Memoirs of the Museum of Victoria 57( I): 143-165 ( 1998) 1 May 1998 https://doi.org/10.24199/j.mmv.1998.57.08 FISHES OF WILSONS PROMONTORY AND CORNER INLET, VICTORIA: COMPOSITION AND BIOGEOGRAPHIC AFFINITIES M. L. TURNER' AND M. D. NORMAN2 'Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, PO Box 1379,Townsville, Qld 4810, Australia ([email protected]) 1Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3052, Australia (corresponding author: [email protected]) Abstract Turner, M.L. and Norman, M.D., 1998. Fishes of Wilsons Promontory and Comer Inlet. Victoria: composition and biogeographic affinities. Memoirs of the Museum of Victoria 57: 143-165. A diving survey of shallow-water marine fishes, primarily benthic reef fishes, was under­ taken around Wilsons Promontory and in Comer Inlet in 1987 and 1988. Shallow subtidal reefs in these regions are dominated by labrids, particularly Bluethroat Wrasse (Notolabrus tet­ ricus) and Saddled Wrasse (Notolabrus fucicola), the odacid Herring Cale (Odax cyanomelas), the serranid Barber Perch (Caesioperca rasor) and two scorpidid species, Sea Sweep (Scorpis aequipinnis) and Silver Sweep (Scorpis lineolata). Distributions and relative abundances (qualitative) are presented for 76 species at 26 sites in the region. The findings of this survey were supplemented with data from other surveys and sources to generate a checklist for fishes in the coastal waters of Wilsons Promontory and Comer Inlet. 23 I fishspecies of 92 families were identified to species level. An additional four species were only identified to higher taxonomic levels. These fishes were recorded from a range of habitat types, from freshwater streams to marine habitats (to 50 m deep). This fish fauna can be broken into a number of components: 45% are species which occur across all of sou them Australia; 25% are southern or southwestern species, at or close to their eastern limit; 19% are restricted to the southeast coasts from South Australia to at least southern New South Wales; 7% are at or close to the western limit of their range; and 6% are at or close to the southern end of their range. Two Tasmanian species are at their northernlimit at Wilsons Promontory. The influence ofthe East Australian Current, and the geomorphology and geological history of the area are discussed in relation to the composition, affinitiesand origins of the fish fauna of this region. Introduction to low water mark and the offshore islands were incorporated into the National Park in the Until relatively recently, there has been limited 1920s. information available on the composition and In 1987 and 1988, the then Depar1ment of Con­ distributions of coastal fishesalong the southern servation and Environment funded a survey of coast of Australia, particularly for Victorian distributions and abundances of benthic reef waters. This situation has recently improved fishes within the proposed Wilsons Promontory through a number of publications on southern Marine Park system. The objectives of this Australian fishes, particularly those of Edgar et survey were twofold: al. ( 1982), Last et al. ( 1983), Hutchins and to detennine the composition of fishes in Swainston ( 1986), Coleman ( 1987), Kuiter waters surrounding Wilsons Promontory and in ( 1993), Hutchins (1994 ), Gomon et a!. ( 1994) and Comer Inlet; and Last and Stevens (1994). Kuiter (1993) and the to provide a baseline census of composition latter two publications provide the best coverage and relatiw abundances of reef fishes prior to for Victorian waters. implementation of marine park legislation. In April 1988, a system of marine parks and Several other studies have examined the reserves was established around Wilsons composition of the fish fauna of the Wilsons Promontory in eastern Victoria, principally to Promontory region. In 1980. Barry Hutchins of conserve marine flora and fauna associated with the Western Australian Museum surveyed the rocky reef communities in this region. Terrestrial reef fishes of the Glennie Group and Norman habitats and biota of Wilsons Promontory Bay, recording 58 species (unpubl. data). In 1982, have been protected since 1898. The coastal strip the Museum of Victoria undertook a survey of 143 144 M. L. TURNER AND M. D. NORMAN species of marine habitats around the promontory, generat- Most sites were dominated by large comosa ing a checklist of 140 fish species (Wilson et al., brown algae, particularly Phyllospora often formed 1990). In the same year, the then Marine Science and Ecklonia radiata. These algae Laboratories (Marine and Freshwater Resources thick stands. The understory was principally a mixture of Institute) commenced a 3-year demersal trawl coralline turf algae interspersed with Cystophora and survey of Eastern Bass Strait. Data from this brown algae (including species of survey was kindly provided by D. Hobday, Sargassum), green algae (including Caulerpa high diversity DCNR (unpubl. data). This survey recorded spp. and Cladophora rugosa).and a 99 species from trawl sites