11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

Poster Mini-Symposium 26: Biodiversity and Diversification of Reef Organisms
26.1210
Species Catalogs For Deepwater Coral Communities Of The Northwestern Gulf Of
Mexico
Emma HICKERSON* 1 , G.P. SCHMAHL 1
1 Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, Galveston, TX
Rocky outcrops and hard-bottom banks are common on the continental shelf throughout
the northwestern Gulf of Mexico (NWGOM). Select sites in the NWGOM have been the
focus of recent mapping, remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and submersible surveys, and
biological sampling by the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
(FGBNMS). Investigations were conducted in depths of approximately 18m to 150m.
Over 180 surveys were conducted over a period of seven years, resulting in more than
218 hours of survey time, over 8400 high resolution georeferenced digital still images,
and 247 directed sample collections. Initial attempts to identify species from video
surveys illuminated the need to develop photographic records of living species that
corresponded to collected samples identified in laboratory settings. Commonly,
taxonomists were not familiar with what the living sample looked like and therefore
could not provide identifications based simply on in situ photographs. A systematic
approach was developed to accomplish this. The major biological components of the
study sites were identified and relocated through knowledge of their distribution from
georeferenced surveys and photographs. Once located, photographs were obtained for
each species in situ, collected when necessary and feasible, and identified by a suite of
taxonomic experts. The result is the development of regional catalogs for conspicuous
inhabitants of deepwater communities in the NWGOM. A series of posters has been
developed that includes deepwater fishes, antipatharians, octocorals, invertebrates and
algae, and sponges. The goal of this project is to facilitate regional exploration through
the identification of deepwater species, and to limit the need to collect future specimens.
The series of posters is presented here, and are made available on CD.
26.1211
Distribution And Abundance Of Soft Corals in Thai Waters
Thanongsak CHANMETHAKUL* 1 , Hansa CHANSANG 2 , Suparoek WATANASIT 1 ,
Philip ALDERSLADE 3
1 Biology, Prince of Songkla University, Songkla, Thailand, 2 Marine and Coastal
Resources, Phuket Marine Biological Center, Phuket, Thailand, 3 Cnidaria (Octocorallia),
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Northern Territory, Australia
This study aims at conducting surveys on the biodiversity of soft corals (Alcyoniina) in
Thai waters, with emphasis on genera richness, distribution, and several related
ecological aspects. The study was conducted in the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea.
Eighty five sites, among 12 major inshore and offshore islands, and 118 sites, among 14
major inshore and offshore islands, were surveyed in the Gulf and Andaman Sea,
respectively. The surveys were conducted between March 2004 – June 2005. The
abundance and generic distribution were recorded by visual estimation. A total of
nineteen genera, within four families, were recorded. They are Alcyoniidae; Sinularia,
Dampia, Cladiella, Klyxum, Sarcophyton, Lobophytum, and Eleutherobia, Nephtheidae;
Nephthea, Stereonepthya, Scleronephthya, Dendronephthya, Umbellulifera, Nidaliidae;
Nidalia, Siphonogorgia, Chironephthya, Nepthyigorgia, Xeniidae; Xenia, Heteroxenia,
and Sansibia. The major soft coral genera observed belong to the Alcyoniidae and
Nephthidae families. All 19 genera were found in the Andaman Sea, whereas only 12
genera were recorded in the Gulf. The highest diversity was observed at Similan and
Adang-Rawi Islands of the Andaman Sea. In comparison, Losin Island yielded the
highest richness for the Gulf. Rare genera found in the Andaman Sea were Nidalia,
Heteroxenia, and Nephthyigorgia, most of which were found at Similan and coastal
Islands of Satun Province. While Dendronephthya, Scleronephthya, Nephthyigorgia, and
Eleutherobia were rare in the Gulf of Thailand, they were observed at Losin Island.
Genera richness and abundance were highest in offshore islands, where the visibility was
comparatively good. Moreover, the distribution and abundance of soft corals revealed a
correlation with reef zonation. The majority of soft corals were found on reef slopes.
