Waterlogged and Weary, but Wowed!( continued)
ARTICLES
Waterlogged and Weary, but Wowed!( continued)
Talitridae) were another notable find on intertidal sand beaches throughout the Lau Islands in Fiji. These small crustaceans lack a larval stage for ready long-distance dispersal on ocean currents, so how they become widely distributed is poorly understood. The identity of those found during the expedition will be significant in piecing together links across the broader Pacific. Additionally, many types of shrimp were collected, particularly snapping shrimp, and it is likely there will also be some important finds among these when they are fully classified. these remote areas help fill in some knowledge gaps, remarking“ Many are the first records for the region, and we were excited to see some we couldn’ t recognise in the field, which may be new species. More work needs to be done to confirm this, so we will call on assistance from our network of experts around the world to help. Either way, the specimens comprise a valuable collection for study by the national and international ichthyological community, only made possible with collaborative expeditions like this one.”
Scenery from Ogea Levu, Lau Islands, Fiji. Photographer Stephen Keable; copyrights A. M
A great variety of marine worms were numerous in many locations but these soft-bodied animals were mostly well hidden from potential predators inside the sediment or under rocks. To collect them, divers often had to not only turn rocks but compete with fishes trying to eat the exposed worms! Of the worms obtained, those of particular interest for AMRI specialists include species inhabiting calcareous tubes such as the brightly coloured Christmas tree worms( family Serpulidae), beautiful fan worms inhabiting soft silty tubes( Family Sabellidae) and spaghetti worms( Family Terebellidae) that spread their long feeding tentacles widely.
Snapping shrimp, collected from the Lau Islands, Fiji. Photographer Anne Murray, copyright A. M.
Apart from the specimens and data gained, this was a valuable opportunity for AMRI to forge and strengthen links with international partners. Already some of the connections made during the voyage are being utilised in planning new projects. Additionally, there was important information exchanged regarding sampling techniques and equipment which has immediate application to practices currently used.
The team is now looking forward to the next step – integrating the samples into the AMRI collections so that they are ready and available for research, and reflecting on the discoveries made and the conclusions that result.
Mandy is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the mollusc specimens in Australia. Although a wide array were collected not many cephalopods( her specialty which includes octopus and squid) were included, so it makes those that were all the more precious! The octopuses gathered during the expedition are relatively small, and difficult to identify without all the reference materials, so we can’ t be sure yet exactly what they are but at the very least expect they will be new distribution records from this part of the Pacific.
Mark and Sally were delighted to be able to share some of the labour intensive tasks and expertise of catching, identifying, labelling, photographing, tissue-sampling and preserving the fish specimens discovered during the expedition with their colleagues from New Zealand. Mark observed that the fishes obtained from
Octopus sp. from Walpole Island, Southwest Pacific Expedition, 2017. Photographer Mandy Reid, copyright A. M.
26 SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL NEWS VOL 66 NO 4