adjacent to of smaller species of red algae. Algal growth Wilsons Promontory. Jackson and Davies is limited to areas of sufficient light. In the shade (1983) examined the freshwater and estuarine of overhangs and at depths greater than fishes of Wilsons Promontory, recording 37 20-35 metres (depending on water clarity), species. invertebrate communities predominated. The The results of the study reported here, com- dominant groups are anthozoans, bryozoans and bined with data from the above studies, published sponges. See Wilson et al. (1990) for treatment of records and museum collections, have been used the invertebrate fauna of the region. to generate a checklist of the fish fauna of this Checklist sites for this survey are shown in fig- 1 and habitat descriptions region. As Wilsons Promontory forms the most ure . Site codes, location southerly point of the Australian mainland, are presented in table 1 for each site. extending well into Bass Strait, the role and Personnel and training. Fish surveys were under- position of this prominent land mass in the taken by the authors in 1987 and 1988, assisted in distributions of southern Australian fishes is the first year by staff and participants from worthy of examination. The components and Operation Raleigh, a British organization which affinities of this fauna may provide insights into provides educational and developmental experi- the biogeographic processes occurring in this ences for young people ("Venturers"). Venturers region. were trained in fish identification by the authors employing photographs, illustrations, keys and Study area and methods reference texts. Sources for identifications were Edgar et al. (1982), Last et al. (1983), Hutchins area. Wilsons Promontory (39°00'S, Study and Swainston (1986), and Coleman (1987). 146°25'E) protrudes into Bass Strait from southeastern Victoria, forming the southernmost Survey techniques. Boats were used to access all using inflat- point of the Australian mainland (Fig. 1). This sites. West coast sites were accessed promontory consists of granite mountains and able dinghies. South and east coast sites were valleys extending below the water line and accessed using larger boats (30 m Blue Nabilla emerging as outcrops to form offshore islands. and 18 m Osprey), provided through the National Drowned valleys have formed bays with sandy Safety Council. spent mini- floors and beaches. The subtidal topography At each site, two or more divers a recording all species present. is diverse, ranging from vertical walls, to large mum of 30 minutes granite slabs (with or without cracks), boulder Searches were made under overhangs, in caves slopes (boulder diameters from 0.2 to 20 m), to and amongst kelp, using torches to investigate the extensive sand plains which surround the deeper caves and crevices. All fish encountered the depth Promontory at depths of 30-50 metres. Located at between the surface and maximum Fish the northern end of Wilsons Promontory is Corner (presented in table 1) were recorded. were recorded Inlet, a large shallow estuarine bay of intertidal identifications and numbers Illustrations and notes were mud flats and sea grass beds. Deeper channels fill on acrylic slates. to and drain this large bay. Several rocky reefs are made of unidentified fishes and compared following dives. present, adjacent to one of the inlet's primary reference texts immediately channels. Species of uncertain identity were discarded from Twenty six sites were surveyed around the checklists. coastline of Wilsons Promontory, including three Approximate numbers of each fish species to an indica- sites within Corner Inlet. All sites were granite were recorded at each site, provide the search time, reefs, varying in aspect, topography, slope, depth tion of relative abundances. As were and level of exposure to surge and currents. area covered and capabilities of personnel Specific locations were chosen to include the not standardized, numbers at each site can not be majority of reef habitat types and aspects. directly compared. Instead, abundance of each FISHES OF WILSONS PROMONTORY AND CORNER INLET 145 Inlet. Table 1 . Fish checklist sites around Wilsons Promontory and in Corner Site Code Location Habitat Maximum Date depth (m) censused West Coast Tongue Point Tl Small cove on Large boulders covered with 16 24.4.1987 northern side of tip Phyllospora comosa and swim-throughs at depth. Reef almost vertical without large horizontal areas. Sand at 16 m. Leonard Point 1 LI Northern side of Phyllospora covered large 22 18.4.1987 point, near tip. boulders, bommies and drop offs to sandy bottom at 22 m. Part of large reef. Leonard Point 2 L2 Midway between Heavy Phyllospora growth on 12 24.4.1987 point and shore in narrow rocky slopes to sand Picnic Bay. at 12 m. Leonard Point 3 L3 Small sheltered cove Phyllospora growth on granite 5 18.4.1987 on south side of boulders and patchy reef on point. sand. 22 11.4.1987, Pillar Point 1 PI At tip of point close Large boulders covered in to deep water.