MARINE BIODIVERSITY SURVEY FINAL REPORT A CEPA-JICA PROJECT ON BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PNG POLICY ON PROTECTED AREAS APRIL 2018 Prepared by the Centre for Biodiversity and Natural Products, University of Papua New Guinea Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..................................................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 1. MARINE BIODIVERSITY SURVEY OVERVIEW ................................................................................ 5 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 5 Sites description .......................................................................................................................................... 6 Geographical Location ............................................................................................................................. 6 Geology .................................................................................................................................................... 7 Marine Environment ............................................................................................................................... 8 Climate..................................................................................................................................................... 8 Vegetation ............................................................................................................................................... 8 CHAPTER 2. BIODIVERSITY INVENTORY ......................................................................................................... 12 INVENTORY OF BOGORO AND MOTUPORE .................................................................................................. 12 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 12 Objectives .................................................................................................................................................. 12 Methods and Material ............................................................................................................................... 12 Results and Discussion .............................................................................................................................. 13 Floristic Composition and Diversity ........................................................................................................... 14 Mangrove species .................................................................................................................................. 15 Seagrass Species .................................................................................................................................... 17 Faunal Composition and Diversity ............................................................................................................. 18 Mammals ............................................................................................................................................... 18 Birds ....................................................................................................................................................... 19 Marine Biodiversity ................................................................................................................................... 20 Cnidarians .............................................................................................................................................. 20 Ascidians ................................................................................................................................................ 25 Marine Worms ...................................................................................................................................... 26 Crustaceans ........................................................................................................................................... 28 Molluscs ................................................................................................................................................. 32 Echinoderms .......................................................................................................................................... 36 Sponges ................................................................................................................................................. 39 Marine Macro-Algae .............................................................................................................................. 41 Fishes ..................................................................................................................................................... 42 Marine Mammals .................................................................................................................................. 42 ii Marine Reptiles ..................................................................................................................................... 42 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 43 References ............................................................................................................................................. 43 Appendix 2-1. Plant species list for Bogoro Inlet and Motupore Island................................................ 47 Appendix 2-2. Fish species recorded at Bootless Bay. .......................................................................... 56 CHAPTER 3. FLORA SURVEY ........................................................................................................................... 71 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 71 Objectives .................................................................................................................................................. 72 Material and Methods ............................................................................................................................... 72 Results ....................................................................................................................................................... 74 Floral diversity ....................................................................................................................................... 74 Lifeforms ................................................................................................................................................ 74 Vegetation structure ............................................................................................................................. 76 Discussion .................................................................................................................................................. 76 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................. 78 References ................................................................................................................................................. 79 Appendix 3-1. List of Plant species recorded in survey. ........................................................................ 80 CHAPTER 4. TERRESTRIAl FAUNA SURVEY (BIRDS, INSECT, REPTILES) .......................................................... 81 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 81 Material and Methods ............................................................................................................................... 81 Point Counts .......................................................................................................................................... 81 Mist nets for birds and bats .................................................................................................................. 82 Results ....................................................................................................................................................... 82 Discussion .................................................................................................................................................. 84 References ................................................................................................................................................. 84 Appendix 4-1. MacKinnon List of birds observed at Motupore Island. ................................................. 86 Appendix 4-2. MacKinnon List of birds observed at Bogoro Inlet. ........................................................ 87 CHAPTER 5. MARINE HABITAT AND DIVERSITY ............................................................................................. 88 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 88 Objectives .................................................................................................................................................