Infauna of marine sediments and seagrass beds of Upper Spencer Gulf near Port Pirie, south Australia

14 Pages·1993·4.5 MB·English

by  P A Hutchings

Transactionsofthe Royal Society of& Aust., (1993), 117(1). 1-15
INFAUNA OF MARINE SEDIMENTS AND SEAGRASS BEDS OF UPPER SPENCER
GULF NEAR PORT PIRIE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
by R A. HUTCHTNGS* T J. WAKD**, J- H WATERHOUSE*f <& L. WALKER***
Summary
HiTCHlVGS, P A., Ward, T, ;,, WATtRHOUSE, J. H., & WALKER, L. 0993) Infaunaofmarine sedimentsand
seagrass beds ofUpper SpencerGulf near f^rt Pirie, South Aiutmlio. Thms. R. Snc. S. Aicu. 1I7<I), 1-15, 4
June, 1993.
Theiiifaunaofsixinierudalandshallow aubtidalhabitatsweresampled insummerAndwinternearftirtPirie.
Upper Spencer Gulf. The habitats included seagrasseti and non-vegetated sediments. Over 12,000 Individuals
belongingto372 taxa werecollected inthe survey. Thespeciescompositionofthis faunahad very littleoverlap
(only 24 species) with thatofamore recent survey ofNorthern SpencerGulf. Thedensity ofthe fauna in out
studyareawasleast(280m2) inthe unvegctatcdinicrtidaJhabitat, andhighest(2612 nv2) in theintertidal seagrast
habitat (Zastera), and was dominated by polychaetes, molluscs and crustacean*. The fauna oftheTostera and
PosidoniahabitatsiscomparedwithothersimilarhabitatssampledinsouthernAustralia, intermsofthe number
ol species, densityofindividuals and reeding guildsofthe fauna. Differences in speciesdiversity and densities
betweenthisstudyandotherstudiesarelikelyloreflecttheintensityofsampling, as wellasdifferencesbetween
locations in ihe density and specie* ofseagrass and in ihc prevailing hydrological regimes.
Key Words? Posittonitt, Zoatem, seagrasi beds. uiivevceiaied sediments, infauna.
Introduction andWard Spit, andNorthern SpencerGull is defined
astheportion ofSpencerGulfnorthofAVard Spit* i.e.
Upper Spencer Gulf near Port Pirie (33°I9'S. north of 33*S (Siefanson nil). Spencer Gulf, h
138*E),&3UihAustralia, isshallow (generallylessthan hypersaltnc, with salinitiesgradually increasingfrom
20iddeep)and fringedwithlargeexpansesofiruenidal 35 °/utomorethan60 °/&o nearPort Augustaatthe
mudflats, inteiitrial seagrasses {Zcstem spp.), and headoftheGulf(Bullock 1975). UpperSpencer Gulf
subtidal bedsofthe scagrasscsRwdoniaaustrnlisand
P sinuosa. These shallow expanses of seabed are hfarsomanabionutte4r1m-e4d7i.a2te7sa*liannidtywarteegrimtee,mpvearraytiunrgesanrnaunaglilnyg
fished commerciallyand rccreationally for a number from 10-26.2°C (Dow 1980*). Studies of fish and
ofspeciesoffish, including garfish and whiting, and crustaceans in this areaby Ward& Young(1982) have
for crustaceans including prawns and crabs (Jones shownthattheyappeartobeunaffectedbytheconstant
1979*; King I9772). Although these, and many other high salinities.
Species,, use rhe seagrass beds and intenidal flats ar In this study we examine the mainly invertebrate
various stages oftheir litecycle (Jones 1979'j. there taunahvinginthesedimentsinshallow-waterhabitats
havebeen fewecologicalstudiesdesignedtodocument found in UpperSpencerGulfnear ft>rt Pirie, and its
otherspeciesofimportanceoccurring inthesehabitats specie*composition.Theseresultsarecomparedwith
of the Gulf. those obtained from similar habitats elsewhere in
Upper Spencer Gulfrefers to the area ofthe Gulf
southern Australia
between Fort Davis Creek (just south of IV«rt Piaie) Similar hao-itais which have been studied in detail
elsewherein southern Australia arethoseofseagrass
beds and intertidal habitats. The infauna of seagrass
*tmertebrateZoology, theAustralianMuseum, P.O. Boa beds has been examined in several studies in eastern
A2S5, Sydney South, NSW 2000 Australia (CoUctt et a!. 1984; Hutchings & Recher
** C51RODivisionofFisheries. P.O. Box20, NorthBeach. 1974),andinWestern Australia(Hutchingsetal. 1991;
VVA 6020
*** lomneriy of The Australian Museum now of 306, Weils et at. 1985> and reviewed by Howard rt aL
Moleswortb St., LiBmore, NSW 2480 (1989)i Theinraunaofintertidal habitats in Northern
SpencerGulfhas recently been studied by Ainslie et
'JONES.G t (1979)BiologicalInvestigationsoftheMurine aL (1989).
