beds at Mud Islands since the abundant. The size of these two species varied beginning of the study (Figure 3). with depth and date (Figures 7–10). Wide-body pipefish No significant differences in the size frequencies Wide-body pipefish abundance varied of wide-body pipefish were apparent between significantly but inconsistently with interactions shallow and deep seagrass beds in spring 2010 between: years, seasons, sites and depths (Table 3, (Figure 7). The highest proportion of wide-body Figure 4). In general, wide-body pipefish were pipefish in shallow seagrass in spring 2010 was in less abundant in spring than autumn and more the 80–100 mm size class, while in deep seagrass abundant in shallow than deep seagrass. the highest proportions were in the 60-80 mm and Pipefish abundances were significantly higher in 100–120 mm size classes. shallow seagrass compared with deep seagrass in Analysis of length frequency data pooled for spring 2010 at Blairgowrie (F 1, 108 = 9.204, P = 0.003) depths found significant differences in the length but not at Mud Islands or St Leonards. frequency distributions of wide-body pipefish In deep seagrass beds at St Leonards, significantly between spring 2010 and autumn 2010 (D = 0.628, fewer pipefish were sampled in spring 2010 than P < 0.001) and between spring 2010 and spring spring 2009 (F 1, 108 = 3.990, P = 0.048), but not 2009 (D = 0.571, P < 0.001) (Figure 8). A seasonal between spring 2010 and autumn 2010. Pipefish pattern was apparent, with a greater proportion abundance in deep seagrass beds at Blairgowrie of pipefish in the 100–120 mm size class in spring and Mud Islands did not differ significantly of both years compared with the autumn, and a between spring 2010 and autumn 2010 or spring greater proportion of pipefish in the 60–80 mm 2010 and spring 2009. size class in autumn of both years compared with spring. In shallow seagrass at Mud Islands, pipefish abundance was significantly lower in spring 2010 There were significant differences in the length than autumn 2010 (F 1, 108 = 27.355, P < 0.001) and frequency distributions of bridled leatherjackets lower in spring 2010 than spring 2009 (F 1, 108 = in shallow and deep seagrass beds in spring 2010 7.496, P = 0.007). At St Leonards, pipefish (D = 0.571, P = 0.045) (Figure 9). The highest abundance was significantly lower in spring 2010 proportion of bridled leatherjackets in shallow than autumn 2010 (F 1, 108 = 22.143, P < 0.001) but seagrass in spring 2010 was in the 40–60 mm size not significantly different to abundances in spring class. In deep seagrass, in spring 2010, bridled 2009. No significant differences were apparent at leatherjackets 60–100 mm in size predominated. Blairgowrie at either depth between spring 2010 Analysis of length frequency data pooled for and the previous two seasons. depths found significant differences in the length Fish Size frequency distributions of bridled leatherjackets Analysis of length frequency data using between spring 2010 and autumn 2010 (D = 0.614, Kolmogorov-Smirnov two sample tests found P < 0.001) and between spring 2010 and spring significant differences in the length of fish in 2009 (D = 0.529, P < 0.001) (Figure 10). A seasonal shallow and deep seagrass beds in spring 2010 (D pattern was apparent, with the smallest juveniles = 0.427, P < 0.001) (Figure 5), with variation in size found in deep seagrass during spring of each year classes between the two depths. The largest fish (0–20 mm) (Figure 9). collected during this survey were found at both Seagrass depths, although a higher proportion was Seagrass length varied significantly but recorded in deep seagrass (Figure 5). Analysis of inconsistently, with the main interactions pooled depth data found significant differences in between: year and site and season; year and the size of fish between spring 2010 and autumn season and depth; year and site and depth; site 2010 (D = 0.199, P < 0.001), with the largest size and season and depth (Table 4, Figure 11). class of fish found in spring 2010 (460–480 mm cf

