Jacqui B. Pocklington1, Paul F. Carnell2, Jasmine Bursic1, Cayne Layton3, Joshua McIntyre1, Prue Francis1
1Deakin University, Australia - 2RMIT University, Australia - 3Blue Conservation Services, Australia
The Kelp Ecklonia radiata is being lost from subtidal reefs in Port Phillip Bay (Victoria, Australia), due to overgrazing from the native sea urchin Heliocidaris erthryogramma. Loss of this key habitat-forming alga has led to a loss of the marine communities they support, and the development of ‘barrens’ habitat. For restoration of marine forests, a variety of approaches can be undertaken. We have combined urchin density reduction with out-planting of kelp grown on green gravel in laboratory aquaria in two separate trials. In Trial 1, (as part of a large multi-agency project) we out-planted Ecklonia seeded from mixed cultivar spores and tracked success at a reef where Heliocidaris were culled down to densities of < 1/m2. Ecklonia individuals were found to have survived for over 1 year, with several attaching to the seabed, and some with reproductive sori.
Based on the success of Trial 1, we are attempting to tease out whether effort can be reduced to achieve a similar outcome. In Trial 2, we out-planted Ecklonia seeded from single cultivar gametophytes and tracked success at a reef where Heliocidaris were culled down to densities of < 1/m2. We have also split kelp out-plants into two different gravel densities and two different life stages. After 6 weeks, early successional ‘turf’ algae were abundant on green gravel and surrounding reef. Kelplings could not be identified, though may have been obscured by turf. Monitoring for Trial 2 will continue, and the results of both trials will be discussed in the context of optimizing marine forest restoration.
Biography
Jacqui is a Marine Ecologist with particular interest in temperate coastal and marine ecosystems. She has cross-sector national and international experience, particularly in marine conservation. Jacqui’s research has investigated the function of marine habitat-forming plants, monitoring the health of marine ecosystems; adaptive management and habitat restoration. She has coordiated multiple citizen science programs, and is the co-chair of the IUCN SSC Seaweed Specialist Group.