Scale Fishery in Spencer Gulf. (Dept Agriculture and
Fisheries, South Australia). 72pp.
^KJNU, M. G. (1977)ThebiologyofrhcWesternKing Pnwn
functuslatisiiteolus Kishinouyeand aspects ofthe fishery 'DOW (1980)RedcliffPfojecl - DraftEnvironmental Effects
in South Australia. MSc. thesis, University of Adelaide, Statement. 178 pp. (Dow Chemical (Australia) Limited
uapubj Adelaide S.A.I.
P. A. HUTCHINGS* T. J. WARD, J. H WATERHOUSE & L. WALKER
Materials and Methods site,andthesamplingtechniqueresultedinsubstantial
amounts of live and dead seagrass leaf material,
Samplesofsedimentwerecollected athightidefrom rhizomes and roots in the samples. The habitats
18sites representingsixhabitats, bydiversusing PVC sampled (Fig. 1)were fromabout mid-tidal level (on
mm mm
corers(220 diameterand 160 depth)inwinter mudflats adjacent to themangroves) to sediments in
(25.vii.1979 - 17.xiii.1979) and in summer (l.ii.1980 10mwaterdepth, andare the samehabitats inwhich
—
l.iii.1980). Each corerhadasharpenedleadingedge detailedstudiesofsedimentsandepibenthicfaunahave
andwascappedattheotherendbyaPVCplatewelded been carried out previously O^rd & Young 1981,
inplace. A50mmholeinthecapcoveredwith 1 mm 1982). Thehabitats includedbareintertidalmuds (Sites
fibreglass mesh allowed waterto escapeas the corer 1A, IB, 1C), intertidal seagrass beds of Zostera
was driven into the sediment, and, after coring, was mucrotiata (Sites 2A, 2B, 2C), subtidal beds of
sealed with a rubber bung. No attempt was made to Posidoniaaustralis (Sites3A, 3B, 3C) andPosidonia
avoidseagrassleaveswhentheyoccurredatasampling sinuosa (Sites 4A, 4B, 4C) and bare unvegetated
1 Port Augusta
.33 Whyalla, Port Germein
SOUTH
AUSTRALIA
Fig. 1. The Port Pirie study area in Upper Spencer Gulf.
INFAUNA OF MARINE SEDIMENTS AND SEAGRASS BEDS OF UPPER SPENCER GULF
sediments(Sites5A, 5B 5Cand Sites 6A, 6B, 6C> in Results and Discussion
?
deeperwater(Fig. 1). Ateachsitethreesampleswere
Species Composition ofthe Fauna
collectedhaphazardlyfromeachofthreeplotsofabout
4 m2 separated by atleast5 rru This resulted in nine The samples contained 12,396 individuals
asnadmpsleusmmferro,meexaccehptofftohres1u8msmieters,, cwohlleencteodneinswaimnptleer proelpyrcehsaeentteisn,g2367%2 tmaoxlal.usTchse,s2e2t%axcarucsotnasciesatnesd, oafnd369%%
echinodenns, withtheremaining 7% beingdistributed
from the Fosidonia austrulis habitat was lost.
amongtheminorphyla(Table 1). Thedistributionand
Thesamples weresievedinthe fieldthrough 2mm abundanceofall taxa within the six habitats sampled
meshandallresidueswerepreservedin10% formalin. is shown in Appendix 1. Of the 26 dominant taxa,
Inthelaboratorythesampleswere sorted underwater definedasthose representedby 100ormoreindividuals
in large flat trays with the aid of low-power in the collection, 18 were polychaetes* four were
magnification. Hermitcrabs were discarded because molluscs, three were crustaceans and one was a
ofthedifficultyofextracting them from their shells, holothurian (Table 2), The taxa identified as
but allothernon-colonial faunawascollected. Colonial nemerteans and sipunculansmay notbemonospecific
organismssuchasbryozoansandhydroidsattachedto becauseofdifficultiesin identifyingindividualstothe
the blades ofthe seagrasses were not sampled inthis species level. The most abundant specieswas Tanaia
study. Becauseoftaxonomic difficultiesandalackof dulongi, a tanaid crustacean.
funds the collection was stored for six years until Thesixhabitatssampledvariedconsiderably inthe
resources permitted a detailed evaluation The numberofspeciespresent. Thefour subtidal habitats
collection has been deposited at the Aust.ralian all had a high numbers of species (173 - 193)
Museum, Sydney compared to the intertidal Zosiera habitat (116), and
Table I. Infaima ofUpperSpencerGulf Numbersofspecies (S), density (d, number ofindividuals m"2), abundance (nT
% ofratal individuals in habitat) andtotal abundance (N) ofthe major taxa in each ofthe six habitat types sampled. All
habitats were sampled with 54 cores (total surfacearea of2.05 m"2), except Fosidoniaaustralis which wassampled with
53 (total surface area of2.01 m"2).