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Seagrass was significantly longer in shallow and seagrass biomass (F 1, 34 = 8.217, P = 0.007) seagrass beds than in deep seagrass in spring 2010 (Figure 13 C) at Blairgowrie (F 1, 176 = 8.853, P = 0.003), Mud • There were significant positive relationships Islands (F 1, 176 = 12.404, P = 0.001) and St Leonards between total fish abundance and both 1, 176 (F = 8.242, P = 0.005). seagrass length (F 1, 34 = 11.100, P = 0.002) Seagrass in shallow beds at St Leonards was (Figure 13 B) and seagrass biomass (F 1, 34 = significantly longer in spring 2010 than autumn 13.290, P < 0.001) (Figure 13 D) 2010 (F 1, 176 = 5.238, P = 0.023), but was not • There were no significant relationships significantly different between spring 2010 and between wide-body pipefish abundance and spring 2009. Seagrass length at Blairgowrie and St seagrass length (F 1, 34 0.777, P = 0.384) or Leonards was not significantly different between biomass (F 1, 34 0.246, P = 0.623). spring 2010 and autumn 2010 or spring 2009. Fish Assemblage Structure Seagrass length in deep beds was significantly MDS plots and ANOSIM were used to assess any longer in spring 2010 than autumn 2010 at Mud differences between fish assemblage structure at Islands (F 1, 176 = 4.620, P =0.033), but was not each depth and site. significantly different between spring 2010 and spring 2009. Seagrass length at St Leonards was The greatest separation of sites in the MDS plot significantly longer in spring 2010 than spring for all sites in spring 2010 was based on depth 2009 (F 1, 176 = 4.568, P =0.034), but was not (Figure 14). Fish assemblages sampled in deep significantly different between spring 2010 and seagrass were significantly different from those autumn 2010. No significant differences were sampled in shallow seagrass (Global R = 0.782, P = observed between spring 2010 and the two 0.001), with silver fish (21.70%), spotted pipefish previous sampling times at Blairgowrie. (10.83%) and wide-body pipefish (9.13%) contributing the greatest differences between Seagrass biomass varied significantly but depths. inconsistently, with the main interactions between: year and season and depth; year and site Fish assemblage structure did not vary and depth; site and season and depth (Table 4, significantly amongst samples at the different Figure 12). Seagrass biomass was significantly sites (Global R = 0.148, P = 0.058) and there were higher in shallow than in deep seagrass beds in no significant differences at the site level. When spring 2010 at Blairgowrie (F 1, 176 = 21.547, P < all hauls from each date, depth and site were 0.001) and Mud Islands (F 1, 176 = 18.020, P < 0.001), compared, the separation in the MDS plot was but not at St Leonards. based mainly on depth (Figure 15). In shallow seagrass, no significant difference in Fish assemblage structure varied significantly seagrass biomass was found between either with time (Global R = 0.127, P = 0.001), with spring spring 2010 and autumn 2010 or spring 2010 and 2010 being significantly different from autumn spring 2009 at any site. 2010 (Global R = 0.109, P = 0.017). Silver fish (13.33%), wide-body pipefish (12.30%) and In deep seagrass, at Blairgowrie, seagrass biomass spotted pipefish (7.78%) contributed most to the was higher in spring 2010 than autumn 2010 (F 1, 176 difference in fish assemblages between spring = 6.343, P = 0.013), but did not vary significantly 2010 and autumn 2010. Spring 2010 was also between spring 2010 and spring 2009. At Mud significantly different from spring 2009 (Global R Islands, seagrass biomass was higher in spring = 0.093, P = 0.013), with silver fish (10.23%), 2010 than autumn 2010 (F 1, 176 = 10.128, P = 0.001) bridled leatherjacket (8.6%) and spotted pipefish and was lower in spring 2010 than spring 2009 (F 1, (7.80%) contributing most to this difference. 176 = 8.309, P = 0.004). At St Leonards, seagrass biomass was higher in spring 2010 than autumn When data for autumn 2008 to spring 2010 were 2010 (F 1, 176 = 8.185, P = 0.005), but did not vary examined at each depth separately, further significantly between spring 2010 and spring 2009 separation could be seen (Figure 16). While stress (Figure 12). levels for this analysis were relatively high, assemblage structure in spring 2010 was generally Fish and Seagrass different to that in autumn 2010 at both depths. Regression analysis indicated that: For shallow seagrass beds, fish assemblage • There were significant positive relationships structure varied significantly with time (Global R between species richness and both seagrass = 0.365, P = 0.001) with spring 2010 being length (F 1, 34 = 8.707, P = 0.006) (Figure 13 A) significantly different from autumn 2010 (Global

Baywide Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Milestone Report #6 13

R = 0.283, P = 0.001) and spring 2009 (Global R = 0.001), with spring 2010 being significantly 0.293, P = 0.001). Silver fish (16.44%), wide-body different from autumn 2010 (Global R = 0.268, P = pipefish (11.41%), and blue sprat (5.10%) 0.002) but not spring 2009 (Global R = 0.174, P = contributed most to differences between spring 0.12). Bridled leatherjackets (19.32%), wide-body 2010 and autumn 2010; silver fish (16.48%), King pipefish (14.32%) and spotted pipefish (9.44%) George whiting (8.71%) and wide-body pipefish contributed most to the difference in fish (6.41%) contributed most to differences between assemblages between spring 2010 and autumn spring 2010 and spring 2009. 2010. For deep seagrass beds, fish assemblage structure varied significantly with time (Global R = 0.24, P =

Baywide Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Milestone Report #6 14

Table 1. Average abundance (No. haul -1; four hauls per site) of fish and squid sampled in deep and shallow seagrass beds at each site (Blairgowrie, Mud Islands and St Leonards) in November 2010 and total number of each species collected (species names from Gomon et al. (2008) and Museum of Victoria). Species not found during previous sampling events are marked in bold.

