Phylogenetic analysis of a group of palaeonemerteans (Nemertea) including two new species from Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Sundberg, P., Gibson, R. & Olsson, U. (2003). Phylogenetic analysis of a group of palaeonemerteans (Nemertea) including two new species from Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. — Zoologica Scripta, 32, 279–296.
Based on 18S rDNA nucleotide sequences and morphological characters, we reconstruct the phylogeny for a group of palaeonemerteans estimated to be monophyletic. Two new palaeonemertean species from Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef, Australia are included in the phylogenetic analysis. The results confirm that one of the species, Cephalothrix queenslandica sp. n., is part of the Cephalothrix–Cephalotrichella–Procephalothrix group. These genera are redefined phylogenetically under the name Cephalothrix based on the cladistic analysis. The other species, Balionemertes australiensis gen. et sp. n., is placed in a new genus which forms a sister taxon to Cephalothrix . The morphology of both new species is described in detail.     

Genetic diversity of isolated populations of Nautilus pompilius (Mollusca, Cephalopoda) in the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea

Nautilus species are the only remaining cephalopods with an external shell. Targeted heavily by the shell trade across their distribution area, these species have a poorly known population structure and genetics. Molecular techniques have been used to assess levels of inter- and intra-population genetic diversity in isolated populations of Nautilus in the northern sections of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia and in the Coral Sea. Distinct populations, physically separated by depths in excess of 1,000 m were examined. RAPD analysis of genetic differences showed limited differentiation of the “Northern GBR” populations and the “Coral Sea” populations. Discrimination between the two geographic groups was observed from these data. In addition, partial sequencing of the CoxI gene region, yielded 575 bp of sequence, which was aligned for 43 samples and phylogenetic trees constructed to examine genetic relationships. Two distinct clades were resolved in the resulting trees, representing the “Northern GBR” and “Coral Sea” population groups. Inter- and intra-population relationships are presented and discussed. The differentiation of the Nautilus populations from the Northern section of the Great Barrier Reef and those from the Coral Sea were supported by two distinctly different methodologies and the significance of this separation and the potential evolutionary divergence of these two population groups is discussed.     

Trematodes of the Great Barrier Reef,Australia: emerging patterns of diversity and richness in coral reef fishes

The Great Barrier Reef holds the richest array of marine life found anywhere in Australia, including a diverse and fascinating parasite fauna. Members of one group, the trematodes, occur as sexually mature adult worms in almost all Great Barrier Reef bony fish species. Although the first reports of these parasites were made 100 years ago, the fauna has been studied systematically for only the last 25 years. When the fauna was last reviewed in 1994 there were 94 species known from the Great Barrier Reef and it was predicted that there might be 2,270 in total. There are now 326 species reported for the region, suggesting that we are in a much improved position to make an accurate prediction of true trematode richness. Here we review the current state of knowledge of the fauna and the ways in which our understanding of this fascinating group is changing. Our best estimate of the true richness is now a range, 1,100–1,800 species. However there remains considerable scope for even these figures to be incorrect given that fewer than one-third of the fish species of the region have been examined for trematodes. Our goal is a comprehensive characterisation of this fauna, and we outline what work needs to be done to achieve this and discuss whether this goal is practically achievable or philosophically justifiable.     

Dactylogyrids (Monogenoidea) parasitizing the gills of spinefoots (Teleostei: Siganidae): proposal of Glyphidohaptor n. gen., with two new species from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, and G. plectocirra n. comb. from Ras Mohammed National Park, Egypt

Nine species of Siganus (Perciformes: Siganidae) were examined for dactylogyrids (Monogenoidea) from the Red Sea, Egypt; the Great Barrier Reef, Australia; and the South China Sea, China. Species of Tetrancistrum were found on siganids from all 3 localities; Pseudohaliotrema spp. were restricted to siganids from the Great Barrier Reef; and species representing Glyphidohaptor n. gen. were found on siganids from the Red Sea and Great Barrier Reef. Siganus argenteus from the Red Sea and Siganus vulpinus from the Great Barrier Reef were negative for dactylogyrid parasites. Glyphidohaptor n. gen. is proposed for 3 species (2 species new to science) and the new species are described: Glyphidohaptor phractophallus n. sp. from Siganus fuscescens from the Great Barrier Reef; Glyphidohaptor sigani n. sp. from Siganus doliatus (type host), Siganus punctatus, Siganus corallinus, and Siganus lineatus from the Great Barrier Reef; and Glyphidohaptor plectocirra (Paperna, 1972) n. comb. (= Pseudohaliotrema plectocirra Paperna, 1972) from Siganus luridus and Siganus rivulatus from the Red Sea.     

