Conservation Systematics of the western Pilbara fauna

(2013-2017).

Department of Aquatic Zoology

Project Background

• Use genetic & morphological systematics to understand species diversity, distributions & endemism of the Pilbara marine bioregion.

• Specimens sourced from WAM collections, diving expeditions & other NW fieldwork.

• Use WAM molecular laboratory for multi-gene sequencing.

• New molecular staff employed as part of project funding, also 2 PhDs!

Marine Crustaceans• Recent studies of symbiotic or commensal barnacles are showing

high levels of cryptic diversity (e.g. Brickner et al 2009, Harrison et al in press).

• Molecular techniques are showing that speciation in these groups of barnacles are being largely driven by host specificity.

Symbiotic barnacle diversity

• Archaeobalanidae• Acastinae: >80 species associated with sponges • Conopea: ~25 species associated with Alcyonaria• Membranobalanus: 10 species associated with sponges

Marine FishesOften thought to have wide dispersal, but many recent studies showing genetic discontinuities and cryptic species.

Most likely to find cryptic diversity in species with (i) reduced opportunities for dispersal or (ii) opportunities for niche specialisation. Many potential examples are found in filter feeder communities:

Seahorses

GobiesCardinalfishes

Jawfishes Seawhip Gobies

Marine Molluscs

Low dispersal taxa, host specificityComplex environments, filter feeder communities

• Life history can be a powerful predictor

Zoila cowries All Volutidae

• Poor dispersers often show more structure than good dispersers (Kirkendale & Meyer 2004, Meyer & Paulay 2005, others)

IWP Giant clams

• Good dispersers can exhibit high levels of genetic structuring (deBoer et al. 2008) in complex environments

Astralium

• Insular patterns of speciation in marine molluscs across IWP also increasingly common

Patelloida profunda

Hyriidae

• Terrestrial molluscs have SREs (Whisson & Kohler 2013)

Kimberley Camaenidae

Outcomes

• Baseline distribution & biodiversity data on the Pilbara marine fauna.

• Assessment of endemism & rarity of species.

• Available via Genbank, ALA, WAM website, publications.