Patterns of disseminule dispersal by drift in the north-west Coral Sea

Abstract

Abstract Assemblages of drift disseminules are described from beaches at 56 sites in the Torres Strait — northern Great Barrier Reef region. Although most taxa have wide distributions, others which are geographically more restricted display patterns allowing drift directions to be defined. New Guinea-derived disseminules drift southwards to at least 11°51′S, while Australia-derived ones may drift northward close to the east coast of Cape York Peninsula. Large amounts of drift also move westward across the Coral Sea towards Australia, including much jetsam originating from shipping. All three elements contribute to drift moving west into Torres Strait. These patterns are consistent with those of winds and currents, which suggest that westward drift in the north of the study region occurs particularly around June-September, while in December-March southward drift off the Australian coast into the Tasman Sea is likely to be particularly pronounced.