Taxonomy, host specificity and dietary implications of Hurleytrematoides (Digenea: Monorchiidae) from chaetodontid fishes on the Great Barrier Reef

Five new and five previously described species of Hurleytrematoides are reported from 19 of 34 chaetodontid species examined from the Great Barrier Reef; new species are H. faliexae n. sp., H. galzini n. sp., H. loi n. sp., H. morandi n. sp., and H. sasali n. sp. Previously described species are H. coronatum, H. fijiensis, H. prevoti, H. bartolii, and H. zebrasomae. The genus is rediagnosed in the light of morphological variation of the new species; the degree of spination and shape of the terminal genitalia distinguish individual species. Species of Hurleytrematoides infect almost every clade of the family Chaetodontidae found on the Great Barrier Reef, but obligate corallivores are not infected. All ten species were found at Heron Island on the southern Great Barrier Reef, but only six at Lizard Island on the northern Great Barrier Reef. For three of the four species not present at Lizard Island, the absence appears to be statistically significant. Although all species are apparently restricted to chaetodontids on the GBR, specificity within the family varies from oioxenous to euryxenous; a core/satellite host paradigm explains the distribution of several species.     

Ostracoda (Crustacea) from Lizard Island,northern Great Barrier Reef,Australia. II. The family Paradoxostomatidae Brady & Norman, 1889

The present paper deals with the taxonomy of the ostracod family Paradoxostomatidae Brady & Norman, 1889 from the coral reefs around Lizard Island, northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia. 18 species were found, all of them belonging to the genusParadoxostoma Fischer, 1855. 2 species had been previously described from Heron Island, southern Great Barrier Reef. 1 species had been described from the Red Sea. 2 species are left in open nomenclature.     

Reproductive biology of a large, aggregation-spawning serranid, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (Forsskål): management implications

The reproductive biology of Great Barrier Reef populations of the long-lived grouper Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (brown-marbled grouper or flowery cod) was investigated using histological analyses. Evidence provided by gonad morphology and age-based demographics suggested monandric protogynous hermaphroditism. Younger age groups contained only immature and mature females, and all males were above the size and age of 100% female maturity, consistent with secondary males derived from mature females by adult sex change. Fishing records confirmed that spawning aggregations of this species and the co-occurring Epinephelus polyphekadion (camouflage grouper) are sometimes targeted on the Great Barrier Reef. Sampling data revealed strong spawning seasonality for E. fuscoguttatus , with a relatively narrow annual spawning period (November to January). The temporal pattern of reproductive activity within the spawning period, based on occurrence of near spawning ovaries (containing hydrated oocytes), indicated spawning events may occur throughout much of the lunar cycle and only partly coincide with seasonal fishing closure periods on the Great Barrier Reef. The results indicate that protection would be enhanced by a longer seasonal closure.     

Species boundaries and evolutionary lineages in the blue green damselfishes Chromis viridis and Chromis atripectoralis (Pomacentridae)

The blue green damselfishes were described as a complex of two species ( Chromis viridis and Chromis atripectoralis ), mainly based on the colouration of the pectoral fin base. In this study, the authors analysed the mitochondrial control region of 88 blue green damselfishes from Indonesia, the Philippines, Red Sea and the Great Barrier Reef. The phylogenetic analysis revealed four major monophyletic clades. Two clades included specimens of C. atripectoralis from the Great Barrier Reef and individuals of C. viridis from the Red Sea, respectively. The remaining individuals of C. viridis from Indonesia and the Philippines were grouped into two clades without phylogeographic structure. The obtained results (1) verified that C. viridis and C. atripectoralis are distinct species and (2) revealed three deep evolutionary lineages of C. viridis in the Indo-Malay Archipelago and the Red Sea.     

A new species of Halacarsantia Wolff, 1989 (Crustacea, Isopoda, Asellota, Santiidae) from Wistari Reef, southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Halacarsantia acutasp. n. is described from Wistari Reef, Capricorn Group, southern Great Barrier Reef, the first record of the genus from Australia. The new species differs from its congeners in having antenna flagellum composed of 8 articles; epipod apically acute, without setae, broad maxilliped endite and pereopod 1 basis with a short projection. A key to species of the genus is provided.     

Taxonomy, host-specificity and biogeography of Symmetrovesicula Yamaguti, 1938 (Digenea: Fellodistomidae) from chaetodontids (Teleostei: Perciformes) in the tropical Indo-west Pacific region

Combined molecular and morphological data demonstrate the presence of two species of Symmetrovesicula Yamaguti, 1938 in chaetodontid fishes from Australian waters. A total of 2,462 individuals of 46 species of chaetodontid at eight localities were dissected. Analysis of the rDNA ITS2 revealed the presence of three genotypes, two separated by a single base difference and the third differed from the other two by 10-11 base differences. Subsequent morphological examination identified a number of variations that supported the presence of two species; however, we found no additional evidence to support the presence of a third species corresponding to the single base variation. Thus, we take the conservative approach of recognising two species of Symmetrovesicula within Australian waters, S. chaetodontis Yamaguti, 1938 from off Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia and S. gracilis n. sp. from off Ningaloo Reef, the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland and New Caledonia. Both species exhibit distinct restrictions to certain clades of chaetodontids.     