taxa habitat
intertidal Zostera P. austjwlis P. sinuosa 5m bare- 10m bare total
polvchaetes
n
s 94 97 91 88 148
d 243 %, 884 630 501 242 626
n(%) 87 48 76 73 76 49 62
crustaceans
S 5 20 34 44 23 18 81
d 16 907 120 76 28 19 19
n{%) 6 35 10 9 4 4 19
molluscs
S 6 34 i 50 95
d 13 330 84 92 183 63
n(%) 5 13 7 n 14 37 13
asctdians
S 4 3 5 7 2 10
d a 6 U 16 11 9
n(%) as 0.5 I 2 1 1
echmoderms
S 1 3 K) 12 9 10 20
d 0.5 39 37 38 14 32 27
n(%) 0.2 2 3 4 2 7 3
minor taxa*
S 2 8 6 4 4 18
d 8 f 27 11 i 10 21
TL(%) 3 2 I 1 2 2
all taxa
S 26 115 1*1 171 172 372
N 574 5362 2329 1764 1350 1017 12396
d 280 2612 1157 860 660 497 1010
*Minor taxa includes fish, insects, sipunculans, poriferans, nemerteans, pyenugonids, enteropneusts and hirudineans.
PA
4 HUTCHINGS, T. J. WARD, J. H. WATERHOUSE & L. WALKER
Table2. Abundances (%)ofthedominantspecies—totalabundancesof100orgreater—ineachofthethesixhabitattypes.
intertidal Zostera P. australis P. sinuosa 5m bare 10m bare total
Tanais 26(3) 819 (97) _ _ 1 (0.1) 846
dulongii
CapitelUt 51 (8) 611 (92) - - - _ 662
"capitata"
Nereis - 31 (5) 577 (89) 29(5) 7(1) 1 (0.2) 645
bifida
Apseudes -- 513 (87) 63 (U) 2 (0.3) 7(1) 3 (0.5) 588
australis
Leitoscohplos 31 (5) 414 (71) 121 (21) 13 (2) 1 (0.2) - 580
sp. m
Nephiys 109 (20) 99 (18) 13(2) 115 (21) (27) 67 (12) 552
gravien
Ceratonereis 248 (65) 8(2) 34(9) 14(4) 69(18) W (3) 383
Pista - 340 (91) 6(2) 12(3) 3 (0.8) 12(3) 373
fUrHflivU
Plarynympha 2 (0.6) 291 (90) 22(7) 8(2) - 323
longicaudata
Burtmtolla sp. - 88 (31) 57 (20) 88 (31) 46 (16) 6(2) 285
Austromytilus - 5(2) 2 (0.8) 2 (0.8) 57 (21) 211 (76) 277
penectus
Netnatonereis r - 103 (41) 118 (47) 25 (10) 7(3) 253
unicornis
Augeneria - 131 (55) 18(8) 49 (20) 26 (11) 16(7) 240
verdis
Tellina - 226 (95) - 8(3) 5(2) - 239
deltoidalis
Zeacumamis I (0.5) 206 (99) - — - - 207
diemenensis
Eunice sp. 3 - - 41 (21) 72(36) 51 (26) 35(18) 199
Notomastus 2(1) 96 (52) 51(27) 25(13) 12(6) 186
sp. 1
Tellina 6(3) 71(41) 20 (12) 45 (26) 12(7) 18 (10) 172
mariae
LeptosynaptQ 74 (49) 42 (28) 33 (22) _ 1 (0.7) 150
dolabrifera
Asychis sp. - - 5(4) 2(1) 115(82) 19(13) 141
Ci'rriformia * 43 (34) 43 (34) 28(22) 4(3) 9(7) 127
sp. 1
Caulleriella - 20(18) 31 (27) 38 (34) 21 (19) 3(3) 113
sp. 4
Eunice sp. 1 - - 5(5) 81 (74) 19 (17) 4(4) 109
SDicpalhopciiorrsus sp. -1 0) 9724 ((7930)) 31(7(31)7) 44((44)) 41((41)) 2K(2D) 110012
simplex
Caulleriella - 7(7) 35 (35) 43 (43) 14 (14) 0) 100
sp. 3 I
ttoottaallsabundance4(7a5ll(s6p)ecies) 4165 (52) 1354 (17) 859 (11) 661 (8) 439-- (1,6-w)/ 7953
574 5362 2329 1764 1350 1017 12396
% abundance dominant/abundance total
83 78 58 49 49 43 64
ihe intertidalmud, whichwasby farthe mostspecies- Overall, polychaetes and molluscs were the two
poorhabitat withonly 27 species recorded(Table 1). dominantgroupsin termsofboth numbersofspecies
Thepattern ofdensities amongst thesix habitats was andindividuals. Thecrustaceansweregenerallysimilar
generally similartothatofspeciesrichnessexceptfor to the molluscs in speciesrichnessand abundancein
theZosterahabitat. Thishabitathadthehighestdensity the twoPosidoniahabitatsand the intertidal mud, but
offauna (2612 individuals m'2) with the second lowest were considerably reduced in the two subtidal
species richness (115 spp.). unvegetatedhabitats. Echinoderms, ascidiansand the
)
LNfVtUNA OF MAKINfi SEDIMENTS AND SEAORASS BEDS Of IFPPER SPENCERGULF
minortaxawere represented by only few aperiesand collectedateach siteinsummerandwinterfromJune
typically few individuals in all habitats. 1982 to June 1986 inclusive, which is a far greater
Of Ibe 12,396 individuals collected 7.953 (64%) intensityofsamplingthancarriedout inthisstudy. The
belonged to only 26 (7%) or the 375 species. The Ainslte et at. (1989) study sampled a total area of
remaining346specieswererepresented inmostcases 33 m2 in Northern Spencer Gulfwhereas we sampled
by onlya few individuals (Appendix IK Ninety-four about 2 m2. Thts difference intotalarea sampledand
species »vererepresented by only a single individual theextended temporal scale ofthe Northern Spencer
inUtecollectionand 155specieswerepresentinonly Gulfstudymayhovecontributed lome greaternumber
onebnbital Similarpatternshavebeen found inother ofspeciesofinfeunarecorded. Alternatively, dieOwlf
studies of the infju'lit of Australian seagrass beds near Port Pine may have a depauperate intertidal
(Collet! et at, 19S4; Hutches et aL 1991). mfauna becauseofdifferent salinity and temperature
The26dominantspeciesweredistributedunevenly regimes.
