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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 58(9)

Spatial patterns of ascidian assemblages on subtidal rocky reefs in the Port Stephens–Great Lakes Marine Park, New South Wales

Kathryn L. Newton A C , Bob Creese B and David Raftos A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia.

B New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI), Port Stephens Research Centre, Taylors Beach Road, Taylors Beach, NSW 2316, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: knewton@bio.mq.edu.au

Marine and Freshwater Research 58(9) 843-855 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF07054
Submitted: 30 July 2007  Accepted: 16 August 2007   Published: 3 October 2007

Abstract

Spatial and temporal patterns of variability in ascidian assemblages were investigated on horizontal subtidal rocky reefs at Port Stephens, New South Wales (NSW). The study was designed to provide a baseline dataset on ascidian diversity and distribution patterns for an area destined to become a marine park (the Port Stephens–Great Lakes Marine Park: PSGLMP). Differences in ascidian assemblages between exposed oceanic island reefs and sheltered reefs within Port Stephens, and between two depth zones within each subtidal reef, were quantified using non-parametric multivariate techniques coupled with analysis of variance (ANOVA). Ascidian assemblages were highly variable between reef sites, reef exposures and particularly between depth zones within each reef surveyed. However, temporal variation was only observed for a few ascidian species. These highly variable spatial patterns in diversity indicate that numerous subtidal reefs may need to be protected within PSGLMP if the aim of the marine park is to adequately represent the entire array of marine biodiversity in the area.

Additional keyword: species diversity.


Acknowledgements

The field component of this project would not have been possible without the help of Peter Gibson, Tim Glasby, Isabelle Thiebaud, Roger Laird, Chris Gallen and Tony Fowler (NSW Department of Primary Industries). Special thanks must go to Dr Tim Glasby for his substantial contribution to statistical analysis and for early comments on this manuscript. Thank you to Dr Alan Jordan (NSW Department of Environment and Conservation) for early suggestions on the project’s scope and design, and Dr Patricia Mather (Queensland Museum) for identification of unknown ascidian specimens. The present study was funded in part by the NSW Marine Parks Authority and an Australian Postgraduate Award to Kathryn Newton, and by an in-kind contribution from NSW DPI.


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