Strategic Research Fund for the Marine Environment Collaborative Research Project: Biodiversity of Marine Fauna on the Central West Coast SRFME Final Milestone Report – December 2006 Principal Investigator: Dr J. Fromont Scientific team: C. Hass, L. Marsh, G. Moore, M. Salotti, M. Titelius & C. Whisson. WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM Locked Bag 49 Welshpool DC, WA 6986 [email protected] Contents Executive Summary........................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................................... iii 1.0 General Overview ....................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background.............................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Methodology ............................................................................................................................................ 1 1.3 Habitat Survey ........................................................................................................................................ 9 1.4 Invertebrate Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 9 1.5 Vertebrate Methodology......................................................................................................................... 10 1.6 Summary of Results............................................................................................................................... 11 2.0 Crustaceans .............................................................................................................................................. 13 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 13 2.2 Methodology .......................................................................................................................................... 13 2.3 Results .................................................................................................................................................. 14 2.4 Discussion.............................................................................................................................................. 15 References................................................................................................................................................... 16 3.0 Isopoda ...................................................................................................................................................... 26 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 26 3.2 Methodology .......................................................................................................................................... 26 3.3 Results ................................................................................................................................................... 26 3.4 Discussion.............................................................................................................................................. 26 References................................................................................................................................................... 27 4.0 Echinoderms ............................................................................................................................................. 29 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 29 4.2 Methodology .......................................................................................................................................... 29 4.3 Results and Discussion.......................................................................................................................... 29 References................................................................................................................................................... 33 5.0 Fishes ........................................................................................................................................................ 39 5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 39 5.2 Methodology .......................................................................................................................................... 39 5.3 Results .................................................................................................................................................. 40 5.4 Discussion.............................................................................................................................................. 43 References................................................................................................................................................... 44 6.0 Molluscs .................................................................................................................................................... 51 6.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 51 6.2 Methodology .......................................................................................................................................... 51 6.3 Results .................................................................................................................................................. 52 6.4 Discussion.............................................................................................................................................. 53 6.5 Project Highlights ................................................................................................................................... 54 Acknowledgements...................................................................................................................................... 55 References................................................................................................................................................... 55 7.0 Porifera (sponges) .................................................................................................................................... 65 7.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 65 7.2 Methodology .......................................................................................................................................... 65 7.3 Results .................................................................................................................................................. 66 7.4 Discussion.............................................................................................................................................. 70 References................................................................................................................................................... 70 8.0 Cnidaria ....................................................................................................................................................... 79 8.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 79 8.2 Methodology .......................................................................................................................................... 79 8.3 Results .................................................................................................................................................. 79 8.4 Discussion.............................................................................................................................................. 81 References................................................................................................................................................... 81 9.0 General Summary ..................................................................................................................................... 83 10.0 Future Work............................................................................................................................................. 84 11.0 Outcomes and Dissemination ............................................................................................................... 85 12.0 Benefits to the State ............................................................................................................................... 86 Cover: New species of amphipod (Crustacea) from Dongara. Photograph: C. Hass. i Executive Summary This is the final milestone report for the Central West Coast project undertaken by the Western Australian Museum (WAM) and funded by SRFME. The fieldwork component