Famil y Common name Scientific Name Blairgowrie Mud Islands St Leonards Total Deep Shallow Deep Shallow Deep Shallow Counts Deep Callionymidae Painted stinkfish Eocallionymus papilio 0 0 0.25 0 0 0 1 Gobiidae Threadfin goby Nesogobius sp. 2 0.25 0 0 0 0 0 1 Neosebastidae Little gurnard perch Maxillicosta scabriceps 0.25 0 0.75 0 0 0 4 Baywid Platycephalidae Sand flathead Platycephalus bassensis 0.25 0 0 0 0 0 1 Platycephalidae Yank flathead Platycephalus speculator 0.25 0 0 0 0 0 1

e Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Seagrass in Species Fishery ofKey Monitoring e Urolophidae Spotted st ingaree Urolophus gigas 0 0 0 0 0.25 0 1

Deep & Diodontidae Globefish Diodon nicthemerus 0 2 0 0.5 0.25 0.25 12 Shallow Monacanthidae Bridled leatherjacket Acanthaluteres spilomelanurus 34 1.5 1.75 0 0.5 0 151 Odacidae Little rock whiting Neoodax balteatus 0.25 4.25 1 4.75 0.5 2 51 Platycephalidae Rock flathead Platycephalus laevigatus 0.25 0 0 0.25 0.25 0 3 Syngnathidae Knifesnout pipefish Hyperselognathus rostratus 0.25 0 0 0.25 0 0 2 Syngnathidae Spotted pipefish Stigmatopora argus 7.75 17.5 0 9.5 0.5 6.75 168 Syngnathidae Wide -body pipefish Stigmatopora nigra 1 17 0 1.25 0.5 5.75 102 Syngnathidae Port Phillip pipefish Vanacampus phillipi 0.75 0 0 0.75 0.5 0.75 11 Tetraodontidae Prickly toadfish Contusus brevicaudus 0 1 0 0 0 22.25 93

Table continued on next page Milestone Report #6 Report Milestone 15

-1 16 Baywid Table 1 continued. Average abundance (No. haul ; four hauls per site) of fish and squid sampled in deep and shallow seagrass beds at each site (Blairgowrie, Mud Islands and St Leonards) in November 2010 and total number of each species collected (species names from Gomon et al. (2008) and Museum of Victoria). Species not found during previous sampling events are marked in bold. e Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Seagrass in Species Fishery ofKey Monitoring e Family Common name Scientific Name Blairgowrie Mud Islands St Leonards Total Deep Shallow Deep Shallow Deep Shallow Counts Shallow Apogonidae Wood's siphonfish Siphamia cephalotes 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 Atherinidae Silver fish Leptatherina presbyteroides 0 1.5 0 263.25 0 5 1079 Blenniidae Tasmanian blenny Parablennius tasmanianus 0 0 0 0 0 0.5 2 Cheilodactylidae Dusky morwong Dactylophora nigricans 0 0.25 0 0 0 0 1 Clinidae Southern crested weedfish Cristiceps australis 0 0 0 0 0 0.5 2 Clinidae Adelaide weedfish Heteroclinus adelaide 0 0.25 0 1.75 0 1 12 Clinidae Short -tassel weedfish Heteroclinus flavescens 0 0.25 0 0 0 0 1 Clinidae Ogilby’s weedfish Hetero clinus heptaeolus 0 0.25 0 0 0 0 1 Clinidae Kuiter's weedfish Heteroclinus kuiteri 0 0.25 0 0 0 0 1 Clinidae Common weedfish Heteroclinus perspicillatus 0 0.25 0 4.25 0 0.5 20 Clupeidae Blue sprat Spratelloides robustus 0 0 0 0.75 0 0.75 6 Enoplosi dae Old wife Enoplosus armatus 0 0.5 0 0.75 0 0 5 Gobiesocidae Grass clingfish Genus C sp. 1 0 0.25 0 0 0 0 1 Gobiidae Tamar River goby Afurcagobius tamarensis 0 0 0 0.25 0 0 1 Gobiidae Twinbar goby Nesogobius greeni 0 3.25 0 0.25 0 0 14 Gobiidae Girdled goby Nesogobius maccullochi 0 0 0 0 0 0.75 3 Gobiidae Sailfin goby Nesogobius pulchellus 0 0 0 0 0 3.25 13

Milestone Report #6 Report Milestone Monacanthidae Six spine leatherjacket Meuschenia freycineti 0 1.25 0 0.5 0 0 7 Monacanthidae Rough leatherjacket Scobinichthys granulatu s 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 Odacidae Weed whiting Haletta semifasciata 0 2.25 0 0 0 0 9 Sillaginidae King George whiting Sillaginodes punctatus 0 1.5 0 0 0 0 6 Tetraodontidae Smooth toadfish Tetractenos glaber 0 0 0 0 0 0.5 2 Tetrarogidae Cobbler Gymnapistes m armoratus 0 0.25 0 0 0 0.5 3 Idiosepiidae Southern pygmy squid Idiosepius notoides 0 0.25 0 0.75 0 0 4

Total abundance 181 227 15 1159 13 208 1803

Table 2. Species sampled inconsistently in seagrass beds from autumn (April) 2008 – spring (November) 2010. Grey bars indicate species sampled during all surveys; black bars indicate that a species was sampled only during specific surveys. Species not found during previous sampling events are marked in bold.