between Hie six habitats (Table 2>. The two most The species couupositioo of the infauna found by
dominant species [Ttotais dukmgi and CapiteUa Ainslie etat. (1989) in Northern Spencer Gull is not
x'capitata") were almostexclusively restricted to the similartothat found inthisstudy,withvery fewspecies
two kMcnidal habiMrts, and predominantly in the beingcommon tobothareas. Ainslieetai identified
Znstera. Several other species also occurred a total of 100 taxa to species level, and in this study
predominantly m the Zosiera habitat — Apseudes we identified 178 taxa to species. Ofthese only 24
austmtis. Leitoscotcphs normalis. Pisia viotacw, species arc common to both Upper and Northern
Plaiywnpha longit&iidasa, Tellina deltoidalis, Spencer Gulf. Obviously, someofthetaxa identified
Zearunumtits diem4n*nsis Diplocirrus sp. and only to genus may, after further study, be found to
ScoJoplos simplex Nereis tbifida and Eunice sp. I occur in both regions. We suggest that this apparent
occurred mainly in the P. austraUs and P, sinuo&a difference in species composition may be Tclaled to
habitats respectively, while Asychis sp. was mainly thedifferenthydrologicalregimes inthesetworegions
found in the 5 ra subttdal bare habitat. Only four of of Spencer Gulf. Northern Spencer Gulf is
thedominant species(Nepihysgmvieri, Ceratonereis characterisedbyhighsummersalinities,upto48 cfoo
sp I, Tetfinu mariae, and Scoioptos simplex) were (Nunes & Lennon 1986), and high sumUme-r
present innilsix habitats. Twenty ofthe26dominants temperatures with wide seasonal fluctuations
were found in all the subridal habitats. Thus the 25°C (Johnson I98l4; unpublished data quoted by
dominantspeciescould beseparated intotwogroups: Ainslie et at 1989). Northern Spencer Gulf is
those dominant in die intertidal and those dominant separated fioin the Upper Gulfby a narruw channel
in the suhtidal, with few species common to both just north of our study area, and this could be
groups, Adetailed analysisofthe variability ofspecies responsible for maintaining a different set of
compositionamongst individual habitats, sites, seasons bydrolog»cal conditionsbetweenthesetwostudy areas,
and sediment characteristics will be presented even though they are close to each other.
&
elsewhere (Ward Hutclhngs in prep*>.
Pbsidonia austraih seagrass beds
Comparison with other areas Th= low-httertidal seagra&s habitat of PosUhnia
Intertidal unvegetated sediments niisirahband P unuosa, in Northern Speocer Gulf,
Arecentstudy by Amslieetai (1989)ofthe inJauna contained 147 speciesof mfauna with a meandensity
ofintertidal unvegetated mudflatsofNorthern Spencer ofabout 170 incuvttfuaism2 (Ainslieetal. 1989) The
Gulf (about 60 km north ofour study area) recorded most similar habitat in our study (J* aussndis)
a total of 99 species. These 99 species included 31 contained 181 specieswithan averagedensityof 1157
species of poiyctiaetes, 31 molluscs, and 22 individuals m"2 Ainslie et ai. do not .give any
crustaceans. Thisisconsiderably greaterthanthetotal indication ofdiedensity ofseagrasses mi this habitat,
of 27 species which were recorded from intertidal but.because fbxidonUtisbasicallyasuhtidal scagrass
unvegetated habitats in this study. The densities of species, we presume that their sample location
individuals recorded in the Northern Spencer Gulf contained only scattered seagrass on the margins of
intertidal habitats (about 550 in 2) was also more substantial subtnfal beds of •c' austndis
considerablygreaterthanthoserecorded inthisstudy R austrafis seagrass beds elsewhere In southern
(280 or2). These differences may result fmm die Australia have also been studied. In Table 3 the
different scalesof sampling in the two studies or to distributioa*ofthemajorphylapresent inP. austmlis
real difference* between the locations related to
differencesm Ibehydrological conditionsbetweenthe
two Spencer Gulf locations. Similar sampling JOHNSON, r. E. (©80 Hydrctlopcal dua frocn Upper
techniqueswereusedinbothstudiesalthoughAinslie SpencerGulf 1975-NTS. Fwherie*Re*. PaperNo. 3. 1-30
etat. useda l aimsizedmesh> and20replicates were (Dept Fisheries, Adelaide, &A, unpubl
6 P. A. HUTCHINGS, T. Jk WARD, J H. WATERHOUSE & L, WALKER
Table3. Posidonia auatralis: distribution ofthe majorphyla (S = number ofspecies, d m overallmeandensity).
