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Curracurrang 1 (1CU5) is a rockshelter site located in the Royal National Park (RNP) on the coast south of Sydney. Excavated from 1962 to 1966, the site's rich Holocene cultural deposit has become important for understanding regional Late Holocene developments in Australian lithic and shell technologies. Our comprehensive analysis of 1CU5's faunal remains is presented here, accompanied by new AMS radiocarbon dates and a reinterpretation of the site's occupation sequence. Much of the midden deposit spans from about 2500 BP to approximately 1850 AD, rather than only the last ∼1500 years as originally believed based on less comprehensive dating. A wide range of terrestrial and marine fauna were exploited at 1CU5, with the relative importance of the latter group increasing within the last ∼1500 years. Greater fish consumption during the later period may relate to use of novel hook and line fishing technology using hooks made from shellfish, but concurrent increases in seals, seabirds and marine invertebrates suggest a broader increased reliance on marine resources. By comparison, the earlier period, which coincides with the manufacture of backed microliths, displays relatively greater reliance on terrestrial marsupials. Taxonomic representation suggests occupation of the shelter from winter through spring, and potentially into summer. Analysis of the 1CU5 fauna marks an important contribution to the understanding of Late Holocene economies at the interface of the greater Sydney and NSW South Coast cultural and biogeographic regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, work is being undertaken to preserve biodiversity and prevent further species extinctions. Yet, without adequate data about the presence of species within ecosystems, hidden extinctions can occur without our knowledge. Given that poleward range retractions are projected for bull kelp (Durvillaea amatheiae) in southeastern Australia, there is the potential for hidden extinctions to occur in associated macrofaunal species. However, this risk cannot be assessed due to the limited data on the invertebrate macrofauna associated with D. amatheiae. We documented macrofauna within D. amatheiae holdfasts, with the objective of establishing a first analysis of the holdfast fauna for this kelp and identifying, where possible, any host-specific taxa. Holdfasts were collected at six locations, spanning most of the range of D. amatheiae on the southeastern Australian mainland. Macrofauna were removed from holdfasts and identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. Modelling was applied to determine factors correlated with patterns of assemblages among locations. Holdfast assemblages were found to vary significantly among locations and exhibited a latitudinal gradient in assemblage structure. The northernmost location (Aragunnu), which has the highest risk of D. amatheiae range retractions, was found to have distinct species assemblages and generally higher diversity and abundance than locations further south. However, no host-specific taxa were identified in samples, indicating that there is a low risk of multiple hidden species extinctions occurring in holdfast macrofauna, due to future range retractions of D. amatheiae. Rather, most of the macrofauna taxa in D. amatheiae holdfasts were found to also occur in association with the sympatric golden kelp Ecklonia radiata, which is not expected to undergo range retractions at the latitudes where losses of D. amatheiae are projected. Overall, there is an urgent need to develop strategies to combat projected future range retractions of D. amatheiae to reduce impacts on the species that rely on D. amatheiae for habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ongoing taxonomic studies of Australian marine algae have led to the recognition of a new species of the green algal genus Rhipilia , here named R. psammophila Huisman & Verbruggen. The new species is unusual for this typically tropical genus in growing in the colder temperate waters of southern Australia and can be distinguished from its congeners by the morphology of its laterally adhering siphons, in addition to unique molecular sequences (rbc L and tuf A). In molecular analysis, the new species is sister to the southern Australian Chlorodesmis baculifera , which is here transferred to Rhipilia and represents the third species in the genus with laterally unattached, free siphons, a feature that previously would have excluded it from the genus. Lateral gametangia are described for R. psammophila and represent the first record of reproduction in Rhipilia. A species of green algae, Rhipilia psammophila, growing in south-western Australia. Taxonomic studies of Australian seaweeds are showing a wealth of undiscovered species. In this paper, a new species of green seaweed, Rhipilia psammophila , is described for specimens from south-western Australia, and a closely related species currently known as Chlorodesmis baculifera is transferred to Rhipilia. Morphological features are proving unreliable in distinguishing genera in this group and molecular analyses are essential. (Photograph by John Huisman.) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet global restoration targets, action is needed at a large scale, and at a high level of ambition. Coastal and marine restoration may be hindered by an array of factors, including governance: in particular, the cost and time associated with obtaining permits. We interviewed a small group of restoration practitioners in Australia to further explore this permitting issue. Our study revealed a deeper problem, with the legal permitting process driving outcomes. Some proponents are turning away from the sites with the highest restoration potential, and instead choosing sites based on the ease of obtaining permits. We also found that the permitting process is only one part of the problem, and progress is also being hampered by onerous post‐approval conditions, including ongoing liability for restorative interventions. Finally, the permitting process stifles innovation and creativity as outcomes are locked‐in at the permit stage. We conclude by highlighting the urgent need to reform legal permitting processes for restoration, as current practice may put the achievement of global restoration targets at risk. It is anticipated that these findings will be of interest to restoration practitioners navigating this space, as well as policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moorena producens is a benthic filamentous cyanobacteria that has been widely documented for its toxicity. This cyanobacterium colonizes both temperate (37%) and tropical (63%) regions, making it a cosmopolitan cyanobacterium with a global distribution. M. producens grows across coral reefs in multiple locations but recurringly blooms in Queensland, Australia. Today, nuisance blooms of M. producens have resulted in major disruptions to recreational activities along coastal areas and are known to cause adverse effects on organism and human health upon contact or ingestion. Specifically, marine organisms such as the green turtle Chelonia mydas and hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata were fatally poisoned by M. producens after consumption of this cyanobacterium. Reports record a range of effects on human health, from pain and blistering or even death upon ingestion of contaminated seafood. Blooms of M. producens are triggered by influxes of nitrogen, phosphate and iron, from surrounding coastal runoffs or sewage effluents. Additions of these nutrients can result in an increase in growth rate by 4–16 times. Iron bioavailability also plays a crucial role in bloom formation. A total of 231 natural products from 66 groups were identified from M. producens, with the three dominant groups: malyngamides, microcolins and dolastatins. These bioactive secondary metabolites have displayed toxicities against a range of carcinoma cell lines and organisms such as brine shrimp Artemia salina and goldfish Carassius auratus. This review provides a thorough insight to the distribution, ecophysiology and toxicity of M. producens, with reports on bloom events and implications on organism and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Female specimens of the newly described mesoparasitic copepod Tripaphylus squidwardi (Sphyriidae), collected from the Australian blackspot shark, Carcharhinus coatesi, off northern Australia were examined histologically. The 'encapsulated' head of the copepod was found in the ventral musculature of the throat of the shark. The head of the copepod was surrounded by a tissue capsule of unknown origin. There were signs of chronic inflammation associated with the infection, although there appeared to be no effect on the health of the shark. