Download Marine Mollusc Short Range Endemics

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 Fishes
Often 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:
Cardinalfishes
Seahorses
Gobies
Jawfishes
Seawhip Gobies
Marine Molluscs
• Terrestrial molluscs have SREs
(Whisson & Kohler 2013)
• Insular patterns of speciation in marine
molluscs across IWP also increasingly
common
• Life history can be a powerful predictor
Kimberley Camaenidae
Hyriidae
Patelloida profunda
Astralium
• Poor dispersers often show more structure
than good dispersers (Kirkendale & Meyer
2004, Meyer & Paulay 2005, others)
• Good dispersers can exhibit high levels of
genetic structuring (deBoer et al. 2008) in
complex environments
Zoila cowries
All Volutidae
IWP Giant clams
Low dispersal taxa, host specificity
Complex environments, filter feeder communities
Outcomes
• Baseline distribution & biodiversity data on
the Pilbara marine fauna.
• Assessment of endemism & rarity of species.
• Available via Genbank, ALA, WAM website,
publications.