A fully illustrated web-based guide to distinguish native and introduced polychaetes of Australia

Elena Kupriyanova,Eunice Wong,Pat Hutchings

doi:10.3391/mbi.2016.7.3.10

Elena Kupriyanova, Eunice Wong + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2016.7.3.10

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Abstract

Introduction of non-native species threatens local marine biodiversity, generating substantial costs for the aquaculture and tourism industries when native (including commercial) species are displaced. It is important that non-indigenous species are identified and controlled before they establish locally becoming invasive pests. The important vectors contributing to human-related dispersal of marine species include ship hull biofouling, ballast water and the aquaculture trade. Among over 80 polychaete families, fouling (Serpulidae and Sabellidae) and burrowing (Spionidae) worms are most commonly introduced to new localities. To assist in identification of potentially invasive non-native polychaetes, a web-based guide fully illustrated with original photographs was developed at the Australian Museum. The guide covers 66 species including 38 species of Serpulidae, 14 species of Sabellidae, and 14 species of Spionidae. This guide is intended for use by biologists, environmental consultants, quarantine officers and port management authorities as correct identification of species is essential for marine pest monitoring and management. The “Polychaete Identifier” will be extended to include other potentially invasive marine species of polychaetes, as well as crustaceans and molluscs in the near future, subject to funding availability.

Highlights

Acanthaster planci (Linnaeus, 1758), the crown-ofthorns seastar, are voracious, opportunistic carnivores that typically consume sessile invertebrates, hard corals, and carrion
One lesson from invasion ecology readily applied to A. planci is the understanding of critical stages in life-history to inform cost-effective management actions and determine outbreak triggers (Pratchett et al 2014)
The long term prospects for the Great Barrier Reef are of concern without a dedicated long-term framework to target the higher risk, quick return impacts affecting coral cover during A. planci boom periods as well as monitoring and understanding the conditions needed to support bust cycles

Summary

Introduction

Acanthaster planci (Linnaeus, 1758), the crown-ofthorns seastar, are voracious, opportunistic carnivores that typically consume sessile invertebrates, hard corals, and carrion. A. planci has exhibited long-term boom-bust population cycles to devastating effect in the Indo-Pacific, threatening the Great Barrier Reef (e.g., Uthicke et al 2009; Baird et al 2013). On the Great Barrier Reef there have been four documented A. planci outbreaks since the 1960’s, each spaced ~17 years apart (Pratchett et al 2014). During these outbreaks natural densities increase to a point resulting in “plagues” of the seastar consuming coral faster than it can grow.

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