FREE please take a copy feral or in peril South Australia www.reefwatch.asn.au 1 Conservation Council SA Reef Watch Level 1, 157 Franklin Street Adelaide SA 5000 email [email protected] phone (08) 8223 5155 www.reefwatch.asn.au ISBN 978-0-9805909-5-1 © 2012 Conservation Council of SA Cover Photo: Blue devil by Simon Bryars 2 contents Introduction 4 Species of interest 5 Feral species 7 Species ‘in peril’ 21 Further information and acknowledgements 35 www.conservationsa.org.au 3 introduction SOME SPECIES WE RARELY SEE NO MATTER HOW OFTEN WE EXPLORE THE UNDErwaTER WORLD. OTHER SPECIES WE WISH WE DID NOT SEE, THE INTRODUCED PESTS, THESE INVADERS THREATEN OUR LOcaL MARINE LIFE AND COASTAL INDUSTRIES. Scientists and resource managers will be better placed to manage SA’s marine environments with information collected by monitoring the introduced species as well as the locals. This booklet provides details on how you can play a role in protecting our marine life for future generations – both human and marine. It has been developed by Reef Watch SA, with assistance from Reef Watch Victoria and funding from a SA Community NRM Grant. The booklet is designed to be used on its own or in conjunction with our Feral or In Peril identification slates, which are available for FREE in waterproof (for divers) and water resistant (for boats and fishing) versions. The slates are compact, easy to carry and can be easily attached to other equipment so you can keep your hands free and won’t lose them. To get a FREE set of Feral or In Peril identification slates go to your local boating or tackle store, or email [email protected] Dive in today and discover who’s who in our waters! 4 SPECIES OF INTEREST This booklet includes information on REEF WATCH SA 21 species of interest in three groups: Reef Watch is an award-winning • Species that are not native to community marine monitoring program SA but are established in our that encourages people to monitor marine marine communities life along South Australia’s coast. The feral • Species that may soon invade or in peril species in this booklet are part SA waters of that monitoring program. • Native species of conservation The goal of the Feral or In Peril program concern that require further is to develop an early warning network to information to ensure their survival protect our native marine life. We do this The species represent marine life that is by supporting and encouraging community either ‘feral’ or ‘in peril’ in SA waters. members to identify and report the feral The feral species are pests. They have, or in peril species in this booklet, and or may soon, invade our waters with by encouraging boat owners, divers and negative impacts on our native species fishers to keep their boats and gear clean. and industries. The species in peril are The Reef Watch SA website native species of conservation concern. www.reefwatch.asn.au is a great way to discover the wonders of our temperate WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE ONE marine life and learn how to monitor OF THE SPECIES species not included in this booklet. We want to know more about the species in this program. In REEF WATCH SAFETY each section of this manual there Reef Watch is a program that encourages is information on reporting these all participants to follow standard safety species if you see them. practices when carrying out their diving, snorkelling, fishing and boating activities. 5 6 There are over 250 introduced marine species in Australia and numerous others are threatening to invade our waters. Most are harmless but several have become pests in South Australia, affecting native species and marine industries. feral species Feral species, or pests, arrive by We can help reduce the spread of hitch-hiking rides on or in ships, pests if we follow these practices: boats, fishing and diving gear or • wash down boat and trailer may be spread by aquaculture equipment with freshwater and dry and the aquarium trade. for 48 hours before transporting to Feral species threaten our local a new location environment because they can: • remove fouling organisms • compete with native species for from vessels food and space • check anchors, fishing gear, dive gear • reduce the attractiveness of our and other equipment for coastal areas tangled organisms • damage infrastructure and gear Included in this booklet are some of the with encrusting growth established and potential pest species that • cause human poisoning you are likely to see in South Australian Pests survive because they are usually waters. A list of all known introduced very fertile, grow quickly, can live in several species and local pests can be found on types of habitat and are not fussy about the websites listed as further reading. what they eat. Size may also be a factor. Erradicating marine pests is difficult, expensive and often ineffective. Prevention is cheaper and