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental context: Most human pharmaceutical waste is discharged to the environment. While the presence of pharmaceuticals in freshwater systems is well documented globally, little is known of the impact on marine ecosystems. We measured pharmaceuticals in a marine environment in south-eastern Australia and found pharmaceutical concentrations around 24 000 times higher in benthic flora than in the marine surface waters. We discuss the potential use of seaweeds as biological indicators of pharmaceutical pollution. Rationale: Pharmaceuticals are emerging pollutants of concern with a range of adverse consequences for organisms and ecosystems. Their presence in freshwater and estuarine systems has been well documented, but less is known about their prevalence in open ocean, or their uptake by benthic flora. This preliminary survey of the southern Australian coastline sought to measure the concentrations of key pharmaceuticals in both surface waters and benthic flora. Methodology: This study used LC-MS/MS to measure the concentration carbamazepine, tramadol and venlafaxine in (1) samples from wastewater treatment plants, (2) ocean surface waters and (3) several species of benthic flora. Surface waters and benthic flora were sampled at two sites near waste water treatment plant (WWTP) discharges, and one site away from any discharge. Results: All three pharmaceuticals were detected in surface water samples with their risk assessed (via risk quotient) as medium risk (carbamazepine) or low risk (venlafaxine, tramadol). All three pharmaceuticals were also detected in benthic flora, particularly in brown macroalgae; Tramadol was measured at a maximum of 34.7 ng g−1 in Hormosira banksii , and Venlafaxine was recorded at a maximum of 17.3 ng g−1 in Caulocystis cephalornithos. Discussion: The calculated bioconcentration factors suggest the pharmaceutical concentrations in benthic flora were up to ~24 000 times higher than in surrounding surface water. There was also evidence that proximity to WWTP outfalls influenced the levels of pharmaceuticals in benthic flora. The results suggest that the benthic flora may be suitable bioindicators of pharmaceutical contamination and that the potential impacts of pharmaceutical pollutants in marine ecosystems demand further investigation. Environmental context. Most human pharmaceutical waste is discharged to the environment. While the presence of pharmaceuticals in freshwater systems is well documented globally, little is known of the impact on marine ecosystems. We measured pharmaceuticals in a marine environment in south-eastern Australia and found pharmaceutical concentrations around 24 000 times higher in benthic flora than in the marine surface waters. We discuss the potential use of seaweeds as biological indicators of pharmaceutical pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental context: The oil and gas industry has a significant liability in decommissioning offshore infrastructure. Following decommissioning, subsea pipelines could be left on the seabed to provide artificial reefs. Mercury is a contaminant of concern which could remain within pipelines. There are gaps in our knowledge on how mercury moves through the marine environment. We review the current science and identify future research needs to understand potential impacts from mercury in subsea pipelines which will better inform decommissioning activities globally. In the coming years, the oil and gas industry will have a significant liability in decommissioning offshore infrastructure such as subsea pipelines. The policies around decommissioning vary depending on regional policies and laws. In Australia, the 'base case' for decommissioning is removal of all property and the plugging and abandonment of wells in line with the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (OPGGS) Act 2006. Options other than complete removal may be considered where the titleholder can demonstrate that the alternative decommissioning activity delivers equal or better environmental outcomes compared to complete removal and meets all requirements under the OPGGS Act and regulations. Recent research has demonstrated that decommissioning in situ can have significant environmental benefits by forming artificial reefs, increasing marine biodiversity, and providing a potential fishery location. An issue, which has been given less attention, is around contaminants remaining within decommissioned infrastructure and their potential risks to the marine environment. Mercury is a contaminant of concern known to be present in some oil and gas pipelines, but the potential long-term impacts on marine ecosystems are poorly understood. We present a synthesis of information on mercury cycling in the marine environment including key drivers of methylation in sediments and ocean waters, existing models to predict methylmercury concentrations in sediments, and toxicological effects to marine biota. We discuss the applicability of existing water and sediment quality guidelines, and the associated risk assessment frameworks to decommissioning offshore infrastructure contaminated with mercury. Globally, research is needed to provide a comprehensive risk assessment framework for offshore infrastructure decommissioning. We recommend future areas of research to improve our understanding of the potential risks associated with mercury in subsea oil and gas pipelines. Environmental context. The oil and gas industry has a significant liability in decommissioning offshore infrastructure. Following decommissioning, subsea pipelines could be left on the seabed to provide artificial reefs. Mercury is a contaminant of concern which could remain within pipelines. There are gaps in our knowledge on how mercury moves through the marine environment. We review the current science and identify future research needs to understand potential impacts from mercury in subsea pipelines which will better inform decommissioning activities globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Severe infections of blood flukes have been associated with mass mortality events in cultured marine species of teleosts. • Molecular techniques have played an important role in understanding the biology and ecology of fish blood flukes. • Praziquantel is the only known treatment option and its continued efficacy will need to be monitored. Fish blood flukes (Digenea: Aporocotylidae) are important pathogens of fishes in aquaculture. Severe infections have been associated with mass mortality events in cultured marine species of teleosts in Australia, Asia and Europe, leading to significant socio-economic losses. Here we review recent advances towards understanding the biology and ecology of fish blood flukes, and the integral role molecular techniques have played in this development. Techniques include molecular matching of aporocotylid life stages using ITS-2 rDNA, and targeting ITS-2 rDNA to distinguish aporocotylid species using quantitative PCR (qPCR). These approaches have facilitated the elucidation of multiple life cycles for species of Cardicola infecting bluefin tunas Thunnus spp. cultured in Australia and Japan. Continued work to identify intermediate hosts of fish blood flukes is critical to improve understanding of their life cycles and help inform aquatic animal health management e.g. through site selection and/or separation of intermediate and definitive hosts. As praziquantel is the only known treatment option for infected fish, its continued efficacy will need to be monitored and other possible solutions may need to be identified as aquaculture continues to grow and diversify. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A captive adult female bottlenose dolphin presented with stillbirth. The placenta appeared oedematous. No other gross lesions were evident in the placenta or the stillborn calf. Histopathology revealed mild multifocal placentitis and foetal encephalitis. Brucella sp. was isolated from lung, liver, spleen and kidney. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated this organism to be most similar to Brucella ceti sequence type (ST) 27. Brucella sp. DNA was detected in formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded placenta and brain by real‐time PCR using primers targeting the IS711 gene. Immunohistochemical staining revealed Brucella sp. antigen in placental inflammation. This is the first report of isolation of Brucella sp. from a marine mammal in the Southern Hemisphere and the first report of marine Brucella‐associated disease in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme heat wave events are now causing ecosystem degradation across marine ecosystems. The consequences of this heat‐induced damage range from the rapid loss of habitat‐forming organisms, through to a reduction in the services that ecosystems support, and ultimately to impacts on human health and society. How we tackle the sudden emergence of ecosystem‐wide degradation has not yet been addressed in the context of marine heat waves. An examination of recent marine heat waves from around Australia points to the potential important role that respite or refuge from environmental extremes can play in enabling organismal survival. However, most ecological interventions are being devised with a target of mid to late‐century implementation, at which time many of the ecosystems, that the interventions are targeted towards, will have already undergone repeated and widespread heat wave induced degradation. Here, our assessment of the merits of proposed ecological interventions, across a spectrum of approaches, to counter marine environmental extremes, reveals a lack preparedness to counter the effects of extreme conditions on marine ecosystems. The ecological influence of these extremes are projected to continue to impact marine ecosystems in the coming years, long before these interventions can be developed. Our assessment reveals that approaches which are technologically ready and likely to be socially acceptable are locally deployable only, whereas those which are scalable—for example to features as large as major reef systems—are not close to being testable, and are unlikely to obtain social licence for deployment. Knowledge of the environmental timescales for survival of extremes, via respite or refuge, inferred from field observations will help test such intervention tools. The growing frequency of extreme events such as marine heat waves increases the urgency to consider mitigation and intervention tools that support organismal and ecosystem survival in the immediate future, while global climate mitigation and/or intervention are formulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive non-indigenous species (NIS) are a threat to marine biodiversity and marine reliant industries. Recreational vessels are recognised as an important vector of NIS translocation, particularly domestically. This paper reports on a novel application of multilevel modelling and multiple imputation in order to quantify the relationship between biofouling biomass (wet weight) and the vessel-level characteristics of recreational and fishing vessels. It was found that the number of days since the vessel was last cleaned strongly related to the biofouling biomass, yet differed dependent on vessel type. Similarly, the median number of trips undertaken was related to the biofouling biomass, and varied according to the type of antifouling paint (AF) used. No relationship was found between vessel size and biofouling biomass per sample unit. To reduce the spread of NIS, vessel owners should use an AF paint suitable to their vessel's operational profile, and follow a maintenance schedule according to the paint manufacturer's specifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the drivers of dispersal among populations is a central topic in marine ecology and fundamental for spatially explicit management of marine resources. The extensive coast of Northwestern Australia provides an emerging frontier for implementing new genomic tools to comparatively identify patterns of dispersal across diverse and extreme environmental conditions. Here, we focused on the stripey snapper ( Lutjanus carponotatus), which is important to recreational, charter-based and customary fishers throughout the Indo-West Pacific. We collected 1,016 L. carponotatus samples at 51 locations in the coastal waters of Northwestern Australia ranging from the Northern Territory to Shark Bay and adopted a genotype-by-sequencing approach to test whether realized connectivity (via larval dispersal) was related to extreme gradients in coastal hydrodynamics. Hydrodynamic simulations using CONNIE and a more detailed treatment in the Kimberley Bioregion provided null models for comparison. Based on 4,402 polymorphic single nucleotide polymorphism loci shared across all individuals, we demonstrated significant genetic subdivision between the Shark Bay Bioregion in the south and all locations within the remaining, more northern bioregions. More importantly, we identified a zone of admixture spanning a distance of 180 km at the border of the Kimberley and Canning bioregions, including the Buccaneer Archipelago and adjacent waters, which collectively experiences the largest tropical tidal range and some of the fastest tidal currents in the world. Further testing of the generality of this admixture zone in other shallow water species across broader geographic ranges will be critical for our understanding of the population dynamics and genetic structure of marine taxa in our tropical oceans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The greenback flounder Rhombosolea tapirina is a commercially-important flatfish species in southern Australia and New Zealand, whose population dynamics are poorly understood. Acoustic telemetry was used to assess movement patterns and area use for R. tapirina in the Murray River estuary and Coorong, South Australia. Twenty fish (221–313 mm total length) equipped with acoustic transmitters were monitored for up to seven months during a period of high freshwater inflow. Fish were detected over a large part of the system, but showed a strong preference for brackish and near-marine conditions in the inner estuary. Tagged fish exhibited complex movement patterns that differed among individuals, including: (1) within estuary movements; (2) dispersal from the estuary to the sea; and (3) return migrations between the estuary and the sea. A diurnal shift in fine-scale area use was observed in the part of the estuary where residency was highest, with individuals occupying deeper habitats during the day and shallower areas during the night. The results demonstrate the individualistic and often highly transient behaviour of this species and its ability to undertake regular movements over the spatial scale of 10s of km. Understanding such movement patterns can improve effective management of estuarine flatfish populations and ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Connectivity is vital for the biodiversity and functioning of marine ecosystems. It is known to be important for coral reefs, but the scales at which connectivity effects matter-and, correspondingly, the scales at which management responses are needed-are poorly understood in marine systems. We used 23 years of fish monitoring data collected from ~50 different coral reefs by the Australian Institute of Marine Science, together with a range of geographic data layers (including the Allen Coral Atlas) and additional network analysis, to explore the balance of local and regional influence on fish communities. Variance partitioning indicated that 42% of the variance in fish community composition could be explained by regional effects or their interaction with coarse-grained local influences (habitat). The variance explained by regional influences was divided evenly between measures that capture location on environmental gradients (e.g., proximity to coastal shelf, latitude) and cross-scale centrality measures of reef location within a broader reef network. A total of 11% of variance could be directly or indirectly attributed to management. Our results provide clear evidence that management and restoration of reefs across the globe must consider both local and regional influences on reef-associated organisms and highlight the potential benefits of improving connectivity in human-dominated coastal seascapes., (© 2023 The Authors. Ecological Applications published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Ecological Society of America.)

