ECOLOGY AND ABUNDANCE OF WEEDY SEADRAGONS IN SOUTH eastern AUSTRALIA
Phyllopteryx taeniolatus
Project leader: Prof David Booth
Collaborators: Sam Allan, Dr Selma Klanten, John Turnbull (Underwater Research Group), Kris O’Keefe (Underwater Research Group), Dr Jaime Sanchez-Camara (PhD UTS, currently Singapore Aquarium).
Weedy seadragons (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) are an endemic species of Australian syngnathid. They are a charismatic and unique fish that range from Port Stephens, New South Wales to Geraldton, Western Australia.
Our team have monitored populations of the weedy seadragon since 2002, and have evaluated latitudinal patterns in their growth and also local movements through tagging. A long term population study conducted from 2001-2009 showed population declines in both New South Wales and Tasmania.
In spite of these results, the IUCN red listing for weedy seadragons was downgraded from "Near Threatened" to "Least Concern" in 2017. Our teams research will aid in conservation efforts for seadragons despite these recent changes.
Due to the impacts of climate change, the kelp habitats, which weedy seadragons rely on for both shelter and food, are under severe threat. In recent years, these essential habitats have been in rapid decline as the ocean continues to warm.
Currently, we are investigating how weedy seadragons interact with their habitat around Sydney and assessing the abundance of weedy seadragons at the northern edge of their east coast distribution. We are aiming to determine if these northern populations are under greater threat as climate change escalates.
Collaborators: Sam Allan, Dr Selma Klanten, John Turnbull (Underwater Research Group), Kris O’Keefe (Underwater Research Group), Dr Jaime Sanchez-Camara (PhD UTS, currently Singapore Aquarium).
Weedy seadragons (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) are an endemic species of Australian syngnathid. They are a charismatic and unique fish that range from Port Stephens, New South Wales to Geraldton, Western Australia.
Our team have monitored populations of the weedy seadragon since 2002, and have evaluated latitudinal patterns in their growth and also local movements through tagging. A long term population study conducted from 2001-2009 showed population declines in both New South Wales and Tasmania.
In spite of these results, the IUCN red listing for weedy seadragons was downgraded from "Near Threatened" to "Least Concern" in 2017. Our teams research will aid in conservation efforts for seadragons despite these recent changes.
Due to the impacts of climate change, the kelp habitats, which weedy seadragons rely on for both shelter and food, are under severe threat. In recent years, these essential habitats have been in rapid decline as the ocean continues to warm.
Currently, we are investigating how weedy seadragons interact with their habitat around Sydney and assessing the abundance of weedy seadragons at the northern edge of their east coast distribution. We are aiming to determine if these northern populations are under greater threat as climate change escalates.
Images courtesy of Selma Klanten