site Polychaetes MoUuscs Crustaceans Bchinodermg Ascidians Minor Total
Albany (Hutchings exal 1991)
S 47 26 15* 11 U 4 Hi
d** 731 691 656 132 124 - 2327
Spencer Gulf(this study)
**N*SW *88L3 3844 3U49 3ff7i 63 627 jUmR5i<.
(Collea et «/. 1984)
*S* 134 51 106 i 32 323
'656 285 710 gj
jg
*amphipodx not identified to specie*
*echwodernis and ascidians included in minor phyla
Guldfens=iti2e.s01(4nmum2beNrSofWin=div5i.d7u4alnsr)m."2)calculated fromtotalabundancesandtotalareasamp"ledV(Alban"y = 1 2m2'*Spoce"n*c.tcrrr
,
in Albany. SW West Australia (35W27"S lt7°03' oftfSW(Larkum&denHartog 1989),thecomposition
27"W) (Hutchingsetal. 1991) and atninesitesalong anddensityofits iniaunavaryaccordingtolocation.
theNSW coast from 32°B'S to 36°54'S (Collettet The iniaunamay also berelated to the density ofthe
ai 1984) arecomparedwiththoseoccurringinUpper seagrasses themselves,butattheUpperSpencerGulf
Spencer Gulf. Potychaetes dominated the infeuna in and Albany sites the density and productivity ofthe
these three geographical localities, both in terms of R austmUsbedsaresimilar(Wand 1987; Walkerelal.
numberofindividualsandspecies. Theaveragedensity 1991). Collett et al. (1984) report only a qualitative
NSW
ofinfauna in Posidonia beds was twicethat of assessment of the density of seagrass blades which
Upper Spencer Gulf, although the NSW data were cannotberelatedtothenumericvaluesdeterminedtor
based on samples totallingN5.S74Wm2 in area, collected theUpperSpencerGulfandAlbany sites. Therefore,
atnine locationsalongthe coast. Similarly, the because of both different sampling intensities and
P1..2aumst2)rahliasdsaammpelaenddiennsAiltbyaonfyi(ntfotaaulnaaraebaoustamtpwliecde stehaegdreansssidteynsoirtideis,veirtsiistynootfptohsesiibnleiatuondairfeocutlnydcboympeaarceh
that found in Upper Spencer Gulfin this study. ofthese studies.
ThespeciescompositionoftheimaunaofP. australis Inthisstudy wealsoexaminedwhetherthefeeding
in thesethreegeographical areasisdifferent, indicating strategies employed by the infauna were similar
that although P. austmlis has a wide distribution, regardless of geographical location. The fauna was
occurringfromSharkBay inAstern Australiaaround assignedtooneoffivefeedingcategories(Table4) foe
southernAustraliatoWallisLakeonthecentral coast Upper Spencer Gulf, Albany and the nine locations
oTfabslpeeci4.esPo(s%i)d)o.niaaustralis: distributionofthefaunaamongstfeedingcategoriesatAlbum, SpencerGulJfandNSW('number
location herbivore suspension deposit carnivore omnivorc
Albany (from Hutchings etal., 1991)
polychaetes 4 (9) 3 (7) 20 (44) IS (m40)
molluscs 7 (33) 7 (33) \ (5) t (2
crustaceans - 5 p6) 9 (64)
ascidians . U (100) -
echinoderms 2 (15) 4(J*j 5 (38) 2 (w15)
tStptefnflcer Gulf(this study) 11 (U) 23 (22) 30 (29) 40 (l38)' 2 (2)
mpoollylcuhsacestes 1U5 ((1424)) 1Q2 ((31f3t)) 420(6()43) 430fl(j3K2) I _(1)'
crustaceans 1 (J) 1 (g) £ <5$) q (38)
ascidians 3 (100) - -
echinoderms 1 (10) I (10) 3 (30) 5 (50) I
NlotSflWIs (from Collettetai, 19824)7 (16) 30 (17) 64 (*37*) 52 (V30)' JJ f(l,lJ
pmoollylcuhsacestes -10 (19) 2284 ((2417)) 573(1(43)9) 347(8(>28) 116 (§1f2)
«""»crustaceans 313_<i35)) 4S6(4()19) 2888 ((3206)) 6210f(21I9>) 4614((2411)
JNTAUNA OF MARINE SEDIMENTS AND SEAGHASS BEDS OF UPPER SPENCER GULP
along the NSW coast. The designation of feeding Fosidonia sinuosa seagrass beds
categories wasdeterminedfromtheliterature(mostly E sinuosa occurs from Shark Bay to the Great
for related species) and from personal observations. &
Australian Bight (LarVum den Hartog 1989).