Family Common name Scientific Name Autumn Spring Autumn Spring Autumn Spring 2008 2008 2009 2009 2010 2010

Apogonidae Wood's siphonfish Siphamia cephalotes ……….. …. ……..… . ……..…. ……..…. Arripidae Australian herring Arripis georgianus ………...... ………...... Baywid Eastern Australian salmon Arripis trutta ………..…. Atherinidae Smallmouth hardyhead Atherinosoma microstoma ……..… .. ………...... ……..… . ……..… . ……..… . Shortsnout hardyhead Kestratherina brevirostris …….…... …………. …………. …………. e Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Seagrass in Species Fishery ofKey Monitoring e Pikehead hardyhead Kestratherina esox …………. Silver fish Leptatherina presbyteroides ...………. …………. …………. …………. Blenniidae Tasmanian blenny Parablennius tasmanianus …………. …………. …………. Bothidae Bass Strait flounder Arnoglossus bassensis …………. Callionymidae Painted stinkfish Eocallionymus papilio …………. …………. Common stinkfish Foetorepus calauropomus ……..… . ……..… . ……..… . ……..… . ……..… . Cheilodactylidae Dusky morwong Dacty lophora nigricans …………... …………. …………. Clinidae Southern crested weedfish Cristiceps australis …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... Adelaide weedfish Heteroclinus adelaide …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... Short -tassel w eedfish Heteroclinus flavescens …………. Kuiter's weedfish Heteroclinus kuiteri ……..… . ……..… . ……..… . ……..… . ……..… . Ogilby’s weedfish Heteroclinus heptaeolus …………. …………. …………. …………. Common weedfish Heteroclinus persp icillatus …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... Long -nose weedfish Heteroclinus tristis …...……. Slender snakeblenny Sticharium dorsale …...……. Clupeidae Blue sprat Spratelloides robustus …...……. …………. …………. …………. …………. Diodontidae Globefish Diodon nicthemerus ………..…. ……...…. …………. …………. …………. Engraulidae Australian anchovy Engraulis australis …………. Enoplosidae Old wife Enoplosus armatus …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... Galaxiidae Minnow Galaxias maculatus …...……. Gobiesocidae Dwarf shore eel Alabes hoesei ……...…. Alabes spp. …………. Tasmanian clingfish Aspasmogaster tasmaniensis ………..…. Milestone Report #6 Report Milestone Grass clingfish Genus C sp. 1 …...……. ………..…. ………..…. ………..….

Table continued on next page 17

18 Baywid Table 2 continued. Species sampled inconsistently in seagrass beds from autumn (April) 2008 – spring (November) 2010. Grey bars indicate species sampled during all surveys; black bars indicate that a species was sampled only during specific surveys. Species not found during

e Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Seagrass in Species Fishery ofKey Monitoring e previous sampling events are marked in bold.

Family Common name Scientific Name Autumn Spring Autumn Spring Autumn Spring 2008 2008 2009 2009 2010 2010

Gobiidae Tamar River goby Afurcagobius tamarensis ……..… . ……..… . ……..… . ……..… . ……..… . Bridled goby Arenigobius bifrenatus …...……. ………..…. ………..…. Half bridled goby Arenigobius frenatus ……..… . ……..… . ……..… . ……..… . ……..… . Longfinn ed goby Favonigobius lateralis ………..…. …...……. Opalescent sandgoby Nesogobius sp. 1 …………. …………. Threadfin goby Nesogobius sp. 2 …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... Twinbar goby Nesogobius greeni …...……. ………..…. ………..…. ………..…. ………..…. Hinsby’s goby Nesogobius hinsbyi ………..…. Girdled goby Nesogobius maccullochi …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... Sailfin goby Nesogobius pulchellus …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... Hemiramphidae Southe rn garfish Hyporhamphus malanochir ………..…. Idiosepiidae Southern pygmy squid Idiosepius notoides …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... Loliginidae Southern calamari Sepioteuthis australis …...……. Monacanthidae Monacanthid Unknown sp. 1 ……...…. Bridled leatherjacket Acanthaluteres spilomelanurus …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... Toothbrush leatherjacket Acanthaluteres vittiger ……..… . ……..… . ……..… . ……..… . ……..… . Pygmy leatherjacket Br achaluteres jacksonianus ……..… . ……..… . ……..… . ……..… . ……..… . Milestone Report #6 Report Milestone Six spine leatherjacket Meuschenia freycineti …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... Unidentified monacanthid recruit Monacanthidae …………. Meuschenia spp . …………. Rough leatherjacket Scobinichthys granulatus …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... Mugilidae Yelloweye mullet Aldrichetta forsteri …………. Mullidae Red mullet Upeneichthys vlamingii …………... ……...…. ……...…. Neoseb astidae Little gurnard perch Maxillicosta scabriceps ……...…. ………..…. ……...…. ……...…. Odacidae Weed whiting Haletta semifasciata ……...…. ……...…. ……...…. ……...…. Little rock whiting Neoodax balteatus …………... …………... …………... ………….. . …………... …………...