easier and therefore the Australian Government has adopted a national strategy to prevent new pests entering our waters and to manage the ones already here. 7 red alert feral species PEST SPECIES NOT YET IN SOUTH AUSTRALIAN WATERS. NORTHERN PACIFIC SEA STAR THREAT Asterias amurensis A predator of many native species Variable in colour with its top ranging including economically important bivalves. from white, yellow to orange with purple Impacts aquaculture, fisheries and markings while its underside is yellow. native marine biodiversity. Characterised by numerous small spines and five plump arms that taper down to WHERE HAS IT BEEN FOUND? pointed and upturned tips. Tasmania: South-east to north-east coasts from Recherche Bay to Binalong Bay and Banks Straight, including the Derwent Estuary. Victoria: Port Phillip Bay. WHERE DID IT COME FROM? Native to the coasts of northern China, Korea, Russia and Japan. HOW COULD IT GET HERE? Two colour patterns on Asterias amurensis Most likely as larvae in ship ballast water. Photo by CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research NATIVE SPECIES THAT LOOK SIMILAR SIZE Easily confused with the native species, Grows up to 40-50 cm in diameter. Uniophora granifera, which can be HABITAT distinguished by a zig zag of small spines It is found in coastal areas protected down each arm. from wave action such as estuaries, This zig zag is bays and rock pools. Occurs most not found on abundantly on soft sediment and also on the northern artificial structures and rocky reefs from Pacific seastar. the intertidal to 200 m deep. Prefers temperate waters but can withstand Uniophora granifera warmer conditions. 8 Report ASAP to Fishwatch 1800 065 522 and to reefwatch.asn.au/fpreport JapanESE KELP (WAKAME) Undaria pinnatifida Brown to green in colour this kelp is identified by its frilly ‘sporophyll’ near the base of mature plants. Mature plants are only found from early winter to late summer. Strap-like midrib. Smooth, thin blades stop well short of the base, creating a long stalk. SIZE Japanese kelp Can grow up to 3 m but is usually Photo by Hugh Pederson around 1 m. HABITAT Found in cold temperate waters in lower WHERE HAS IT BEEN FOUND? intertidal zone to 20 m deep on reef and Tasmania: south-east and east coast artificial structures including aquaculture Victoria: Port Phillip Bay and Apollo Bay equipment. WHERE DID IT COME FROM? THREAT Native to Japan. Can rapidly form dense forests on any HOW COULD IT GET HERE? available space and outgrow native Most likely attached to hull of a ship or kelp species. recreational vessel. 9 red alert feral species PEST SPECIES INTRODUCED TO SOUTH AUSTRALIAN WATERS BUT CURRENTLY LIMITED TO THE PORT RIVER AND BARKER INLET AREA Caulerpa taxifolia It usually spreads vegetatively by growth of A bright green alga with creeping stolons the stolons, but can also regenerate from (stems) from which arise erect flat feather- small fragments. Monitoring and control like fronds (like leaves). Fronds are slightly programs are ongoing where it narrowed at the base and upwardly has been found in South Australia. curved, tapering at the tip. SIZE Each stolon can grow up to 3 m in length and have up to 200 fronds. HABITAT Caulerpa taxifolia is found up to 100 m deep on rock, sand, mud and amongst seagrass meadows in exposed and sheltered estuaries, coastal lagoons, marinas and bays. Fronds of Caulerpa taxifolia extend from the sea bed Photo by Tim Glasby Department of Primary Industries NSW THREAT This is a tropical species that occurs in The frond tips are pointed, never spherical northern Australia but with invasive strains. or club-shaped (like Caulerpa racemosa) In the Mediterranean the alga’s rapid and are in one flat plane. Can be found growth rate enables it to outcompete as individual plants or dense blankets. native seaweeds and displace It is capable of extremely rapid growth bottom-dwelling communities, forming – as much as 25 mm per day in dense colonies and is considered a ideal conditions. serious threat to seagrass meadows. 10 Report to Fishwatch 1800 065 522 if seen outside Port River and North Haven Marina PEST SPECIES INTRODUCED TO SOUTH AUSTRALIAN WATERS BUT CURRENTLY LIMITED TO THE PORT RIVER AND BARKER INLET AREA Caulerpa taxifolia has the potential WHERE DID IT COME FROM? to threaten aquatic biodiversity and Native to subtropical and tropical Australia significantly impact established marine from Port Denison, Western Australia to ecosystems. It has been shown to change Southport, Queensland, with a wide native the chemistry of seawater in its vicinity distribution through the tropical Atlantic, and where it has established the ‘infauna’ Indian and Pacific oceans. (organisms living in soft sediments underneath the alga) changes substantially HOW COULD IT GET HERE? from the infauna found underneath native Caulerpa taxifolia has been used in the algal species.