SOL5117 Joseph Bonaparte Gulf Species identification of molluscs (sled, grab)  

Authors / CoAuthors

Przeslawski, R. | Willan, R.

Abstract

This dataset contains species identifications of molluscs collected during survey SOL5117 (R.V. Solander, 30 July - 27 August, 2010). Animals were collected from the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf with a benthic sled (SL) and Smith McIntyre grab (GR). Specimens were lodged at Northern Territory Museum on the 27 August 2010. Species-level identifications were undertaken by Richard Willan at the Northern Territory Museum and were delivered to Geoscience Australia on the December 2010 (for large samples) and 26 June 2012 (for smaller molluscs from grabs). See GA Record 2011/08 for further details on survey methods and specimen acquisition. Data is presented here exactly as delivered by the taxonomist, and Geoscience Australia is unable to verify the accuracy of the taxonomic identifications. Comments: The following comments relate to live-taken specimens only: 1. The SOL5117 molluscan samples contain at least one new species (Talabrica sp.), one new record for Australia (Oliva rufofulgurata), and five new records for Commonwealth waters north of the Northern Territory (Strombus hickeyi, Trigonostoma textilis, Dentalium formosum, Phyllidiopsis shireeenae, Ceratosoma trilobatum). 2. Many of the molluscan species in the SOL5117 grab samples, both live individuals and dead shells, are represented only by tiny juveniles, so identification to species level is not possible because the shell characters change considerably as the species reaches maturity. 3. Clearly the majority of molluscs in the SOL5117 samples are represented by dead shells only. 4. Species richness is far higher than suggested by these samples. Judging from the range of species present in the SOL4934 and SOL5117 samples plus the accumulation of species through the samples, the molluscan biodiversity in this area would be between 400 and 500 species, the great majority micromolluscs (i.e., < 5 mm in greatest dimension). 5. The SOL5117 molluscan samples are not as comprehensive as the earlier SOL4934 samples taken in the same areas(s). 6. The SOL5117 molluscan samples provide us with hardly any picture of the composition or abundance of molluscs within or between the sites. 7. The SOL5117 molluscan samples should not be used to assess the conservation status of the submarine communities in the area(s) sampled. 8. More targeted and intensive sampling is required to appropriately measure molluscan diversity, abundance and communities in this region. ~ R Willan

Product Type

dataset

eCat Id

72926

Contact for the resource

Keywords

• Marine Data

( Theme )

• data

( Theme )

• environmental

( Theme )

• marine biodiversity

( Theme )

• seabed

( Theme )

• marine

• AU

Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)

• Marine Geoscience

• Published_Internal

Publication Date

2010-01-01T00:00:00

Creation Date

Security Constraints

Australian Government Security ClassificationSystem    

Classification - unclassified

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence    

Access - restricted

Use - license

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Purpose

Maintenance Information

unknown

Topic Category

geoscientificInformation

Series Information

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Unknown

Parent Information

Extents

[-12.4183, -10.2875, 129.4526, 130.0773]

Reference System

Spatial Resolution

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Associations

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