Platycephalidae Sand flathead Platycephalus bassensis …...……. …………. Rock flathead Platycephalus laevigatus …………. …………. …………. Yank flathead Platycephalus speculator …………. ………….

Table continued on next page

Table 2 continued. Species sampled inconsistently in seagrass beds from autumn (April) 2008 – spring (November) 2010. Grey bars indicate species sampled during all surveys; black bars indicate that a species was sampled only during specific surveys. Species not found during

previous sampling events are marked in bold.

Family Common name Scientific Name Autumn Spring Autumn Spring Autumn Spring 2008 2008 2009 2009 2010 2010

Baywide Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagras in Species Fishery ofKey Monitoring Baywide Rhombosoleidae Longsnout flounder Ammotretis rostratus …………. Greenback flounder Rhombosolea tapirina ……..……. …...……. …...……. Sepiolidae Southern dumpling squid Euprymna tasmanica ……..……. …..………. Sillaginidae King George whiting Sillaginodes punctatus …...……. ……...…. ……...…. Sp aridae Black bream Acanthopagrus butcheri …………. Syngnathidae Shorthead seahorse Hippocampus breviceps …...……. …...……. Knifesnout pipefish Hyperselognathus rostratus …...……. …...……. Half -banded pipefish Mitotichthys semistria tus ...………. ……...…. …...……. Spotted pipefish Stigmatopora argus …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... Wide -body pipefish Stigmatopora nigra …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... Ringback pipefish Stipecampus cristatus …...……. Hairy pipefish Urocampus carinirostris ...………. ………..…. Port Phillip pipefish Vanacampus phillipi …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... Tetra odontidae Prickly toadfish Contusus brevicaudus …………... …………... …………... ………….. . …………... …………... Smooth toadfish Tetractenos glaber …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... Tetrarogidae Cobbler Gymnapistes marmoratus …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... …………... Uranoscopidae Common stargazer Kathetostoma laeve ...………. Urolophidae Eastern shovelnose stingaree Trygonoptera imitata …..………. …..………. Spotted stingaree Urolophus gigas ……..……. …..………. Sparsely -spotted stingaree Urolophus paucimaculatus …...……. Greenback stingaree Urolophus viridis ………..….

s Beds Milestone Report #6 #6 Report Milestone Beds s 19

Table 3. ANOVA results comparing variation in species richness, total fish abundance and wide-body pipefish abundance across years, seasons, sites and depths for all surveys in PPB from autumn (April) 2008 to spring (November) 2010 (df, degrees of freedom; MS, mean squares; F, F statistic; P, probability; significantly different results in bold; P <0.05).

Species Richness Total Fish Wide-body pipefish

Source df MS F P MS F P MS F P

Year (Y) 2 0.432 2.316 0.104 3.086 3.74 0.027 2.722 2.842 0.063

Season (Se) 1 0.205 1.098 0.297 4.217 5.11 0.026 83.77 87.448 <0.001

Site (Si) 2 1.039 5.574 0.005 4.746 5.751 0.004 0.686 0.716 0.491

Depth (D) 1 25.22 135.347 <0.001 188.466 228.37 <0.001 103.041 107.566 <0.001

Y x Se 2 0.217 1.165 0.316 0.147 0.178 0.837 1.241 1.296 0.278

Y x Si 4 0.717 3.847 0.006 0.851 1.032 0.394 3.733 3.897 0.005

Y x D 2 3.846 20.642 <0.001 8.262 10.011 <0.001 0.698 0.729 0.485

Se x Si 2 0.592 3.177 0.046 1.525 1.847 0.163 5.682 5.931 0.004

Se x D 1 0.055 0.295 0.588 7.004 8.487 0.004 23.92 24.971 <0.001

Si x D 2 0.566 3.038 0.052 8.394 10.172 <0.001 1.685 1.759 0.177

Y x Se x Si 4 0.1 0.539 0.708 1.077 1.305 0.273 1.792 1.871 0.121

Y x Se x D 2 0.435 2.332 0.102 0.427 0.517 0.598 0.136 0.142 0.868

Y x Si x D 4 0.27 1.45 0.222 2.757 3.341 0.013 3.29 3.434 0.011

Se x Si x D 2 0.396 2.125 0.124 0.343 0.415 0.661 5.726 5.978 0.003

Y x Se x Si x D 4 0.229 1.229 0.303 3.705 4.49 0.002 2.669 2.786 0.030

Error 108 0.186 0.825 0.958

Baywide Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Milestone Report #6 20

Table 4. ANOVA results comparing variation in seagrass length and biomass across years, seasons, sites and depths for all surveys in PPB from autumn (April) 2008 to spring (November) 2010 (df, degrees of freedom; MS, mean squares; F, F statistic; P, probability; significantly different results in bold; P <0.05).