Shifting base-lines, declining coral cover, and the erosion of reef resilience: comment on Sweatman et al. (2011)

Formal monitoring of the Great Barrier Reef was initiated in 1986 in response to the clear scientific evidence (and growing public concern) over the loss of corals caused by two protracted outbreaks of crown-of thorns starfish, which began in 1962 and 1979. Using monitoring data from manta tows along and across the Great Barrier Reef, Sweatman et al. (Coral Reefs 30:521–531, 2011) show that coral cover after these outbreaks declined further from 28 to 22% between 1986 and 2004. Pointing to the current levels of protection of the Great Barrier Reef, they state that earlier estimates of losses of coral cover since the early 1960s have been exaggerated. However, the loss of close to one-quarter of the coral cover over the past two decades represents an average loss of 0.34% cover per year across the whole GBR after 1986, which is very similar to previously reported rates of annual loss measured over a longer timeframe. The heaviest recent losses have occurred on inshore and mid-shelf reefs, which Sweatman et al. (Coral Reefs 30:521–531, 2011) attribute to a natural cycle of disturbance and recovery. But there has been very limited recovery. While coral cover has increased for short periods on some individual reefs, it has declined sharply on many more to produce the observed system-wide trend of declining cover. Close to 40% of coral cover on inner reefs has been lost since 1986. Of particular significance is the new evidence that coral cover has remained unchanged or declined further from a low 1986 baseline in 28 out of 29 sub-regions of the Great Barrier Reef, indicating a gradual erosion of resilience that is impeding the capacity of this huge reef system to return towards its earlier condition. This result, and other clear evidence of widespread incremental degradation from overfishing, pollution, and climate change, calls for action rather than complacency or denial.     

Predicting the Location and Spatial Extent of Submerged Coral Reef Habitat in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area,Australia

Aim

Coral reef communities occurring in deeper waters have received little research effort compared to their shallow-water counterparts, and even such basic information as their location and extent are currently unknown throughout most of the world. Using the Great Barrier Reef as a case study, habitat suitability modelling is used to predict the distribution of deep-water coral reef communities on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. We test the effectiveness of a range of geophysical and environmental variables for predicting the location of deep-water coral reef communities on the Great Barrier Reef.

Location

Great Barrier Reef, Australia.

Methods

Maximum entropy modelling is used to identify the spatial extent of two broad communities of habitat-forming megabenthos phototrophs and heterotrophs. Models were generated using combinations of geophysical substrate properties derived from multibeam bathymetry and environmental data derived from Bio-ORACLE, combined with georeferenced occurrence records of mesophotic coral communities from autonomous underwater vehicle, remotely operated vehicle and SCUBA surveys. Model results are used to estimate the total amount of mesophotic coral reef habitat on the GBR.

Results

Our models predict extensive but previously undocumented coral communities occurring both along the continental shelf-edge of the Great Barrier Reef and also on submerged reefs inside the lagoon. Habitat suitability for phototrophs is highest on submerged reefs along the outer-shelf and the deeper flanks of emergent reefs inside the GBR lagoon, while suitability for heterotrophs is highest in the deep waters along the shelf-edge. Models using only geophysical variables consistently outperformed models incorporating environmental data for both phototrophs and heterotrophs.

Main Conclusion

Extensive submerged coral reef communities that are currently undocumented are likely to occur throughout the Great Barrier Reef. High-quality bathymetry data can be used to identify these reefs, which may play an important role in resilience of the GBR ecosystem to climate change.     