—
Carnivores, including scavengers, comprised21 However, the infauna ofFosidoniasinuosa has only
38% ofthetotalinfaunainageographical region. The been sampled at one other location in southern
proportion of deposit feeders ranged between 29% Australia - Albany in SW Western Australia
(Albany) to 37% (Upper Spencer Gulf). Suspension (Hutchings et at. 1991). The density of the Albany
fircders, which may feed on suspended particulate infaunawastwice thatrecorded from UpperSpencer
matter aswellas plankton, werebetween 17and22% Gulf in this study. This difference between the two
ofthe fauna(Table4). There were majordifferences faunas was largely the result of higher densities of
intheherbivoreandomnivorefaunabetweenlocations, molluscs, crustaceansandascidiansatAlbany (Tabic
with ranges of 5% (NSW) to 16% (Upper Spencer 5). Conversely, UpperSpencerGulfhasaconsiderably
Gulf), and 1% (Upper Spencer Gulf) to21% (NSW) increased species richness, the resultofan increased
respectively. These data suggest that the distribution numberofpolychaetespecies in UpperSpencerGulf
of feeding guilds varies according to geographical (Table 5). By comparison of the species lists in
location. Perhaps future studies should consider the Hutchings etal. (1991) and Appendix 1 ofthis paper
feedingcategory offaunaas wellastheirabundance, it is clear that there is little similarity in the specie*
productivity and biomass in order lo estimate the compositionoftheinfaunabetweenthesetwolocalities.
ecological importanceofaspecies in shallow marine Therefore, asforP, australis, theiniaunaof/? sinuosa
systems. Edgar (1990) used size structure ofbenthic appears to vary substantially between locations.
macfofaunal communities- toestimate fauna] biomass Despitethedifferentspeciescompositiontherewas
and secondary productivity but he did not assignthe a considerable similarity in feeding types between
fauna to reeding guilds which may be an additional Upper Spencer Gulfand Albany (Table 6). Deposit
usefulqualitativedescriptor forbenthiccommunities. feeders, carnivores including scavengers, and
Table 5. Posidonia sinuosa: distribution ofthe majorphyla (S = number ofspecies, d ~ overall mean density).
site Mychnetes Molluscs Crustaceans Echiocderms Ascidi&n& Minor Total
Albany iHulchixigs el al 1991)
$ 40 24 18* 7 16 106
d** 711 259 54 140 1797
Spencer Gulf(tWhis study)
S 32 a 12 5 192
d™ WO 95 38 n 860
*"amphipods not identified to species
densities(numberofindividualsm"*0calculatedfromlocalabundancesand(oialareasampled(Albany = 1.2nv,Spencer
Gulf = 2.052 nV).
Table 6 Pbsidoniu sinuosa: distribution ofthefaunaamongstfeeding categoriesatAlbanyandSpencar Gulf{numberof
species (%))~
location herbivore augpensiou deposit CArruvore omnivore
Albany (from Hutchings eta/.. 1991)
polychaetes 3(7) 6(0) 18 (39) 19 (41) -
molluscs 12 (50) 4(17) 4(17) 4(17) -
crustaceans . 1 (6) 1(6) 6(35) 9(53)
ascidians - 14 (100) - -
echinoderms - K14) 7(26) 2f26) : (26j
totals 15 (14) 26 (24) 25(23) 31(29) U(U)
Spencer Ouli (Uiis study)
polychaetes 14 (14) 16 (16) 38 (39) 28 (29) Ifl)
molluscs $(28) 12 (38) 3(fib 8(23)
crustacean** .„ 2(5) 22 (50) 20(45l -
ascidians - 5(m100) - - -
echinoderms 2(1?) i 3(25) 6 (501 -
loials 25(B) 36(19) 66(35) 62 (33) 1 (I)
.
* PA- HtnTKINGSw T J. VHMtD, J. H. WATRRHOLSEA, I, WALKER
suspension feeders were the. dominant feeding types and the inwrtidai infauita of Upper Spencer Galf
in P. sinuoso beds tit both location*, observed tn this study.