Seagrass length Seagrass biomass

Source Df MS F P MS F P

Year (Y) 2 0.337 4.324 0.015 1.522 2.782 0.065

Season (Se) 1 0.506 6.499 0.012 16.755 30.629 <0.001

Site (Si) 2 1.584 20.343 <0.001 4.524 8.269 <0.001

Depth (D) 1 9.911 127.293 <0.001 99.821 182.47 <0.001

Y x Se 2 0.047 0.604 0.548 2.059 3.764 0.025

Y x Si 4 0.441 5.66 <0.001 3.646 6.665 <0.001

Y x D 2 0.333 4.281 0.015 4.825 8.819 <0.001

Si x Se 2 0.093 1.189 0.307 1.353 2.474 0.087

Se x D 1 1.098 14.096 <0.001 0.236 0.431 0.512

Si x D 2 0.283 3.631 0.028 2.87 5.246 0.006

Y x Si x Se 4 0.252 3.236 0.014 0.366 0.67 0.614

Y x Se x D 2 1.003 12.882 <0.001 2.875 5.256 0.006

Y x Si x D 4 0.408 5.235 0.001 2.689 4.916 0.001

Si x Se x D 2 0.592 7.603 0.001 3.17 5.795 0.004

Y x Si x Se x D 4 0.049 0.633 0.639 0.222 0.406 0.804

Error 176 0.078 0.547

Baywide Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Milestone Report #6 21

20 Shallow Seagrass 18

16

14

12

10

)

-1 8

6

4

2

0 Blairgowrie Mud Islands St Leonards

20 Site

18 Deep Seagrass

16

(species.haul SpeciesRichness Average 14

12

10

8

6 Dates

4 April 2008 November 2008 2 April 2009 November 2009 April 2010 0 November 2010 Blairgowrie Mud Islands St Leonards Sites

Figure 2. Average (+SE) species richness recorded in seagrass beds at each site in PPB from autumn (April) 2008 to spring (November) 2010.

Baywide Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Milestone Report #6 22

1000 Shallow Seagrass

800

600

400

) -1

200

0 Blairgowrie Mud Islands St Leonards

100 Site

90 Deep Seagrass

Abundance Average (fish.haul 80

70

60

50

40

30 Dates

20 April 2008 November 2008 April 2009 10 November 2009 April 2010 0 November 2010 Blairgowrie Mud Islands St Leonards Sites

Figure 3. Average (+SE) fish abundance (totalled for all species) recorded in seagrass beds at each site in PPB from autumn (April) 2008 to spring (November) 2010 (n.b. scale change between graphs).

Baywide Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Milestone Report #6 23

200 Shallow Seagrass

150

)

-1 100

50

0 Blairgowrie Mud Islands St Leonards

20 Site Deep Seagrass

15

Average Wide-body Average pipefishAbundance (fish.haul

10

Dates 5 April 2008 November 2008 April 2009 November 2009 April 2010 0 November 2010 Blairgowrie Mud Islands St Leonards Sites

Figure 4. Average (+SE) wide-body pipefish abundance in seagrass beds at each site in PPB from autumn (April) 2008 to spring (November) 2010 (n.b. scale change between graphs).

Baywide Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Milestone Report #6 24

0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Baywid

April 2009 November 2009 April 2010 November 2010 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 Shallow Seagrass Shallow Seagrass Shallow Seagrass Shallow Seagrass e Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Seagrass in Species Fishery ofKey Monitoring e

0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3

0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

Proportion Total

0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1

0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 2 4 6 8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 0 2 4 6 8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 0 2 4 6 8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 0 2 4 6 8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 0 0 0 0 00 20 40 60 80* 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 0 0 0 0 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60* 80 00 0 0 0 0 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 *80 00 20 40 60 80 00 0 0 0 0 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40* 60 80 00

0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5

April 2009 November 2009 April 2010 November 2010 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 Deep Seagrass Deep Seagrass Deep Seagrass Deep Seagrass

0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3

0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

Proportion Total

0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 Milestone Report #6 Report Milestone

0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 2 4 6 8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 0 2 4 6 8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 0 2 4 6 8 1 1 1 1 1 2*2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 0 2 4 6 8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 0 0 0 0 00* 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 0 0 0 0 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80* 00 20 40 60 80 00 0 0 0 0 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 0 0 0 0 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40* 60 80 00 Size classes Size classes Size classes Size classes

Figure 5. Total proportion of finfish arranged by size class (mm) in deep and shallow seagrass beds in PPB during autumn (April) 2009, spring (November)

25 2009, autumn (April) 2010 and spring (November) 2010 (n.b. scale change between graphs). Stars indicate largest size class.

0.5 0.5

0.4 0.4 April 2009 November 2009

0.3 0.3

0.2 0.2 Total Proportion Total

0.1 0.1

0.0 0.0 0 2 4 6 8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 0 20 40 60 80 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 0 0 0 0 00 20 40 60 80* 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0 0

0.5 0.5

0.4 0.4 April 2010 November 2010

0.3 0.3

0.2 0.2

TotalProportion

0.1 0.1

0.0 0.0 0 2 4 6 8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 0 2 4 6 8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 0 0 0 0 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60* 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 0 0 0 0 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40* 60 80 00

Size classes Size classes

Figure 6. Total proportion of finfish arranged by size class (mm) in PPB during autumn (April) 2009, spring (November) 2009, autumn (April) 2010 and spring (November) 2010. (n.b. scale change between graphs). Stars indicate largest size class.