The human population is concentrated in coastal regions around the world, and while much of this is in large urban centres, recent years have seen significant growth among smaller regional coastal centres. The economic sectors of these smaller coastal communities have historically been driven by marine based economic activities like fishing. However, there has been a decline in the fishing sector and in some communities other marine related activities – such as aquaculture, tourism, off shore oil and gas, ports, and transport (collectively called the marine sector) – are growing instead. The industry makeup of the marine sector is changing, which presents challenges to some coastal communities forced to reshape their economic activities and diversify across the portfolio of marine industries. Doing so requires intricately linked networks of businesses and services, potentially across industries, that each rely on a flow of inputs from their suppliers and downstream industries to take their product. Using Australia as a case-study, this study uses national level Input-Output (IO) data to quantify industry connections to different marine industries and assess those that may be crucial for the continued existence or future growth of the marine sector. Results show that while fishing and aquaculture are reliant on several overlapping up- and downstream industries, and some synergies exist with marine tourism, there is little overlap with other marine industries. Although marine tourism is the largest employer in small regional coastal communities across all states, employment in fishing and aquaculture is more important in small regional coastal communities than in any other type of community. These communities are most at risk of not being able to build or maintain intricate industry connections necessary for diversifying into new marine industries. The differences in the structure of the marine sector among coastal communities according to their location and size suggests that a decline in traditional marine industries will have a disproportional effect on the economic security and thus social well-being of certain communities, and highlights the need for targeted and location specific governance and policy responses to build resilience among the marine sector in coastal communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 1889, aerial emissions and effluent from a coastal lead‑zinc smelter at Port Pirie, South Australia, have led to the accumulation of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) in the surrounding marine environment. Despite this, extensive stands of grey mangrove (Avicennia marina) inhabit coastal areas at Port Pirie, right up to the smelter's boundary. To understand the contamination level the mangroves are living in there, elemental concentrations were measured in mangrove sediments, leaves, pneumatophores and fruits at sites 0.30-43.0 km from the smelter. Plant health was assessed via leaf chlorophyll content at four sites with contrasting contamination, as well as in situ labile elemental concentration using diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT). Sites < 1.7 km of the smelter exceeded Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) & Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (ARMCANZ) (2000) sediment quality guideline values for As (78.3-191 mg/kg), Cd (5.17-151 mg/kg), Cu (80.7-788 mg/kg), Pb (2,544-14,488 mg/kg) and Zn (281-62,097 mg/kg), while sites further away showed less enrichment above background. Similarly, elevated elemental concentrations in leaves and pneumatophores occurred closer to the smelter (up to 319 mg/kg Pb; 1,033 mg/kg Zn), while fruits had little contamination of non-essential elements (≤ 5.23 mg/kg). Relationship between sediment and leaf elemental concentration was isometric for Pb and anisometric for others. Labile As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn exceeded the 95% and 80% level of species protection in marine water by ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) near the smelter, but chlorophyll content did not vary significantly among sites (p > 0.05). These results reveal that A. marina tolerate high elemental contamination at Port Pirie, contributing to lesser but still high contamination in plants, warranting further investigation into non-lethal impacts on mangroves or additional biota inhabiting this ecosystem., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicting interest., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A fully four-dimensional (3D × time) object-oriented biophysical dispersal model was developed to simulate the movement of marine larvae over semi-continuous surfaces. The model is capable of handling massive numbers of simulated larvae, can accommodate diverse life history patterns and distributions of characteristics, and saves point-level information to a relational database management system. The model was used to study Australia's northwest marine region, with attention given to connectivity patterns among Australia's north-western Commonwealth Marine Reserves (CMRs). Animations of larval movement near the Gascoyne canyon CMR, dispersal surfaces over depth and time for CMRs and Key Ecological Features in the northwest, as well as matrices of connectivity values among CMRs are shown. The matrices are further analysed to identify the sensitivity and elasticity of their values. The results generated by this model can aid in designing and managing marine protected area networks that incorporate extensive and complex benthic terrain (including the identification of marine ‘corridors’), and for developing targeted field sampling strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Sigsbeia (Hemieuryalidae: Ophiuroidea) is described from south-western Australia. Previously, all species of Hemieuryalidae sensu stricto have been found in the tropical western Atlantic and eastern Pacific Oceans. Consequently, all currently recognised families of Ophiuroidea now have been collected from the Australian and New Zealand region. Additional new ophiuroid records from the Great Australian Bight include Astrotoma manilense, Ophiothrix albostriata, previously known only from the holotype, and Ophiomusium scalare. New Zealand records formerly called Astrotoma drachi are referred to A. manilense. The available name Ophiomusium aporum is synonymised with O. scalare rather than O. incertum or O. australe where it has previously been placed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integrated management (IM) of coastal and marine environments is an enduring problem, particularly in multi-sectoral and jurisdictional systems, with coastal management of New South Wales (NSW), Australia being no exception. Historically, NSW coastal and marine management was dominated by ecological and economic approaches, implemented in parallel through multiple government agencies with overlapping jurisdictions. A review in 2012 of NSW marine park management recommended addressing the unintended consequences of this management approach, and the Marine Estate Management Act (2014), was established to integrate management of the whole of the NSW coast. This paper discusses the role that a deliberative democratic approach has played in the approach to IM undertaken by the NSW Marine Estate Management Authority (MEMA). The NSW MEMA case study provides a robust reflection of the challenges identified by the literature in implementing effective integrated management, being the alignment of values, visions and methods of assessment, across multiple resources, ecosystems, stakeholders and administrative jurisdictions. Deliberative democratic approaches were used in reviewing the MEMA case to analyse its ability to address some of the challenges and realise benefits of IM. However, despite benefits being identified, a key finding is that achieving integration across multiple agencies with varied disciplinary approaches and organisational cultures, takes a significant amount of time. Even after several years, challenges remain in embedding cultural shifts and resource commitment at all levels to ensure the ongoing successful implementation of IM. • Integrated management of marine and coastal resources is necessary in the increasingly complex environment. • The application of IM principles requires particular governance definitions and attributes. • Governance legitimacy is improved through the use of deliberative democratic approaches. • The NSW Marine Estate Management strategy is an example of the use of deliberative democracy to improve the outcomes in developing and implementing integrated management for a coastal zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is predicted that the coastal zone will be among the environments worst affected by projected climate change. Projected losses in beach area will negatively impact on coastal infrastructure and continued recreational use of beaches. Beach nourishment practices such as artificial nourishment, replenishment and scraping are increasingly used to combat beach erosion but the extent and scale of projects is poorly documented in large areas of the world. Through a survey of beach managers of Local Government Areas and a comprehensive search of peer reviewed and grey literature, we assessed the extent of nourishment practices in Australia. The study identified 130 beaches in Australia that were subject to nourishment practices between 2001 and 2011. Compared to projects elsewhere, most Australian projects were small in scale but frequent. Exceptions were nine bypass projects which utilised large volumes of sediment. Most artificial nourishment, replenishment and beach scraping occurred in highly urbanised areas and were most frequently initiated in spring during periods favourable to accretion and outside of the summer season of peak beach use. Projects were generally a response to extreme weather events, and utilised sand from the same coastal compartment as the site of erosion. Management was planned on a regional scale by Local Government Authorities, with little monitoring of efficacy or biological impact. As rising sea levels and growing coastal populations continue to put pressure on beaches a more integrated approach to management is required, that documents the extent of projects in a central repository, and mandates physical and biological monitoring to help ensure the engineering is sustainable and effective at meeting goals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