Cunclnsions Acknowledgments
While speciesdiversityinthesuMidal sc^graasbeds Field collections were funded by the International
ishigher io Upper Spencer Gulftitan In Albany, it is Lead Zinc Research Organization, NewYork Dr K.
lower than intheseagrass bed* of NSW. Thedensity TillerattheCSIRO DivisionofSoils,.Adelaidekindly
ofindividualsisfer lowerin Uppe-TSpencerGulfthan provided laboraiory space. Vic Neveramkas, Rod
elsewhere, and dita may reflect the different Grovc-Jone^, Nigel Holmes, Kim Home, andAnnette
temperature and salinity regimes in Upper Spencer Greenassisted with field and laboratory work Jurgen
GulfcomparedtoAlbanyandthenine locations along Sieg of the University of Osnabnick identified the
the NSW coast, Collett el al. (1984) concluded that tanaiuY We appreciate assistance from the following
hydrologieal conditions were Importantdeternurmnts people from The Australian Museum with the
inthecompositionoftheinfaunaofseagrassbeds,and identifications: He-Jen Stoddart, Roger Springthorpc
moreimportantthanlatitudinaleffects. Thisstudy and (crustaceans), Frank Rowe (ochinoderms). Genii"
the study of Albany (Hutching* et at. 1991} indicate Holloway (insects), DougHoese(fish), Ian Lochand
that the conclusion* ofColtett etal (1984) may also Winston lender (molluscs). We also appreciate the
hold forthe broader geographical region ofsouthern assistance ofPeter Davie<TheQueensland Museum)
Australia Hydrologieal conditions may also be whoidentifiedsomeofthedecapodsandGary Hsdra
responsible for the difference between ihe Northern (The MuseumofVictoria) whoidenulleddieisopods.
SpencerGulfmiertidaJ inEmma (Ainslic ftai. 19B9)
References
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•Seatfa\se* A TreatiseontheBiologyofSeasiasMilwith
INFAUNA OF MARINE SEDIMENTS AND SEAGRASS BEDS OF UPPER SPENCER GULF
Appendix I Summary ofall data
Species Family Habitats
intertidal Zostera Posidonia Posidonia 5m bare 10m bare sum
austmlis
Harmothoe sp. I Polynoidae 5 7 3 1 16
Harmothoe sp. 2 Polynoidae I 1
Harmothoe sp. 3 Polynoidae 2 1 3
Puralepidonotus ampulliferus Polynoidae 1 1
Sigalion sp. Sigalionidae 1 2 6 3 12
? Sthenelais sp. Sigalionidae 1 1
Chrysopetalum sp. Chrysopetalidac 1
Eumida sp. Phyllodocidae 21 18 15 5 59
Paranaitis sp. Phyllodocidae 1 4 5
Pteryosyllis sp. 1 Phyllodocidae 2 2
Phytlodoce sp. A Phyllodocidae 17 4 6 76
%
Eteone /i.sp. Phyllodocidae 5 I I 16
Genetoxyttis sp. Phyllodocidae 1 1 2
Phyllodocid sp. 5 Phyllodocidae 1 4 3 8
Podarke microantennata Hesionidae 1 2 3
Podarke angustifions Hesionidae 11 9 20
TKposyllis sp. 1 Syllidae 1 1 17 22
Exogone sp, Syllidae 2 i 4
Odontosyllis sp. 1 Syllidae 2 2
Odontosyllis sp. 2 Syllidae 2 1 3
Pionosyllis ehtersiaejbrtnis Syllidae 10 14 2 2 28
SytUnae sp. 2 Syllidae 9
Typosyllis sp. 2 Syllidae 52 20 1 ; 74
Ehlersia sp. Syllidae 15 22 1 1 39
Syllinae sp. 8 Syllidae 1 1
Ceratonereismirabilis Nereididae 1 6 14 3 4 4 32
Neanthes sp. 1 Nereididae 1 1 7 9
Neanthes bassi Nereididae 10 15 3 2 13 43
Nereis bifida Nereididae SI 577 29 7 1 645
Neanthes kerguelensis Nereididae 6 9 56 3 74
Platynereis sp. Nereididae 65 5 2 1 73
Neanthes sp, 3 Nereididae 1 7 8
Neanthes vaalii Nereididae 45 I 1 A 49
Ceratocephela n.sp. 1 Nereididae i I
Neanthes sp. 2 Nereididae - 1 1
Ceratonereis sp. 1 Nereididae 34 14 69 11 384
Ceratonereis aequisetis Nereididae j 4
Nereid sp. 20 Nereididae 2 1 3
Gymnonereis sp. 1 Nereididae 2 2
Nephtys gmxieri Nephytidae 109 99 13 U5 139 67 542