Baywide Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Milestone Report #6 26

1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

April 2009 November 2009 April 2010 November 2010 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 Shallow Seagrass Shallow Seagrass Shallow Seagrass Shallow Seagrass

0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 Baywid

0.4 * 0.4 0.4 0.4 TotalProportion e Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Seagrass in Species Fishery ofKey Monitoring e

0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 *

0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 2 4 6 8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 0 2 4 6 8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 0 2 4 6 8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 0 2 4 6 8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 0 0 0 0 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 0 0 0 0 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 0 0 0 0 *00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 0 0 0 0 00* 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00

1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

April 2009 November 2009 April 2010 November 2010 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 Deep Seagrass Deep Seagrass Deep Seagrass Deep Seagrass

0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6

0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4

Total Total Proportion *

0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 * * 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 20 40 60 80 1*0 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 0 20 40 60 80 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 0 20 40 60 80 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 0 20 40 60 80 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Milestone Report #6 Report Milestone Size classes Size classes Size classes Size classes

Figure 7. Total proportion of wide-body pipefish arranged by size class (mm) in deep and shallow seagrass beds in PPB during autumn (April) 2009, spring (November) 2009, autumn (April) 2010 and spring (November) 2010. Stars indicate largest size class.

27

1.0 1.0

0.8 0.8 April 2009 November 2009

0.6 0.6

0.4 0.4 Proportion Total

0.2 0.2 *

0.0 0.0 0 2 4 6 8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 0 20 40 60 80 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 0 0 0 0 *00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1.0 1.0

0.8 0.8 April 2010 November 2010

0.6 0.6

0.4 0.4

Proportion Total

0.2 0.2

0.0 0.0 0 20 40 60 80 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 0 2 4 6 8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 *0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00* 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00

Size classes Size classes

Figure 8. Total proportion of wide-body pipefish arranged by size class (mm) in PPB for deep and shallow seagrass beds combined during autumn (April) 2009, spring (November) 2009, autumn (April) 2010 and spring (November) 2010. Stars indicate largest size class.

Baywide Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Milestone Report #6 28

1.0 1.0 * 1.0 1.0 April 2009 November 2009 April 2010 November 2010 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 Shallow Seagrass Shallow Seagrass Shallow Seagrass Shallow Seagrass

0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 Baywid

0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 Total Proportion Total e Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Seagrass in Species Fishery ofKey Monitoring e

0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 * * 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 20 40 60 80 10 1*2 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 0 20 40 60 80 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 0 20 40 60 80 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 0 20 40 60 80 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

April 2009 November 2009 April 2010 November 2010 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 Deep Seagrass Deep Seagrass Deep Seagrass Deep Seagrass

0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6

0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 Proportion Total * *

0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 2 4 6 8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 0 2 4 6 8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 0 2 4 6 8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 0 2 4 6 8 1*1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 0 0 0 0 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 0 0 0 0 *00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 0 0 0 0 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 0 0 0 0 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 Milestone Report #6 Report Milestone Size classes Size classes Size classes Size classes

Figure 9. Total proportion of bridled leatherjackets arranged by size class (mm) in deep and shallow seagrass beds in PPB during autumn (April) 2009, spring (November) 2009, autumn (April) 2010 and spring (November) 2010. Stars indicate largest size class.

29

1.0 1.0

0.8 0.8 April 2009 November 2009

0.6 0.6

0.4 0.4

Total Proportion Total

0.2 0.2

0.0 0.0 0 2 4 6 8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 0 20 40 60 80 10 1*2 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 6 8 0 2 4 6 8 0 2 4 6 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 *0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Size classes

1.0 1.0

0.8 0.8 April 2010 November 2010

0.6 0.6

0.4 0.4 Total Proportion Total

0.2 0.2 *

0.0 0.0 0 2 4 6 8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 * 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 6 8 0 2 4 6 8 0 2 4 6 8 0 0 2 4 6 8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 80 00

Size classes Size classes

Figure 10. Total proportion of bridled leatherjackets arranged by size class (mm) in PPB for deep and shallow seagrass beds combined during autumn (April) 2009, spring (November) 2009, autumn (April) 2010 and spring (November) 2010. Stars indicate largest size class.

Baywide Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Milestone Report #6 30

500 Shallow Seagrass

400

300

200

100

0 Blairgowrie Mud Islands St Leonards

Site 500 Deep Seagrass LengthSeagrass (mm)

400

300

200

Dates

100 April 2008 November 2008

April 2009 November 2009 April 2010 0 November 2010 Blairgowrie Mud Islands St Leonards

Sites

Figure 11. Average (+SE) length of seagrass recorded in seagrass beds at each site in PPB from autumn (April) 2008 to spring (November) 2010.