1. In the absence of knowledge of the large-scale structure and distribution of marine biota, bioregionalisations, that is, spatial classifications of data on a range of environmental and/or biological attributes, are often viewed as one of the most appropriate frameworks within which to develop networks of marine protected areas (MPAs). However, despite their potential usefulness, few studies have assessed whether bioregionalisations can be used for management of species other than those it was derived from or whether bioregionalisations capture fully fine-scale community-level biodiversity patterns. 2. We investigated the large-scale structure and distribution of demersal fishes and macroinvertebrates in south-eastern Australia, using rank abundance distributions (RADs). We used a recently developed community modelling method that allows their multivariate distribution to vary according to environmental gradients, assessing the congruency of mapped biogeographic patterns between the different taxa, and in the light of the Interim Marine and Coastal Regionalisation for Australia (IMCRA). 3. A clear pattern in our analysis based on RADs showed a large difference in assemblage structure (i.e. in abundance, richness and evenness) between South Australia, where assemblages were generally more species rich and even, and Victoria and Tasmania, where assemblages were generally more species poor and uneven. The strong longitudinal pattern in species richness and evenness was generally congruent for both demersal fishes and macroinvertebrates and related to regional differences in oceanography. 4. We found that the regions of highest species richness were found in the 'core' bioregions rather than 'transition' bioregions as defined in the IMCRA and for both taxa. Moreover, we found that not all assemblage structures were equally alike and that South Australia had the greatest range of unique assemblage structures. 5. Synthesis and applications. While bioregionalisations are typically based on data from a single taxon, our findings highlight that they can be used as a surrogate for biological patterns seen in other taxa. Bioregionalisations, however, may not capture fully fine-scale community-level biodiversity patterns, and this may compromise the ability of protected area networks to protect the full variability in assemblage types. We suggest that it may be necessary to validate existing regionalisations with additional data and analyses such as the RAD analyses conducted here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the extent to which coastal oceanographic processes facilitate connectivity of marine organisms underpins our understanding of the ecology and evolution of marine communities. Continental boundary currents are a dominant physical influence on marine connectivity, but determining their effect has proved elusive because of difficulties in achieving replication of currents within the distribution of a single species. Australia provides an unparalleled opportunity to address such questions because it has three replicate boundary currents within narrow latitudinal ranges that share continentally distributed species. We tested whether the strength of continental boundary currents influences coastal connectivity of a dominant foundation species (the kelp Ecklonia radiata). Variation in the strength of different boundary currents produced entirely different patterns of connectivity in kelp with high connectivity in strong currents and low connectivity in weak currents. Spatial patterns of genetic structuring were also correlated with the nature and strength of currents. Synthesis. This result has global implications; continental boundary currents are key drivers of marine connectivity and give predictive ability with which to understand variable ecologies of temperate coastlines world-wide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study tested the performance of 15 predictive models in predicting the distribution of sponge assemblages on the Australian continental shelf using a common set of marine environmental variables. The models included traditional regression and more recently developed machine learning models. The results demonstrate that the spatial distribution of sponge assemblages can be successfully predicted, although the effectiveness of predictions varied among models. Overall, machine learning models achieved the best prediction performance. The direct variable of bottom-water temperature and the resource variables that describe bottom-water nutrient status were found to be useful surrogates for the distribution of sponge assemblages at the broad regional scale. A new method of deriving pseudo-absence data (weighted pseudo-absence) was compared with random pseudo-absence data — the new data were able to improve modelling performance for all the models both in terms of statistics (~10%) and in the predicted spatial distributions. Results from this study will further refine modelling methods used to predict the spatial distribution of marine biota at broad spatial scales, an outcome especially relevant to managers of marine resources. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: There is limited information on bacterial communities attached to marine surfaces. These surface attached bacterial communities can vary at a micro scale and these differences may be due to surface characteristics in marine environments. The current study investigates the heterogeneity of bacterial communities on five different marine invertebrates (Heliocidaris erythrogramma, Austrocochlea concamerata, Crassostrea gigas, Dendrilla rosea, and Actinia tenebrosa), the alga, Lobophora variegata and marine gravel from a 20m×20m quadrant in Camp Cove, Sydney Harbour, Australia. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) of 16S sequences showed that each surface contained unique combinations of TRFLP fragment lengths. Phylogenetic analysis of random clones picked from clone libraries constructed from the amplified 16S sequences revealed that 16S sequences from the communities on different surfaces clustered into distinct clades. None of the bacteria identified by 16S sequencing of the whole (uncultured) microbial communities was detected after cultivation. Overall, the study shows surface type plays a major role in shaping microbial communities in marine environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The copepod family Centropagidae is widely distributed and occurs in marine, estuarine, freshwater, and inland saline settings. Molecular phylogenies based upon the 16S and 28S genes demonstrate a complex biogeographic history, involving at least five independent invasions of continental waters from the sea. The first colonization was ancient, likely into part of Gondwanaland, and resulted in an inland radiation in southern genera via both vicariance and subsequent habitat shifting among different types of continental waters. Species occupying saline lakes are nested within freshwater clades, indicating invasion of these habitats via fresh waters rather than directly from the ocean or from epicontinental seas. In contrast with the great southern clade, all of the remaining continental invasions are northern, species poor, and quite recent, perhaps even Pleistocene. Long-lived evolutionary euryhalinity, a high propensity for inland invasion, continental vicariance, and in situ radiation within single continents have all played major roles in the diversification of the centropagids. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Causes of disease and mortality in marine turtles are frequently based on opportunistic investigations producing results that may not contribute to knowledge on how to protect their survival rate. Over a 4-year period (2006–2009), the major causes of stranding and morbidity in 100 green turtles ( Chelonia mydas) from southern Queensland on the east coast of Australia were determined by comprehensive postmortem examination. Lesions were characterized for analysis using descriptive and probability statistics. Spirorchiid parasitism was found to be the most frequently occurring cause of mortality (41.8%), followed by gastrointestinal impaction (11.8%), microbiological infectious diseases (5.2%), and trauma (5.2%). Spirorchiid parasitism with associated inflammation (75%) was the most frequently occurring disease, followed by gastrointestinal impaction (5.1%). All other diseases were observed at a low prevalence. Assessment of the likelihood of disease being influenced by risk factors (season, maturity, and gender) showed that: (i) there were more observed cases of spirorchiid infection in summer when compared with the other seasons ( P = 0.029); (ii) immature turtles had more severe spirorchiid parasite infections than mature turtles ( P = 0.032); and (iii) respiratory disorders were more likely ( P = 0.01) in summer and autumn than winter or spring. Number of observed cases and severity of spirorchiid lesions were highest in the brain compared with other histologically examined organ systems (all P > 0.1). Further investigation is required to build on these findings, aid management decisions, and determine the significance of these diseases for green turtle survivorship in Queensland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim We aimed to redress a current limitation of local ecological studies (i.e. piecemeal information on specific taxa) by integrating existing ecological knowledge with quantifiable patterns in primary habitat (i.e. composition, distribution and cover) from local to continental scales. By achieving this aim, we sought to provide a biogeographical framework for the interpretation of variation in the ecology of, and threats to, subtidal rocky landscapes. Location The subtidal rocky coast of continental Australia, with longitudinal comparisons spanning > 4000 km of southern coast (115°03′ E–153°60′ E) between latitudes of 33°05′ S and 35°36′ S, and latitudinal comparisons across 26°40′ S to 37°08′ S of eastern Australia. Methods The frequency and size of patches of major benthic habitat were quantified to indicate contemporary function (ecology) and to establish patterns that may result from contrasting regional-scale processes (biogeography). This was achieved by quantifying the composition and patchiness of key subtidal habitats across the continent and relating them to the known ecology of subsets of locations in each region. A nested design of several spatial scales (1000s, 100s, 10–1 km) was adopted to distinguish patterns at local through to biogeographical scales. Results We show biogeography (in terms of longitude and latitude) to have a fundamental influence on the patterns of abundance and composition of subtidal habitats across regional (1000s of kilometres) to local (10s of kilometres to metres) scales. Across the continent, the most fundamental patterns related to (1) the proportion of rock covered by kelp forests, as related to particular functional groups of herbivores, and (2) the small-scale heterogeneity (metres) that characterizes these forests. Main conclusions We interpret these results within a framework of alternative processes known to maintain habitat heterogeneity across these regions (e.g. productivity versus consumption as shapers of habitat structure). These interpretations illustrate how regional differences in ecological patterns and processes can create contradictory outcomes for the management of natural resources. We suggest that researchers and managers of natural resources alike may benefit from understanding local issues (e.g. the effects of fishing and its synergies with water pollution) in their biogeographical contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To critically review the status of the green sea turtle ( Chelonia mydas) using the best available scientific studies as there is a prevailing view that this species is globally endangered and its marine ecosystem functions compromised. Location Ogasawara (Japan), Hawaii (USA), Great Barrier Reef (Australia), Florida (USA), Tortuguero (Costa Rica). Methods We compiled seasonal nesting activity data from all reliable continuous long-term studies (> 25 years), which comprised data series for six of the world's major green turtle rookeries. We estimated the underlying time-specific trend in these six rookery-specific nester or nest abundance series using a generalized smoothing spline regression approach. Results Estimated rates of nesting population increase ranged from c. 4–14% per annum over the past two to three decades. These rates varied considerably among the rookeries, reflecting the level of historical exploitation. Similar increases in nesting population were also evident for many other green turtle stocks that have been monitored for shorter durations than the long-term studies presented here. Main conclusions We show that six of the major green turtle nesting populations in the world have been increasing over the past two to three decades following protection from human hazards such as exploitation of eggs and turtles. This population recovery or rebound capacity is encouraging and suggests that the green turtle is not on the brink of global extinction even though some stocks have been seriously depleted and are still below historical abundance levels. This demonstrates that relatively simple conservation strategies can have a profound effect on the recovery of once-depleted green turtle stocks and presumably the restoration of their ecological function as major marine consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) off Australia’s northeast coast is one of the natural wonders of the world. As a consequence it has high value, not only for biodiversity, but also for tourists who come to see the GBR and the biodiversity associated with it, bringing in over A$3.5B per annum to the Australian economy. However, there are a number of natural and anthropogenic factors that are threatening the health of the reef ecosystems. One of the major anthropogenic factors is the impact of sediments and nutrients that run off the land, via the rivers, into the lagoon of the reef. Extensive beef production is one of the major land uses of the GBR catchment, and brings in over $1B to the national economy annually and employs nearly 9,000 people, many of them in rural communities. Over 70% of terrestrial sediments and nutrients deposited in the GBR lagoon affecting the health of vulnerable reef ecosystems originate from the extensive grazing lands of Queensland’s interior. Recent research indicates that the quantity of sediments and nutrients lost from these grazing lands is strongly dependent upon grazing management practices; grazing leads to degradation of soil and vegetation resources, reduced infiltration and vegetation production. This has led to a growing concern amongst the Australian public about the environmental performance of the beef industry and increasing pressures on graziers to change their management practices to decrease the off-farm impacts. Given the constraints within the system improvements in water quality draining into the GBR lagoon can best be achieved by demonstrating the productivity and economic benefits of science-based improved grazing management practices for graziers, leading to “AllWin” outcomes for all concerned. In the longer term, only when the range of stakeholders involved approach catchments as linked biophysical, social and economic systems, will truly integrated adaptive catchment management be applied to the GBR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey of residents in an area subject to annual toxic cyanobacterial blooms was undertaken to examine potential health effects of cyanobacteria toxins. The survey assessed the health of marine recreational water users in Deception Bay/Bribie Island area in northern Moreton Bay, Queensland, which is exposed to blooms of the nuisance and potentially harmful cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula. A postal survey was mailed to 5000 residents with a response rate of 27%. High numbers of people (78%) responding to the survey reported recreational water activity in Moreton Bay. Of those having marine recreational water activity, 34% reported at least one symptom after exposure to marine waters, with skin itching the most reported (23%). Younger participants had greater water exposure and symptoms than older participants. Participants with greater exposures were more likely to have skin and eye symptoms than less exposed groups, suggesting agents in the marine environment may have contributed to these symptoms. Of those entering Moreton Bay waters 29 (2. 7%) reported severe skin symptoms, 12 of whom attended a health professional. Six (0. 6%) reported the classic symptoms of recreational water exposure to L. Majuscula, severe skin symptoms in the inguinal region. Participants with knowledge of L. Majuscula were less likely to report less skin, gastrointestinal and fever and headache symptoms. In conclusion, high numbers of participants reported symptoms after exposure to waters subject to L. Majuscula blooms but only a small number appeared to be serious in nature suggesting limited exposure to toxins. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The phylogeny of Rhinodinium broomeense, a new genus and species of heterotrophic peridinioid dinoflagellates, has been studied based on morphological and molecular genetic data. The genus was found in tidal marine sand habitats in Broome, north-western Australia, and from three marine sand habitats in Japan. The thecal plate formula is Po 3′ 1a 5″ 4c ?s 5″′ 1″″. A large apical hook points toward the dorsal side. Its plate pattern is similar to species of the genus Roscoffia; however, it differs from that genus in its much larger epitheca, narrow cingulum, which could be interpreted as incomplete, the narrow sulcus without sulcal lists on both sides, and the strong oblique lateral compression. Phylogenetic analyses using partial LSU rDNA sequences, as well as plate pattern information, support the placement of this genus in the Peridiniales; however, it is sufficiently different from other genera that the family affinity remains unclear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Bysmatrum, a genus of peridinoid, thecate, photosynthetic dinoflagellates, is described from tidal sand habitats in north-western Australia. The thecal plate formula is Po X 4′ 3a 7″ 6c 4s 5′″ 2″″. The species differs from other described species of this genus in its size and shape, its strongly descending cingulum, its smooth thecal surface with many small pores and its indented antapical plates. The main features of the genus Bysmatrum are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylogeography provides a framework to explain and integrate patterns of marine biodiversity at infra- and supra-specific levels. As originally expounded, the phylogeographic hypotheses are generalities that have limited discriminatory power; the goal of this study is to generate and test specific instances of the hypotheses, thereby better elucidating both local patterns of evolution and the conditions under which the generalities do or do not apply.Coastal south-east Australia (New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria), and south-west North America (California and Baja California).Phylogeographic hypotheses specific to coastal south-east Australia were generateda priori, principally from existing detailed distributional analyses of echinoderms and decapods. The hypotheses are tested using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and nuclear internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) DNA sequence data describing population variation in the jellyfishCatostylus mosaicus,integrated with comparable data from the literature.Mitochondrial COI distinguished two reciprocally monophyletic clades ofC. mosaicus(mean ± SD: 3.61 ± 0.40% pairwise sequence divergence) that were also differentiated by ITS1 haplotype frequency differences; the boundary between the clades was geographically proximate to a provincial zoogeographic boundary in the vicinity of Bass Strait. There was also limited evidence of another genetic inhomogeneity, of considerably smaller magnitude, in close proximity to a second hypothesized zoogeographic discontinuity near Sydney. Other coastal marine species also show genetic divergences in the vicinity of Bass Strait, although they are not closely concordant with each other or with reported biogeographic discontinuities in the region, being up to several hundreds of kilometres apart. None of the species studied to date show a strong phylogeographic discontinuity across the biogeographic transition zone near Sydney.Patterns of evolution in the Bass Strait and coastal New South Wales regions differ fundamentally because of long-term differences in extrinsic factors. Since the late Pliocene, periods of cold climate and low sea-level segregated warm temperate organisms east or west of an emergent Bassian Isthmus resulting in population divergence and speciation; during subsequent periods of warmer and higher seas, sister taxa expanded into the Bass Strait region leading to weakly correlated phylogeographic and biogeographic patterns. The Sydney region, by contrast, has been more consistently favourable to shifts in species’ ranges and long-distance movement, resulting in a lack of intra-specific and species-level diversification. Comparisons between the Sydney and Bass Strait regions and prior studies in North America suggest that vicariance plays a key role in generating coastal biodiversity and that dispersal explains many of the deviations from the phylogeographic hypotheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the distribution of 137Cs and 210Pbxs in 51 estuarine and marine sediment cores collected between the Upstart Bay and Rockingham Bay in the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon, north-eastern Australia. Historical records of 210Pbxs and 137Cs atmospheric deposition and present day terrestrial inventories in north-eastern Australia are presented. 210Pbxs and 137Cs fluxes measured on suspended sediments in the Burdekin River are considered to be a source of recent inputs of these nuclides to the nearshore region of this part of the Great Barrier Reef. Direct correlations between sediment nuclide inventories, maximum detectable depths, and sediment mass accumulation rates (MARs), calculated using both 137Cs and 210Pbxs, are explored. In relation to inventories of 210Pbxs, 60% of atmospheric fallout 137Cs appears to be missing from the sediments. The reasons for these differences in two tracers, primarily of atmospheric origin, are discussed in terms of the geochemical properties of these two nuclides. Evidence is presented to support the hypothesis that the 137Cs distribution in these cores can be a useful independent tracer which provides confirmation of MARs calculated from the decay of 210Pbxs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Two new species of Oxyonchus are described and O. culcitatus Wieser, 1959, is re-described from the coast of eastern Australia. All three were collected from between the tide-marks from sandy beaches. Oxyonchuslongisetosus n.sp. is distinguished from other species of the genus by the combination of very long cephalic setae, low arched mandibles and stout ` comma-shaped' spicules. Oxyonchus evelynae n.sp. also possesses long cephalic setae and `comma-shaped' spicules but has higher rectangular mandibles. Oxyonchus culcitatus shares the long cephalic setae and low arched mandibles with O. longisetosus but has thin semi-circular spicules. Other described species have relatively shorter cephalic setae, rectangular mandibles and short stout spicules. A key to the identification of 14 valid species of Oxyonchus is provided. Several other early descriptions are considered species inquirenda because they are based on inadequate material, usually single females or juveniles. Scanning electron photomicrographs illustrate the head and buccal structures more clearly than they can be seen by light microscopy. Adult specimens of Oxyonchus vary a lot in length and advantage has been taken of the numerous specimens of both sexes and juveniles of the two new species to investigate the dependence of the absolute measurements and ratios used in taxonomy on body length. Pharyngeal length is proportional to body length, but spicule, cephalic setae, tail lengths and de Man's ratios b and c do not vary very much with body length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractWe provide descriptions of two species of sarcophagid flies seen attacking the intertidal snail Littoraria filosa (Sowerby 1832), which occurs on leaves and branches of mangroves in central Queensland, Australia. This is the first description of sarcophagid parasitoids of a marine snail. Sarcophaga megafilosia sp. n. and Sarcophaga meiofilosia sp. n. belong to the subgenus Sarcorohdendorfia Baranov 1938 and both are parasitoids of L. filosa. These two parasitoids cause considerable mortality of L. filosa, which is an annual in large patches of mangroves (where both flies are present), but a perennial in smaller, more isolated patches (where the larger fly is usually absent). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change poses significant emerging risks to biodiversity, ecosystem function and associated socioecological systems. Adaptation responses must be initiated in parallel with mitigation efforts, but resources are limited. As climate risks are not distributed equally across taxa, ecosystems and processes, strategic prioritization of research that addresses stakeholder-relevant knowledge gaps will accelerate effective uptake into adaptation policy and management action. After a decade of climate change adaptation research within the Australian National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, we synthesize the National Adaptation Research Plans for marine, terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. We identify the key, globally relevant priorities for ongoing research relevant to informing adaptation policy and environmental management aimed at maximizing the resilience of natural ecosystems to climate change. Informed by both global literature and an extensive stakeholder consultation across all ecosystems, sectors and regions in Australia, involving thousands of participants, we suggest 18 priority research topics based on their significance, urgency, technical and economic feasibility, existing knowledge gaps and potential for cobenefits across multiple sectors. These research priorities provide a unified guide for policymakers, funding organizations and researchers to strategically direct resources, maximize stakeholder uptake of resulting knowledge and minimize the impacts of climate change on natural ecosystems. Given the pace of climate change, it is imperative that we inform and accelerate adaptation progress in all regions around the world., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The Australian native marine fish species, silver sweep Scorpis lineolata, is susceptible to the megalocytivirus Infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (strain DGIV-10) obtained from a freshwater ornamental fish, dwarf gourami Trichogaster lalius. This was demonstrated by direct inoculation and through cohabitation. Transmission by cohabitation was also demonstrated from inoculated freshwater Murray cod Maccullochella peelii to euryhaline Australian bass Macquaria novemaculeata and to marine silver sweep. The virus was also transmitted from infected marine silver sweep to euryhaline Australian bass and then to freshwater Murray cod. This study is the first to demonstrate the virulence of a megalocytivirus derived from ornamental fish in an Australian marine species and the first to show a feasible pathway for the exchange of megalocytiviruses between freshwater and marine finfish hosts. These results demonstrate that megalocytiviruses from freshwater ornamental fish have the potential to spread to diverse aquatic environments.