Most zooxanthellate group was found on both horizontal and inclined substrates of up to
90 degrees. In comparison, azooxanthellate genera were found on substrates of all
inclines.
26.1212
Habitats and Biodiversity of Ningaloo Reef Lagoon, Western Australia
Mike VAN KEULEN* 1 , Neil LONERAGAN 1 , Greg SKILLETER 2 , Nicole PINNEL 3 , Halina
KOBRYN 3 , Lynnath BECKLEY 3
1 School of Biological Sciences & Biotechnology, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia,
2 School of Integrative Biology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 3 School of
Environmental Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia
As part of the CSIRO Wealth from Oceans Ningaloo Collaborative Cluster programme
currently underway in Western Australia, this study aims to examine the habitats and
biodiversity of lagoonal areas within Ningaloo Reef. Key habitat types were identified using
information from hyperspectral remote sensing and were used to develop a stratified sampling
approach. Two focal areas were selected, based on sanctuary zones within Ningaloo Marine
Park: Osprey Bay in the north and Coral Bay in the south. A nested sampling programme was
initiated within each location, consisting of surveying transects at different spatial scales: crossreef
transects (shore to reef-edge) to identify major habitat types and boundaries between
habitats; and finer-scale habitat surveys of biodiversity and abundance of different major groups
of organisms, focussing on non-scleractinian cnidarians, macroalgae, sponges, echinoderms and
molluscs. Four geomorphological categories have been sampled at each location: reef-crest,
back-reef, lagoon and inner reef-flat. Ground-truthing was carried out on the extent of habitats
along defined transects selected to maximize the diversity of each site. Sub-sampling for macroinvertebrates
was conducted along 50 m transects, with counts of holothurians, the gastropod
Drupella cornus and clams (Tridacna spp.). A nested quadrat sampling regime will attempt to
link field-collected data with remotely-sensed data, collected at different scales. Preliminary
results confirm that the northern section of Ningaloo Reef differs greatly from the southern
section, with a greater diversity of habitats present in the broader lagoons in the south. Greater
areas of coral are found close inshore and across the entire reef at the southern location,
compared with the northern section, which has a broad expanse of sand and limestone pavement
before grading to corals further offshore (the back-reef and reef-crest). These differences in
habitat may have implications on the overall biodiversity of the two locations.
26.1213
Applying Dna Barcode On Species Identification And Recruitment Of Coral Fishes
Hui-Ling KO 1 , Kwang-Tsao SHAO* 1 , Li-Lian LIU 2
1 Research Center for Biodiversity, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, 2 Institute of Marine
Biology, NSYSU, Kaoshiung, Taiwan
Although identifying species of fish larvae morphologically is much easier than fish eggs, it
doesn’t guarantee the identification is accurate. Without proper identification, we can not obtain
spawning season, spawning ground or life history data at the species level for recruitment
studies. In this study, we attempted to apply the DNA barcode method on fish larvae collected
from Kenting National Park in the southern tip of Taiwan during 2005-2007. A total of 1,549
specimens of fish larvae in the postflexion stage were collected using light traps at four coastal
stations and three harbor stations. Fifteen types of damselfish (Pomacentridae) larvae and five
types of butterflyfish (Chaetodontidae) larvae were identified based on their morphological
characters. The mtDNA CO1 sequence was then used as the barcode to identify different
morphological types of damselfishes and butterflyfishes to the species level. Overall, 15
morphotypes of damselfishes were identified to 11 species level and 3 genera level, and five
morphotypes of butterflyfishes were identified to four species level and one genus level. After
the species were identified, we can then make a diagnostic key and compile an encyclopedia on
larval fishes in the future. In the meantime, the spawning season and abundance of fishes were
investigated to the species level. These more precise results are useful in understanding the
recruitment and population status of coral reef fishes in the Kenting area as well as in planning
the work on their resources conservation and restoration.
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