Baywide Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Milestone Report #6 31

80 Shallow Seagrass

60

40

20

0 Blairgowrie Mud Islands St Leonards

80 Site

Seagrass (g) Biomass Seagrass Deep Seagrass

60

40

Dates 20 April 2008

November 2008 April 2009 November 2009 April 2010 0 November 2010 Blairgowrie Mud Islands St Leonards

Sites

Figure 12. Average (+SE) biomass of seagrass recorded in seagrass beds at each site in PPB from autumn (April) 2008 to spring (November) 2010.

Baywide Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Milestone Report #6 32

1.8 1.8 A C 1.6 1.6

) 1.4 ) 1.4 -1 -1

1.2 1.2

1.0 1.0

0.8 0.8

0.6 0.6

LogSpecies Richness (species.haul 0.4 LogSpecies Richness (species.haul 0.4

0.2 0.2

0.0 0.0 0 100 200 300 400 500 0 10 20 30 40 50 Seagrass Length (mm) Seagrass Biomass (g) 4 4 B D

3 3 )

) -1 -1

2 2

1 1

Log Log FishAbundance (fish.hail Log FishAbundance (fish.haul

0 0

-1 0 100 200 300 400 500 0 10 20 30 40 50 Seagrass Length Seagrass Biomass (g)

Figure 13. Relationship for all samples from autumn (April) 2008 to spring (November) 2010 in PPB between: species richness and seagrass length (A); fish abundance and seagrass length (B); species richness and seagrass biomass (C); fish abundance and seagrass biomass (D). Lines on graphs represent the regression line (solid), 95% confidence interval of the regression line (dashed) and 95% confidence interval of the population (dotted).

Baywide Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Milestone Report #6 33

34 Baywid

e Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Seagrass in Species Fishery ofKey Monitoring e

2D Stress: 0.16 Blairgowrie Deep Blairgowrie Shallow

Mud Islands Deep Mud Islands Shallow St Leonards Deep St Leonards Shallow

Milestone Report #6 Report Milestone

Figure 14. MDS ordination comparing the similarity of fish assemblages in PPB at all depths and sites for spring (November) 2010. Increasing distance between points indicates decreasing similarity.

April 2008 Blairgowrie Deep November 2009 Blairgowrie Deep April 2008 Blairgowrie Shallow November 2009 Blairgowrie Shallow 2D Stress: 0.17 April 2008 Mud Islands Deep November 2009 Mud Islands Deep April 2008 Mud Islands Shallow November 2009 Mud Islands Shallow April 2008 St Leonards Deep November 2009 St Leonards Deep

Baywid April 2008 St Leonards Shallow November 2009 St Leonards Shallow November 2008 Blairgowrie Deep April 2010 Blairgowrie Deep November 2008 Blairgowrie Shallow April 2010 Blairgowrie Shallow

e Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Seagrass in Species Fishery ofKey Monitoring e November 2008 Mud Islands Deep April 2010 Mud Islands Deep

November 2008 Mud Islands Shallow April 2010 Mud Islands Shallow November 2008 St Leonards Deep April 2010 St Leonards Deep November 2008 St Leonards Shallow April 2010 St Leonards Shallow April 2009 Blairgowrie Deep November 2010 Blairgowrie Deep April 2009 Blairgowrie Shallow November 2010 Blairgowrie Shallow April 2009 Mud Islands Deep November 2010 Mud Islands Deep April 2009 Mud Islands Shallow November 2010 Mud Islands Shallow

April 2009 St Leonards Deep November 2010 St Leonards Deep April 2009 St Leonards Shallow November 2010 St Leonards Shallow

Figure 15. MDS ordination comparing the similarity of fish assemblages (averaged for all hauls) in PPB at all depths and from autumn (April) 2008 to spring (November) 2010. Increasing distance between points indicates decreasing similarity.

Milestone Report #6 Report Milestone 35

2D Stress: 0.26 Shallow Seagrass

2D Stress: 0.23 Deep Seagrass

April 2008 Blairgowrie April 2009 Blairgowrie April 2010 Blairgowrie

April 2008 Mud Islands April 2009 Mud Islands April 2010 Mud Islands April 2008 St Leonards April 2009 St Leonards April 2010 St Leonards November 2008 Blairgowrie November 2009 Blairgowrie November 2010 Blairgowrie November 2008 Mud Islands November 2009 Mud Islands November 2010 Mud Islands November 2008 St Leonards November 2009 St Leonards November 2010 St Leonards

Figure 16 . MDS ordinations, for each depth, comparing the similarity of fish assemblages at all sites in PPB from autumn (April) 2008 to spring (November) 2010. Increasing distance between points indicates decreasing similarity.

Baywide Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Milestone Report #6 36

Appendix 2 Data

Raw data Electronic data files are as follows: • Data are provided with this report electronically, CDP Fish in Seagrass 2010 (2) Fish all data.xls in an MS Excel format requested by PoMC. • CDP Fish in Seagrass 2010 (2) Seagrass all Missing data – None data.xls • CDP Fish in Seagrass Metadata.doc

Baywide Monitoring of Key Fishery Species in Seagrass Beds Milestone Report #6 37