Glycera americana Glyceridae 3 2 5 5 3 18
Glycinde sp. 1 Glyceridae 31 12 9 4 3 59
Goniada maculata Goniadidae 1 ]
Onuphid sp. 1 Onuphidae 1 13 21 1 n36
Nemotonereis unicornis Eunicidae 103 118 25 7
Eunicidjuv sp 1 Eunicidae I
Marphysa sp. 1 Eunicidae 1 1 2 3 34 41
Marphysa sp. 2 Eunicidae 2 15 1 2 2
Lysidice sp. 1 Eunicidae 1 5
Eunice sp. 1 Eunicidae $ ,5 19 4
Eunice sp. 3 Eunicidae 72 51 35 199
Eunice sp. 4 Eunicidae 7 6 2 15
Eunice sp. 6 Eunicidae I 14 39 8 62
Eunice sp. 9 Eunicidae 3 3
Eunicid sp. U Eunicidae 1 1
Eunice sp. 5 Eunicidae 5 i 6 13
Augenerta verdis Lumbrincridac 131 18 26 16 239
Lumbrineris sp. 1 Lumbrineridae 8 1 4 4 2 19
Arabella sp. I Arabellidae 9 8 11 3 31
Schistomeringos sp. 1 Dorvilleidae 7 I 8
Schistomeringos loveni Dorvilleidae 19 6 16 7 1
Leitoscoloplas sp. I Orbiniidae 'i 1 1
Phyhsp. 1 Orbiniidae i 5 6
Nainerisgrubet australis Orbiniidae. 4 6 10
K> P A. HUTCHINGS, T, J. WARD, J. H. WATERHOUSE & L. WALKHR
Appendix 1 Summary ofall data (continued)
Species Family Habitats
imertidal Zostera Posidonia Posidotiia 5m bare 10m bare
australis sinuosa
Scohphs simplex Orbiniidae 74 17 101
Leitoscoloplos normalis Orbiniidae 414 121 580
Family Orbiniidae Orbiniidae 17 1 19
Annidesoxycephela Spionidae
Spio sp. B Spionidae 2 1
Prionospio sp. 2 Spionidae 2
Polydora sp. 1 Spionidae 2
Pseiuiupolydora sp. 1 Spionidae 10
Baccardia sp. 3 Spionidae
I
Boccardia sp. 2 Spionidae 1
Aquilaspio multipinnulata Spionidae 9 1 20
AquUaspio aucklandica Spionidae 2 8
Spiopacifica Spionidae
Scolelepis sp. 2 Spionidae 5I 17 27I
Pseudopotydora sp. 4 Spionidae 1 6
Matacoceros sp. 1 Spionidae 10 28 90
Scolelepis sp. 1 Spionidae 2 4 6
Spionidae sp, 2 Spionidae 1 1 2
Spionidae sp. 3 Spionidae
Boccardia sp. 1 Spionidae \
Aricidea sp. 2 Pilargiidae 1 6
Magelona sp. 1 Magelonidae 2 1 9
77wr)£? sp. 2 Cirratulidae 1 1
Caulleriella sp. I Cirratulidae 4 5
Caullericlla sp. 2 Cirratulidae 1 20 14 72
Caulleriella sp. 3 Cirratulidae 7 35 43 100
Caulleriella sp. 4 Cirratulidae 20 31 38 113
Cirriformia sp. 1 Cirratulidae 43 43 28 127
Cirriformia sp. 2 Cirratulidae 29 43 13 92
Cirratulid sp. 1 Cirratulidae 3 1 4 9
Diplocirrus sp. Flabelligeridac 92 i 4 102
Scalihregma inflatum Scalibregmatidae 5 2 20
AHrymboasncdoilaexindtiecrhmreadnioachaeius SOcpahleilbiriedgameatidae 10 511 741
Heteromastusfiliformis Capitellidae 26 5 31
Capitella "capitata" Capitellidae 53 608 661
Baranwtla sp. Capitellidae 57 46 285
Mediomaslus n. sp. Capitellidae 19 7 88
?Scyphoproctus sp. 1 Capitellidae 5 8
Scyphoproctus sp. 2 Capitellidae 7 7 17
Notomastus sp. 1 Capitellidae 96 25 186
Nowmastus iorquatus Capitellidae 4 29 63
Leiochrides sp. 1 Capitellidae 3 4
Poechilochaetousserpens Poecilochaetidae 2 n
Asychis sp. Maldanidae 5 115 141
Petalopractus sp. Maldanidae 10 24
Praxiflella sp. Maldanidae i 2 5
Matdanid sp. 3 Maldanidae 3
Onwiiafiisiformis Owcniidae 8
Pectinaria sp. 1 Pectinaridae 4
/.wWapulchella Ampharetidae 1 2
Ampharctid sp. I Ampharetidae 3 38 49
Ampharetid sp. 3 Ampharetidae J 1
£K«7/<apacifica Terebellidae 4 4 26
Polycirrus sp. 1 Terebellidae 2
Polycirrus tesselatus Terebellidae 26 1 39
Polycirrus cf. nephrosus Terebellidae I
?Decathelepits Terebellidae
Thelepusplagiostoma Terebellidae 2 3)
Thelepus extensus Terebellidae
Sxrebhsoma sp. Terebellidae 33 241 571
Lanassa exelysis Terebellidae 1 25
Lysilla laciniaia Terebellidae 1 4
Pista australis Terebellidae 12 63
Pista violacea Terebellidae 440 12 473