There is an urgent need to discover and develop new anthelmintics for the treatment of parasitic nematodes of veterinary importance to circumvent challenges linked to drug resistant parasites. Being one of the most diverse natural ecosystems, the marine environment represents a rich resource of novel chemical entities. This study investigated 2000 extracts from marine invertebrates, collected from Australian waters, for anthelmintic activity. Using a well-established in vitro bioassay, these extracts were screened for nematocidal activity against Haemonchus contortus -a socioeconomically important parasitic nematode of livestock animals. Extracts (designated Mu -1, Ha -1 and Ha -2) from two marine sponges ( Monanchora unguiculata and Haliclona sp.) each significantly affected larvae of H. contortus . Individual extracts displayed a dose-dependent inhibition of both the motility of exsheathed third-stage larvae (xL3s) and the development of xL3s to fourth-stage larvae (L4s). Active fractions in each of the three extracts were identified using bioassay-guided fractionation. From the active fractions from Monanchora unguiculata , a known pentacyclic guanidine alkaloid, fromiamycalin ( 1 ), was purified. This alkaloid was shown to be a moderately potent inhibitor of L4 development (half-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) = 26.6 ± 0.74 µM) and L4 motility (IC 50 = 39.4 ± 4.83 µM), although it had a relatively low potency at inhibiting of xL3 motility (IC 50 ≥ 100 µM). Investigation of the active fractions from the two Haliclona collections led to identification of a mixture of amino alcohol lipids, and, subsequently, a known natural product halaminol A ( 5 ). Anthelmintic profiling showed that 5 had limited potency at inhibiting larval development and motility. These data indicate that fromiamycalin, other related pentacyclic guanidine alkaloids and/or halaminols could have potential as anthelmintics following future medicinal chemistry efforts., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Funding bodies played no role in the design of the study, collection, analysis or interpretation of data, or in the writing of the manuscript or in the decision to publish the results.

Comparative phylogeography can inform many macroevolutionary questions, such as whether species diversification is limited by rates of geographical population differentiation. We examined the link between population genetic structure and species diversification in the fully aquatic sea snakes (Hydrophiinae) by comparing mitochondrial phylogeography across northern Australia in 16 species from two closely related clades that show contrasting diversification dynamics. Contrary to expectations from theory and several empirical studies, our results show that, at the geographical scale studied here, rates of population differentiation and speciation are not positively linked in sea snakes. The eight species sampled from the rapidly speciating Hydrophis clade have weak population differentiation that lacks geographical structure. By contrast, all eight sampled Aipysurus-Emydocephalus species show clear geographical patterns and many deep intraspecific splits, but have threefold slower speciation rates. Alternative factors, such as ecological specialization, species duration and geographical range size, may underlie rapid speciation in sea snakes., (© 2018 The Author(s).)

Quantification of the α-subunit of ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) through PCR is an established technique for estimating the abundance of ammonia oxidizing archaea (AOA) in environmental samples. This study quantified AOA with two established primer sets in 1 cm increments from the sediment surface (0-1 cm) to a depth of 10 cm at two locations within Port Phillip Bay (PPB), Australia. Primer choice had a significant effect on within sample estimates of AOA with copy numbers ranging from 10 2 to 10 4 copies per ng DNA. Variation in AOA abundance patterns with increasing sediment depth were site and primer specific. Sequence mismatches between the primer binding region of the isolated amoA sequences from PPB and Nitrosopumilus maritimus SCM1 were identified and may explain the high variation identified between primer estimates. Our results highlight the need for testing multiple primer pairs that target different regions of the AOA amoA sequence prior to large-scale marine sediment environmental studies., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Understanding critical habitats of threatened and endemic animals is essential for mitigating extinction risks, developing recovery plans, and siting reserves, but assessment methods are generally lacking. We evaluated critical habitats of 8 threatened or endemic fish species on coral and rocky reefs of subtropical eastern Australia, by measuring physical and substratum-type variables of habitats at fish sightings. We used nonmetric and metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS, mMDS), Analysis of similarities (ANOSIM), similarity percentages analysis (SIMPER), permutational analysis of multivariate dispersions (PERMDISP), and other multivariate tools to distinguish critical habitats. Niche breadth was widest for 2 endemic wrasses, and reef inclination was important for several species, often found in relatively deep microhabitats. Critical habitats of mainland reef species included small caves or habitat-forming hosts such as gorgonian corals and black coral trees. Hard corals appeared important for reef fishes at Lord Howe Island, and red algae for mainland reef fishes. A wide range of habitat variables are required to assess critical habitats owing to varied affinities of species to different habitat features. We advocate assessments of critical habitats matched to the spatial scale used by the animals and a combination of multivariate methods. Our multivariate approach furnishes a general template for assessing the critical habitats of species, understanding how these vary among species, and determining differences in the degree of habitat specificity., (© 2014 Society for Conservation Biology.)