Faustulid trematodes (Digenea) from marine fishes of Australia

Twelve species of faustulid trematode are described or redescribed from Australian marine fishes. Bacciger lesteri Bray, 1982 and B. sprenti Bray, 1982 are redescribed from Selenotoca multifasciata from Moreton Bay. It is suggested that the original host record for these species, Mugil sp., was incorrect. The genera Discogastroides, Odontocotyle and Pseudodiscogasteroides are synonymised with Paradiscogaster. The new combinations Paradiscogaster arabi (Hafeezullah & Siddiqi, 1970), P. hainanensis (Shen, 1970), P. indicus (Srivastava, 1939), P. macrostomus (Shimazu & Kamegai, 1990), P. ostracii (Yamaguti, 1934) and P. pritchardae (Gupta & Ahmad, 1978) are proposed. Discogasteroides hawaiensis Hanson, 1955 is synonymised with P. ostracii. P. macrostomus and P. ostracii are redescribed from Ostracion meleagris and O. cubicus from the Great Barrier Reef. P. farooqii Hafeezullah & Siddiqi, 1970 is redescribed from Monodactylus argenteus from Moreton Bay. The following new species are described: P. machidai n. sp. from Pomacanthus semicirculatus and P. sexstriatus from the Great Barrier Reef, P. dweorg n. sp. from Meuschenia galii, P. lobomyzon n. sp. from Tilodon sexfasciatus and P. habilis n. sp. from Pelates octolineatus, all from Western Australia. Antorchis pomacanthi (Hafeezullah & Siddiqi, 1970) Machida, 1975 is redescribed from Pomacanthus semicirculatus and P. sexstriatus from the Great Barrier Reef. The new combination Antorchis intermedius (Madhavi, 1975) is proposed for Parantorchis intermedius. Parayamagutia ostracionis is redescribed from O. cubicus from the Great Barrier Reef. Trigonocryptus conus is redescribed from Arothron hispidus from South-east Queensland and from A. nigropunctatus from the Great Barrier Reef. The new combination Trigonocryptus australiensis (Kurochkin, 1970) is proposed for Pseudodiscogasteroides australiensis. The Echinobrevicecinae is reduced to synonymy with the Faustulidae.     

Recruitment patterns of scleractinian corals in an isolated sub-tropical reef system

The density of recruits of scleractinian corals on settlement plates at Lord Howe Island, a small isolated sub-tropical island 630 km off the Australian coastline, was within the range of values reported for comparable studies on the Great Barrier Reef. However, there was a difference in the relative abundance of taxonomic groups, with recruitment at Lord Howe Island during the summer of 1990/91 dominated by corals from the Family Pocilloporidae, Family Poritidae, and sub-genus Acropora (Isopora) (in order of abundance). By contrast, on the Great Barrier Reef, recruits are generally predominantly species from the Family Acroporidae (other than the Acropora (Isopora) group). Both the recruits and the established coral communities at Lord Howe Island are dominanted by corals which release brooded planulae, as opposed to the pattern of mass-spawning with external fertilisation more typical of Great Barrier Reef corals. I hypothesise that the release of brooded planulae would be advantageous in an isolated reef community because (a) brooded larvae can travel large distances and survive the journey to the isolated reef and/or (b) brooded larvae have a shorter period before they are competent to settle and are therefore more likely to be retained on the parental reef once a population has been established.     

Macroecological relationships between coral species�� traits and disease potential

Coral disease is a growing problem for reef corals and a primary driver of reef degradation. Incidences of coral disease on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) are increasing; however, our understanding of differences among species in their potential for contracting disease is poor. In this study, we integrate observations of coral disease on the GBR from the primary literature as well as morphological, ecological and biogeographical traits of coral species that have been hypothesised to influence “disease potential.” Most of the examined traits influence species’ disease potential when considered alone. However, when all traits are analysed together, diversity of predators, geographical range size and characteristic local abundance are the primary predictors of disease potential. Biases associated with species’ local abundance and phylogeny are tested but do not overpower relationships. This large-scale macroecological evaluation of coral disease provides insights into species-level traits that drive disease susceptibility.     

Relationship of internal macrobioeroder densities in living massive Porites to turbidity and chlorophyll on the Australian Great Barrier Reef

This study investigates the relationship between the density of internal macrobioeroders in living massive Porites and nutrient status. The study was conducted along turbidity and chlorophyll gradients towards river mouths on 12 reefs in four regions of the inshore Great Barrier Reef. Mean internal macrobioeroder densities doubled from 2 to 8 m depth, and at the 8 m sites, densities increased 4- to 7-fold towards the river mouths in all regions. Densities also increased 1.6-fold for each additional 1 NTU turbidity and 650-fold per 1 μg L⁻¹ additional chlorophyll a. The study shows that the density of macrobioeroder boreholes in living massive Porites is a simple bioindicator measure for changing turbidity and chlorophyll concentrations on the Great Barrier Reef for sites from which direct water quality measurements are unavailable.     

Some nemerteans (Nemertea) from Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Three species of marine nemerteans described and illustrated from Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, include one new genus and two new species: these are the monostiliferous hoplonemerteans Thallasionemertes leucocephala gen. et sp. nov. and Correanemertes polyophthalma sp. nov. A new colour variety of the heteronemertean Micrura callima is also reported, this species previously only being known from Rottnest Island, Western Australia. A key for the field identification of the marine nemerteans recorded from coastal Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef is provided.