Standard Presentation Australian Marine Sciences Association 2026 Conference

Species and Habitat Biodiversity of the Gascoyne and Carnarvon Canyon Marine Parks: RV Investigator Survey IN2022_V09 (139320)

John Keesing 1 , William White 2 , Lisa Kirkendale 3 , Andrew Hosie 3 , Glenn Moore 3 , John Pogonoski 2 , Ana Hara 3 , Cindy Bessey 1 , Oliver Gomez 3 , Kate Naughton 4 , Helen O'Neill 2 , Candice Untiedt 2 , Zoe Richards 5 , Corey Whisson 3 , Margaret Miller 6 , Belinda Alvarez 7 , Jo Myers 2 , Emily Gumina 2 , Hugh Morrison 3 , Kathrin Bolstad 8 , Kirrily Moore 9 , Jenelle Ritchie 3 , Sharon Appleyard 2 , Nick Mortimer 10 , Ryan Crossing 10 , Gary Fry 6 , Tonya Van Der Velde 6 , Alan Williams 11
  1. CSIRO, Crawley, WA, Australia
  2. CSIRO, Hobart
  3. Western Australian Museum, Welshpool
  4. Museums Victoria, Carlton
  5. Curtin, Kensington
  6. CSIRO, Brisbane
  7. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tangarewa, Wellington
  8. Auckland University of Technology, Auckland
  9. Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart
  10. CSIRO, Crawley
  11. ILLICIUM CONSULTING, Hobart

A 31-day voyage to the Gascoyne and Carnarvon Canyon Marine Parks was conducted aboard the RV Investigator in 2022 to describe the species and habitat biodiversity of the area.  Using a combination of methods, including acoustic surveys, biological sampling, environmental DNA, and imagery, the full depth range (50m – 5000m) of each park was surveyed across a latitudinal gradient.  We present a summary of the diversity collected and describe the dominant and unique habitats and communities observed. A total of 575 teleost fishes, 59 chondrichthyans, and over 2000 invertebrate species were recorded, with 12 new species formally described so far and range expansions across all taxa recorded. The habitats ranged from mesophotic reefs with rich sponge and octocoral assemblages to soft sediment habitat in the deeper sections with either sparsely or densely distributed sessile invertebrates dominated by bryozoans, octocorals, hydroids and sponges, including glass sponges.  A rich diversity of mobile invertebrates was also recorded, notably, high densities of pancake urchins and glass scallops.  We outline the regional, national and international significance of the collection and present an analysis of spatial patterns of biodiversity across depth and latitudinal gradients.  We end by discussing the relevance to marine park management.